Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 1997 | Laurel, introverted, quite strict, Bordeaux alike > Claudi Cardinale alike — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

This was my contribution for a 10-yr retrospective of Napa cab with a local group. All wines (16 of them) were tasted blind. Others of note were Cardinale, Larkmead, Bryant Family, Vineyard 29, Corra and Jacquelyn To-Kalon.

My first experience with this wine, and when I acquired it, I wasn’t aware it was a 100 pointer. I’ve had many Hall wines but this is definitely their most structured wine. It’s fruit forward but in no way close to their other offerings. At 100% cab, it drinks like it. I let this breathe from bottle for about 2hrs before it was thrown in a decanter for another 2-3hrs and consumed. I had a splash at pop and it was crazy coiled, underripe and dusty. When I came back to it later (albeit blind, so I’m looking at my notes), it sported dark fruit on both the nose and the palate. Dark cocoa dipped black cherries, ripe blueberries and blackberries, as well as cassis and espresso aromatically. There was also a bit of a lavender/floral note that gave it a unique quality. On the palate, it eventually smoothed out beautifully, but was powerful the entire time. Dense and rich with added notes of fig, baking spices, and cocoa dusted fruits. One of those wines that makes you think overpowering, but then dials it down to silk on the finish. I think this is just entering a prime drinking window. Bummer I don’t have more. — 5 years ago

Mike

9.0

Pretty sweet — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

Bootleg is the newest Napa label under the Jackson Family umbrella, which also includes Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, Galerie, La Jota, Lokoya, and Mt. Brave. The label pays homage to “the winegrowing rogues, who smuggled vine cuttings from renowned French vineyards and replanted them in California.” Kristy Melton, formerly director of winemaking at Clos du Val, crafts the wines and this blend of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Petite Sirah, 21% Zinfandel, 12% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. The fruit is sourced from vineyards on Atlas Peak, Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Rutherford and Spring Mountain. Parker called it “off-the-charts in terms of its hedonistic appeal” and I can’t disagree. Blackberry, kirsch and cassis combine to yield an ultra rich fruit bomb, but it doesn’t stop there, adding Rutherford dust, cocoa powder, licorice, purple flowers, cedar, and crushed rock. I’ve heard several comparisons of this to the wines of Orin Swift, and while both are fruit bomb, high octane wines, I’m more inclined to compare this to something like Andy Erickson’s Leviathan. — 8 years ago

Cody Short

9.3

Really good but expected more. Cardinale and VHR were better — 9 years ago

Atilio Grimani

9.2

Creo que es el mejor blanco que he probado. Eso si, hay que tomarlo bien frío. Genial. — 9 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

It is a medium dark wine with a savory nose, showing violets, licorice, forest floor and a touch of cardamom. The palate is spicy, with black pepper and herbs joining the black berry profile. The tannins are quite firm and the acidity is fresh. It is a youthful wine which will pair nicely with a pork roast. — 5 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.6

Nectar. One of the single vineyard Merlot components of Cardinale. — 6 years ago

with Heather

Adam Quarello

9.1

lots of mature black fruit with slightly sweet spice and tobacco — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group. Special event this month as Ben provided all ‘80s Napa cabs. A few of us chipped in and provided some whites/bubbly.

Middle of the pack out of the wines tonight. Still quite nice with a decent amount of cherry jubilee and cassis. Tied with the ‘86. — 7 years ago

with Andrew, Will and 4 others

AG

8.9

Crisp, tart, dry... great way to start the evening at the Cardinale Estate. — 9 years ago

Cody Short

9.5

WOTN with Cardinale. Elegant, balanced and drinking at peak. Beautiful Pomerol — 9 years ago

M M

9.0

Delicious — 10 years ago

Andy Hall

9.7

Sorry to say I turned 60 a couple of weeks ago. My daughters came in to celebrate this past weekend and we wanted to drink some good wine. What a trio: ‘12 Cade Reserve, ‘13 Cardinale, and ‘05 Leoville Las Cases. Ironically, I am going to score all 3 of these as 97+. They were really a treat. The Las Cases was decanted for 5 hours and it was clear that we were about 7 years too early. It’s a terrific wine and at at age ~25 it will be absolutely stunning. Already has balance and harmony. Can’t wait until I am about 67 so that I can revisit the remaking 11 bottles! — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Brought by a friend. Dark tawny and opaque. High pitched fruit forward nose, dominated by black cherries and some dry brush. Tannins still present. Complex and refined. Reminded me of a young Bordeaux that needs more age to gain more secondary/tertiary notes. Good juice. — 6 years ago

Conrad Woodard

10

Deliciously flavorful! — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

Single-handedly responsible for the creation of Sonoma's Bennett Valley AVA, Matanzas Creek Winery has been championing the appellation since 1977. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno, originally from Chile, moved to Napa Valley and cut her teeth at Cardinale as an enologist and later Kendall-Jackson as an assistant winemaker, before landing at Matanzas Creek in 2010. Their 2015 Sonoma County Chardonnay is full-frontal malo. Popcorn butter, roasted hazelnut, poached pear, with a side of grilled tropical fruit salad of guava, mango, and papaya. — 8 years ago

AG

10

Opened this magnum for Christmas dinner. The first La Jota vintage finished by renowned winemaker Christopher Carpenter (Cardinale, Lokoya). Large format aging beautifully. Round tannins, dark fruit, and earth. — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Light straw in color with a golden hue.

Very aromatic nose of lemons, white flowers, yeast, green apples, grapefruits, minerals, spices, herbs and white pepper.

Light bodied with high acidity and a lot of tiny bubbles.

Dry on the palate with green apples, grapefruits, bread, spices and white pepper.

Medium plus in length with limes and bitter almonds.

A well balanced sparkling wine from France. Enjoyable by itself or with food. Good quality, fruity and refreshing.
I had it at the end of the meal, by itself. This is delightful.

10.5% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Elizabeth Duda

9.7

"Stahp... Oh that's good" - Peter Cardinale. Fruity notes with a back presence of pear. — 10 years ago

with Peter