Chris Zitzman

9.6

Simply remarkable- as it should have been for the $$$. Top notch Cali Cab. — 7 years ago

with Beth

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, deep dark ruby red, aged for 21 months in French oak (75% new), aromas of ripe fruit, sweet spices and herbs. The palate shows blackberry, juicy black cherries and currants, big, full tannins, complex and well balanced. Complex with notes of leather, tobacco, cacao, espresso and earthy character on a long finish. Very Nice. — 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

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

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

Morgan

9.0

One of my favorites. Big bold red. — 10 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FabianG

8.9

#unitedpolaris — 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. — 4 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.5

One of the few big Napa wines I actually enjoy. This was epic — 6 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

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

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Smells like a Pinot, looks like a Cab Sauv, body and finish of a Zinfandel. Aromas of gingerbread with flavors of red berries and even cranberry. Lots of sweet spicy notes. Let this one open up as it is a BIG Pinot Noir. Almost like Christmas in a glass. Outstanding! — 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

Mandy Capehart

9.1

Excellent stand alone red! — 12 years ago