Doug Powers

9.4

[En Magnum] This is absolutely a beautiful, 30-year-old, Beaucastel Rouge in large format, mostly clean (just a trace of Brett), red fruits, still some structure, but not tannic, balanced, complex layers of flavors, long finish, really a top-notch Beaucastel with old school ABV (13.5%)!, lovely!!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

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

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

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

Jon Ruyle

9.1

Nice. Big fruit, but not as ripe as what I expected from a barossa Shiraz. Evolved with air. Finish only slightly herby. — 8 years ago

with Eugene

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. — 9 years ago

with Lisa

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. — 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

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

Steve Mitchell

9.3

Medium tannins, velvet finish on the palate, complex.
Paired perfectly with a top sirloin , smashed potatoes and salad. — 8 months ago

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. — 2 years ago

Andy Hall

8.9

This bottle was a big tease. Intoxicating nose and delightful on the front palette. Gets your mind thinking of great things for the finish like depth, complexity layers etc. It never comes. The finish is completely lacking. Such a tease. — 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

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

Londa Rasmussen

9.5

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

Esther Roden

9.1

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

Mandy Capehart

9.1

Excellent stand alone red! — 12 years ago

Gen

9.7

Very good for CA! — 13 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Reddish in color with light intensity.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing raspberries, sweet strawberries, cherish, earth, light wood, spices, dark chocolates, herbs and black pepper.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Oregon is drinking very nicely now. Complex and interesting. Feels like a lightly aged Burgundy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Elegant and good by itself or with food.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 9 months 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

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

Kaitlyn Jungblut

9.1

Dry white with fruity notes — 6 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.3

Fairly fruity on the nose. Hint of black pepper and something earthy/mineral. Flavor is very dry. Dried strawberries and red vines. Classic jammy Zin thing. Some pomegranate molasses perhaps. Fresh and zinfulliciuos. Plenty of tannin to give it more bite than Zin usually achieves. Complex. True. Enjoyable. — 7 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. — 9 years ago

with Michael

Juan Menendez

9.0

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

Michael P McFadden

9.4

Delicious, big red — 10 years ago

Morgan

9.0

One of my favorites. Big bold red. — 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

10

Three pounds of prime top sirloin and a mag of Montebello- report to follow. — 12 years ago

with Cleora