Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

1978 Chuck Hope left beverage job, moved to Paso Robles, became farmer, & top grape grower. Working with his father, Austin led family into winemaking in ‘95, creating his label in 2000. #7 on Top 100 list, Grapes from 5 small blocks of Paso Robles AVAs, aged in 75% new French oak, 18 mos. Dark deep Ruby, aromas of sweet ripe black fruits & dried smoky tobacco spices. Flavors of ripe blackberry, sweet cacao, espresso & vanilla oak. Big wine, fine tannins, long fruit finish, vanilla overwhelms fruit. The 15% ABV has slight burn. — 3 years ago

Michael Sixbey

9.0

Very smooth like a cab. Great for the price. — 6 years ago

Larry Allen

9.3

Good golly miss Molly!!! Meiomi move over. Big brother takes over!! Damn, again I am faced with loving a more expensive vino but ooh its so worth it. Melts in your mouth lovely. This wine is foreplay... for your filet mignon, New York strip or Porterhouse. Sorry not big on the long nose of some reds but occasionally deep dive.....I’m a novice to many of you wine connoisseurs am just expressing my emotional connection to the experience. — 6 years ago

Nick Ferrall

9.0

Big and plush — 7 years ago

Kent Foulker

8.9

Great big can of cherry pie filling. Better the next day. — 7 years ago

Joe Roth

9.4

Excellent wine! Bottle too big and heavy. — 7 years ago

with Michael

Carl Refuerzo

9.1

A really nice Cab. A big wine with lots of fruit. Age worthy but very enjoyable now. — 8 years ago

with Nick

Jessalynn Uchacz

9.0

Molasses, fennel and marjoram — 8 years ago

Michael Ross

9.0

Very big Pinot — 8 years ago

Pam

9.5

Yummy! Smooth and full. — 9 years ago

Sanford Peisner

9.4

Big bold yummy. Hints of tobacco. Good balance. Very enjoyable. Glad I have more — 3 years ago

John W

9.2

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, plum, black currant, black olives, cedar. On the palate, black currant, cherry, raspberry, pepper, earth, oak and vanilla. Full bodied, rich mouthfeel, medium finish. — 4 years ago

Phil Kessling

9.3

As good as it gets in Oregon PN. Lots of bright r fruit, spice ant the finish goes on and on. Just a great, enjoyable wine. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1982 vintage. Color still fairly youthful. Meniscus not too wide/watery. Brickish, minty nose with big cedar & baking chocolate flavors. Holding up better than expected for a fruity vintage. — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.3

Nice aromas of fresh baked cherry pie. A big but elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers power and elegance at the same time. Great flavors of blueberries, baking spices, mocha and smoke with a very slight hint of eucalyptus. Very nicely structured with silky smooth tannins. A great bottle of wine. — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Christian Adams

9.3

Does not suck — 7 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.
— 8 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. — 8 years ago

with Big

Morgan

9.0

One of my favorites. Big bold red. — 8 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1995 Harlan at Pr w K, A&S. Awesome. So big it was hard to believe it had almost 20 years on it. Great w the steaks we were eating! — 10 years ago

Mike Matejka

8.9

Slightly corked we were really disappointed at first but after about an hour and a half of decanting the wine opened up nicely. Still not "perfect" but an excellent wine nonetheless — 4 years ago

Maggie Torres

9.1

Enjoying a glass at Joseph Adler Inn and I’m quite pleased. Definitely buying a bottle on my next trip. — 5 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Just picked this us today in Boise... a pleasant surprise.... at my nephews house at Mountain Home AFB — 6 years ago

Emily Anderson

9.2

Great zin!! Big and bold, but not as fruity as many zins. Had it with a beef sausage Blue Apron dish. — 7 years ago

with Michael

Londa Rasmussen

9.5

Juicy. Bold. Equal to Lake Chelan. I love the hot valley rose of the pacific north west — 7 years ago

Juan Menendez

9.0

A big fruit, oak bomb. Once it opened up it was quite nice. Getting better with age. — 7 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. — 7 years ago

with PJ, Linda and 5 others

"Odedi"

9.3

Today is National Wine Day, and for the celebration, this wonderful Cabernet, will do the trick.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Great fruity nose of vanilla, oak, figs, blackberries, blueberries, cloves, cherries, earth, currants, strawberries, licorice, metals, minerals and white pepper.

Full-bodied and extremely smooth and elegant , with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cherries, earth, pencil lead, oak, vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, Cola, mint, chocolates, espresso, tobacco, cocoa, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine-grained tannins, black pepper and cola.

What a great California Cabernet. Smooth, elegant and well-balanced, and enjoyable by itself or with a big piece of steak.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly.

Drinking very nicely now, but will be so much better in a couple of years in the bottle.

Grapes where hand-picked, hand sorted and aged in small Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume. — 8 years ago

Judd Blair

9.3

You obviously know what you're getting into with this one - tannin, tannin, and more tannin. Amazing structure, nice acid, if you're in the mood for one of the Napa big boys this isn't a bad way to do it. — 9 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.1

Mag. Big stuff — 10 years ago