Dave Meyers

9.2

Always a textural interpretation of Chablis, the ‘17 rendition of the Vent d’Ange has developed even better than I expected. There is a real salinity that balances out the depth that comes from a long elevage and extended lees contact. — 3 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Not a renowned vintage but this was lovely. Smooth and supple, dark fruit, pine, leather, tobacco, bell pepper, earth. The cab franc definitely comes through. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Fruit comes from the coolest coastal parts of this appellation, linked by the influence of the Pacific’s cool marine air, which delays ripening. Ruby with rich berry fruit, citrus and floral spice. On the palate, strawberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes and earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, long finish ending with mineral and cedar spice. Very nice, drink now & over next 5 years. — 5 years ago

David L

9.4

Insignia. WNH virtual tasting . The tasting included 95,96,00,01,02,09,13,14. Last 95 I enjoyed was in May of 2019 along side the 1982. Both I vividly remember fondly.
90% CB 7% Merlot 3% PV.
One thing all the wines had in common. The color was deep garnet - purple . 95’ showed Bit of sediment. NO signs of bricking, absolutely incredible. There was no way you could tell this wine was 25 years young.
The nose comes off as left bank/Barolo. (earthy, violets)
Palate- Light signs of red currant, red & black plums, orange rind, black olives, floral notes, good acidity, grainy tannins. Long & lingering finish.

Opened it 45 minutes prior to tasting. Enjoyed it over the next 2 1/2 hours. Must say the last glass was better than the first...wife & I split the bottle and agreed. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

We opened this bottle late on Friday night and poured off a small glass to see what we were working with. As I suspected, far too young with loads of energy, rolls of baby fat and frankly, not very well behaved. So we pressed the cork back in the bottle and figured we would try our luck the next day when my parents stopped by for a socially distant glass of wine to “celebrate” Easter together. I’m so glad we waited. Twelve or so hours of slow-ox made a huge difference. While it was still very primary, it was much more enjoyable showing a strong core of dark berries, tobacco, leather, coffee and baking spices. But again, where Seavey really excels is texture and sense of place. To be expected for mountain fruit at this age, the tannins are firm but reasonable and there is such lovely acid that screams Howell Mountain. I have no doubt this will have a very bright future! In my mind, Caravina is probably the greatest “second” wine in Napa. This is Seavey’s 19th and latest vintage of Caravina. After an extended drought, 2017 began with torrential rain that flooded the valley. The fruit comes entirely from steep hillside blocks on the estate and is otherwise made in the same fashion as the Grand Vin. If you’re going to drink one now, I highly recommend a lengthy decant as these are easily 10 years away from their best. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.7

Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow with delicate aromas of stone & citrus fruits. Palate, with extended lees aging shows rich apple & lemon flavors, nutty notes, good mouthfeel. Crisper than ‘17, medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This bottle was hand carried from the Middle East, seven years back, and my first time enjoying the 2002 since release. Cork was perfect. On the nose, some VA but nothing crazy. Notes of balsamic, teriyaki, sandalwood and charred meat. On the palate, still quite primary with dark cherries and dried dark fruits being predominate. Plenty of structure. The texture is remarkably fine and silky. Quite classy actually! Nevertheless, this isn’t the most soul stirring vintage of Musar Rouge. At nearly 19 years of age, this bottle still comes across as youthful with developing vinousity. Perhaps time will coax more out...but I suspect, as others have previously stated, that the 2002 is more of a modest wine by their standards...which is still quite delicious and enjoyable in its own right. This will easily live for another 10+ years. — 5 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.5

Finally landed one of these beauties and the wine did not disappoint. Big and bold and expressive. Got better over the evening and paired up nicely with a tenderloin. Have to say though, it wasn’t spectacularly better than Central Coast Syrahs I’ve had from Saxum, TH Vineyards, Epoch or Law. Not saying I won’t seek out another one but I am feeling good about my cellar. I get though that there is not a direct linear ratio between cost and quality and sometimes an incremental but important change comes at a price. Having said all this, the wine is great and the makers are to be celebrated. I really admire what they do. — 5 years ago

Kirk F

9.1

This one comes on like a freight train. Gobs of fruit attack the palate complimented by juicy sweet tannins. Really enjoyed this and a solid value for a TRB Cab. 👍🏻 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

The name of the estate comes from "Ca' Pazzo", shown on ancient maps. Estate covers an area of 190 hectares, 54 which are vineyards, 4 are olive groves, 87 which are wooded and 45 are planted with new vines. Deep Ruby with a berry fruit aromas blossom and smoke, aged for 2 years on oak. On the palate cherry & strawberry flavors, with leather, cacao and tobacco notes. Lively acidity, fine approachable tannins, long ending with spicy oak finish. — 6 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

Good wine with low%. But just too much fruit for me. Tastes almost like a Gamay. Plenty tannins in the other hand comes across as sweet. Banana skin. Tart underripe elderberry. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dull light straw gold. Great energy in the glass with ample fine bubbles. Has a stone and light citrus driven nose that comes across as a nice mousse. Long finish. This is great juice. Had to try this but the rest pack will sit for some needed age. — 6 years ago

DomDoc

9.3

Read the reviews on the 2017 and was intrigued. Opened in the morning and sampled throughout day while raking leaves. Finished at dinner. The wine is precise, balanced and interesting. The tannins dominate and are refined, supple and then linger. The fruit is primarily plum with cherry. Tobacco comes a bit later. No clues how this will evolve but. note to self, wait till 2024 or later to rake the leaves again. — 4 years ago

John Willison

9.3

‘Dirty lemonade’ always comes to mind. Over ripe lemons, musty earth, herbal garden, subtle citrus finish. Layers. — 4 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Comes on with time. Cassis, forest floor. Hint of peppermint. Spot on balance. Long. Eric Asimov/Paul Draper/ FFCoppela / Corison webinar — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for a good Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Washington State.

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Nose of black plums, cedar, chocolates, coffee, cooked cherries, leather, light vegetables, earth, licorice, black tea, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, chocolates, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Another delicious wine from Michel Rolland.

Still young, but already tasty. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle, but better after an hour of airtime, as the complexity comes in. Showing nice complexity already.

Wine Enthusiast 89 points.

Tangy and interesting. A Delicious wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 5 years ago

Martijn

9.4

I read a lot about the heat and the alcohol regarding this wine.
As everything is personal I can only reflect opinion of myself and table guests who simply loved the wine. Fruit dominated but not jammy, lush and not overheated. I decanted 4 hours before drinking and it was absolutely a fantastic wine.
Everything comes together and it paired perfectly with the veal entrecote with “witbier” sauce. The bottle was empty too soon... — 6 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

Aromatics jump out right away. Dark berries & cocoa notes that follow to the palate. This needs some air, but positively comes alive in the glass. Silky entry leads to a grippy finish. Texture is amazing here. Great wine. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 6 years ago