Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Fruit is brighter, more brilliant than many other 21’s I’ve had. Texturally & fruit-wise senses more like the 23’s I’ve had. It’s gorgeous. Again, needs a decade or more in the cellar.

Round, lush, creamy blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, dry, crushed rocks, limestone powder, nice balling spices, caramel, mocha, dry herbs, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry river stone, leather, melted, dark chocolate, dark spice, fresh & withering dark flowers, red roses, nice round acidity, well balanced, bigger tension & structure, excellent round, excellent finish that last minutes and lands on spice, wet clay and Christmas cake. — 4 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Black fruits, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & tobacco — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed out of red Solo cups over the course of a few hours. The 1993 “Gravelly Meadow” pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes o ripe and desiccate fruit: cassis, blackberries, dried red flowers, tobacco, eucalyptus, Poblano pepper, leather, cocoa, graphite, a mix of organic and inorganic earth along with some cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This was strong showing. Drink now through 2033. — 7 months ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.7

This wine is a well-balanced Napa Valley red showing both power and elegance. It offers aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco, with flavors of black cherry, cocoa, and spice on a silky, structured palate. Love it. Q — 7 months ago

with Daniel and Michael

romo

9.3

On point. Lithe but dense. Black tar compote. — 8 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Another great drinking older Cali showing red, black fruit, plum with cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice & tobacco leaf — 9 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

plush plummy fruit. Rounded with black cherry and soft precision. Lovely — 5 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Chad Puckett

9.0

Balanced. Flavorful — 5 months ago

Wulf Losee

9.3

Floral notes on the nose — roses, hibiscus, plus mint, and the dry fragrance of sun-bleached wood. Strawberries on the front. Medium tannic structure. Black tea high notes with hint mint on the mid palate. Citrusy finish with long acidic afterburn. My description fails in that it makes it sound like a light and floral wine. But taken altogether, this is wine is rock solid, and it hasn’t even begun to develop. — 5 months ago

Ed Chin

9.4

It is so open for business right now. A prime example of Napa old school. Dark fruit and resolved tannins. — 7 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.6

Black figs, raspberries, mesquite, tobacco and cacao nibs. — 7 months ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.2

Deep ruby; medium plus aromas of new leather, coconut, cocoa nibs, ripe red and black plums; high alcohol, high tannins — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2023 vintage. Super easy to drink and not as opulent as some previous vintages. 09.10.25. — 9 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another great btl that improved with air showing mostly black fruits, full bodied with notes of currant, mocha, cedar, leather & tobacco — 5 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was showing well with notes of red, black fruits, sweet on the palate with savory spice, earth, licorice, leather & tobacco — 5 months ago

Ross Bathgate

9.5

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150. — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Youthful, full bodied that is drinking well showing red, black fruits, spice box, graphite, leather & tobacco — 9 months ago