Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — a year ago

Eric McGann

8.9

A great drinking wine on its own- wouldn’t say it flourishes with food. Super dry, big, bold, mouth full. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Starting the long Labor Day weekend in Big Sur the right way with a little N/V Krug Grande Cuvée. @Nepenthe

Happy Labor Day weekend all! 🍾🥂

Noses reveals; heavy bruised red apple, Bosc pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, tropical melons, lime zest, white spice, sea fossils, deep crisp chalkiness, grey volcanics, yeast & bread dough, nougat, baguette crust, limestone, caramel notes, cream, vanillin framed in yellow lilies, white & spring flowers & mixed greens.

The palate is, ripe, lush, fresh and lively. The mouthfeel all Krug beautiful. Bruised red & golden apple with hints of cider, Bosc pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, tropical melons, white stone fruits, lime zest/candy, white spice, sea fossils, crisp chalkiness, grey volcanics, yeast & bread dough, nougat, baguette crust, limestone, caramel notes, cream, cream soda, vanillin framed in yellow lilies, spring flowers & mixed greens. The acidity is near perfect. The long, elegant, well knitted & balanced finish is gentle until the long set when you get a full presence of white spice and minerality that persists for minutes.

This bottle was composed around 2011 and is made from over 120 different wines that span over 10 years. It is 47% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay & 17% Pinot Meunier. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

A completely different wine than the Dominus. This was full throttle and slams you back in to your seat with its G forces. So ripe, almost over the top; but it decelerates just in time and the finish is so succulent it lingers in your mouth forever. Filled to the tip of the cork with graphite and teeth staining purple fruit. This is the malevolent bastard child of a young Colgin IX Syrah and 2000 Chateau Pavie. Gobsmacker. — 8 years ago

Juan Menendez

9.0

A big fruit, oak bomb. Once it opened up it was quite nice. Getting better with age. — 9 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.1

First snow fall....taking boys to Orchestra Hall to see Chris Botti (3rd row, center stage)...having dinner at The News Room....Staying downtown tonight. Just magical. Orin Swift rocks!! Wonderful wine. Big, juicy. Long legs. — 10 years ago

with PJ, Linda and 5 others

Michael P McFadden

9.4

Delicious, big red — 10 years ago

Morgan

9.0

One of my favorites. Big bold red. — 10 years ago

Mandy Capehart

9.1

Excellent stand alone red! — 12 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. Yes, the 2003 Dominus is big. However, it is also balanced and showing classic Napa typicity with beautifully ripe and some slightly wizened black and red fruit, tobacco, cocoa, some purple flowers and baking spices. I found this to be quite balanced after all the air it saw. Wonderful structure for continued aging as well. Drink now through 2043. — 2 years ago

David Leiman

9.4

1984, surprisingly tanic, acidic, and Heavy dried fruit, prunes and dried figs. over oxidized tasting at first but interesting. From producer to cellar at breakers in palm beach. Small leak out the bottle on one side of the cork. Over time it settles and the dried fruit subsides and then the lighter acidic flavors of fresh berries comes forward. — 4 years ago

Noah Abrahamson

8.9

Faint hint of brett, rustic but still fruity, pizza friendly GSM, with nice tannin once a bit aerated. Quite enjoyable. — 5 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Dark, inky color. Aromas of boysenberry jam, licorice and mossy forest floor. Black and red fruit on the palate, mocha and tobacco finish. Big and bold. — 6 years ago

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Nick Ferrall

9.0

Big and plush — 9 years ago

Joe Roth

9.4

Excellent wine! Bottle too big and heavy. — 9 years ago

with Michael

David Annis

9.3

Cork disintegrated, but otherwise no concerns. Very restrained with more fruit showing as it took on air. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the bottles age. — 10 years ago

Rocket Rod

9.2

Was apprehensive at first as last time I had this (a year ago with Big Wave Dave) it was the cliche Oz Shiraz fruit bomb with high alcohol bordering on over extraction. On the second outing a lot more complex. Still classic cassis fruit and choc/tobacco overtones but not over the top and with some nice acidity still. Less spice than typical. Nice underlying tannin backbone. Lovely mouthfeel and medium body and finish. A little time has done its work nicely. — 10 years ago

with Big

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.1

Mag. Big stuff — 12 years ago

Gen

9.7

Very good for CA! — 13 years ago

Victoria

10

Incredible big red wine that isn’t so heavy that it lingers like port but is fulfilling and balanced with oak and dark touches. Had it at Emirates lounge at LAX and I would buy a case of this! — 4 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.7

Birth year vintages are a roll of the dice but luckily I landed on a pretty solid classic - 1978. So for my birthday this year, we opened an LLC and wow was this perfect. The sommelier was surgical in removing the cork which split in half but he managed to extract it. The nose on this wine was a 10 - loads of cassis, licorice, dusty library and leather. Palate was extracted cassis, leather and great acidity and liveliness, just like my 44 year old self. It’s just pure magic when bottles this old perform - happy Friday everyone. — 4 years ago

Kaitlyn Jungblut

9.1

Dry white with fruity notes — 6 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.5

This is a big RED that is drinking at its peak. Shared with my dear friend Gino who loved it. Cork fell apart on me but it didn’t detract from the marvelous tannins and minerality with lush red berries. — 7 years ago

Paul K

9.1

Nose is cedar, herb, and leather. Medium body. Raspberry, red currant, and dark chocolate with really nice tannin throughout. Long finish is currant and cranberry. This wine is delicate. Overpowered by aged Gouda. Drink with Brie and French bread.
I pulled a classic and was just a bit disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, still great, but for the anticipation... I have one more bottle that I’ll wait a long time and hope there’s a big payoff.
Interesting note, the 2013 Heitz Cellar in the background was remarkably similar in fruit, weight, and profile. 1/3 the price and I’m giving it a 92. — 7 years ago

Londa Rasmussen

9.5

Juicy. Bold. Equal to Lake Chelan. I love the hot valley rose of the pacific north west — 9 years ago

Dave Weick

9.2

Xmas prime rib dinner. Started with the 01 Insignia. Excellent example of Napa fruit. Dark berries, anise, softened tannins with the age, a big wine. — 9 years ago

Pierre Arneaux

9.2

Wow. More flavor, much better than their regular cab. Silky, velvet, smooth. Chocolate. Rich fruit. Big, full flavor, lots of flavor. Not old world style for sure, not subtle. It's a big bomb. We would pay up to $75 for this so a bit overpriced to us.
— 10 years ago

Esther Roden

9.1

Great all around red. Very dependable. — 10 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Lucious floral and fruit aromas followed by bold flavors of raspberry jam with subtle oak overtones. Well structured and balanced with great mouthfeel and a great lingering finish. One of my favorite big Pinot Noir's. — 11 years ago