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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Mmmm....better. 1999 was a meh vintage to most critics. I find it has evolved to better things with this much time in bottle.

The nose reveals, ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. Touch cooked green bell pepper, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, round, chewy and tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are pretty good for 99. ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. more cooked green bell pepper on the palate, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers. The acidy is nice. The finish is elegant, well balanced but, not as rich as other good vintages Palmer. It is spicy and persists minutes on the palate.

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. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.4

Marked at first by round sweet oak attack, with subtle bing cherry behind. Juniper berry, plum mid palate comes out as it warms. Cedar, fresh blackberry resolution after 90 mins. — 9 years ago

Corey Long

9.4

I just don't have much discipline when it comes to aging wines, I gave in and drank a few glasses of this super young bottle, but it was still so darn good. — 10 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Lots of discussion about chards today, got us all twisted up in the game.
Nose is muted and isn't offering up much, besides caramel. Palette is restrained and somewhat delicate. Nice acidity and tension on the mid-palette. Clean, fresh citrus fruits finish delicately sweet. Minerality presents as granite. If this wine comes into contact with oak, it's not perceptible. Strong showing, however, the 13 vintage is a touch better. — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

Duncan Armstrong

9.2

Fascinating complex Loire red. It's got the usual mineral stoniness, but with strong earthy and vegetal notes. Somehow it all comes together enjoyably — 11 years ago

with rkww

David Crusellas

9.1

Great one, balance and tasty - www.viaspic.com — 12 years ago

Jeff Groh

9.8

Christmas comes early in the tropics — 13 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

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 — 7 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

Dear diary- I wish I owned more of this bottle. Wow what a wine. So much going on with very smooth tannins and a long finish. Mixture of chocolate, vanilla, black currant and minerals. Touch of earthiness and bit of leather. A lot going on but it all comes together beautifully. Pure awesomeness. — 8 years ago

Tim Schroeder

10

Tastes like a California Zinfandel with a bit of extra red berry up front. Slowly some char comes to stand out, and then a long, moderately tannic finish. Complex, a touch more savory than some other 3 Valleys. Could drink it all the time. — 9 years ago

with Amanda

Mike Mayer

9.2

Liquid chocolate covered dark cherries in the glass. A beautiful Howell Mountain Cabernet with lots of depth and structure. The fruit comes thru front and center but the acidity is fantastic. The tannins are there but are very silky. Remember this is a very young wine. It has enough structure to age for a long time if you don't like drinking really good wine this decade. A very consistent winery and a great wine. — 9 years ago

with Lisa

Bruce Shook

9.0

Great value for the price. An easy drinking Cabernet with an interesting twist. The bourbon barrel aging comes through as a slight hint of vanilla. — 9 years ago

Rick Jordan

9.0

Super bright, clear wine, lighter bodied. Wonderful melon, lemongrass, passion fruit and white pepper nose. Green melon, passion fruit, peach, ginger and some herb notes I'm struggling to identify beyond the lemon grass, maybe tomato leaf? Passion fruit comes through nicely on the finish. Really pleased with this one! — 10 years ago

Brian Shaw

9.6

Beyond description. The 04 vintage is where it's at. Sure, 2005 was massive but so was the fruit. It was short lived in terms of aging. 2004 allowed for character and depth and flavor of fig, bright red fruit and spice. This wine has another half decade or more before it really comes alive. Honestly, it blew my mind. — 10 years ago

Young Bock Lee

9.0

shy aroma, notes of fresh fig, pickled date, black berries with hint of herb aromas. med P body, med p acid, med p intensity,med P tannin, hint of spice, bitterness and roundness comes together. med plus finish with savory mortadella and tabacco. juicy fruit on the first palate followed by savory finish. — 10 years ago

Peter N

9.0

Bright and light lemony yellow. Pure semillon aromas with some beeswax. Fresh, sleek texture.; lemon shortbread comes to mind. Long @olmsteadwine — 11 years ago

Matthew Marcino

9.3

Living up to the hype. Kind of a big night when this comes out! — 13 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. — 7 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. — 7 years ago

Keith Lite

9.2

Still very youthful. Earthy and Spicebox on the nose. The cabernet comes through with each taste and after a hour of decanting it really opened up. Wonderful aromas and many layers. Beautiful — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 1988 d'Yquem is almost identical to the bottle I tasted in 2016. This is almost Barsac-like in style on the nose with scents of barley sugar, complemented by marmalade and mandarin, fresh and vibrant with a palpable sense of energy. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous texture but it is not, and has never been, as unctuous as either the 1989 or 1990. However, what the 1988 does possess is a surfeit of vitality and tension. There are layers of blood orange, quince and marmalade towards the finish that as the aromatics suggest, comes across as quite Barsac in style. Superb. Tasted at Château Batailley. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 8 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.4

I have opened the 2010 Chateau Cantemerle Haute-Medoc. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

The nose upon first opening is a little tight and at first not willing to show its true self. After awhile this wine starts to open and its true self becomes obvious. With vigorous swirling the red fruit comes through. There is cherry, strawberry, plum, red currant, herbaceous notes, mocha, sweet licorice, sweet oak and violet floral notes.

On the palate we have black cherry, strawberry, plum, raspberry, herbaceousness, mint, slight oak notes and crushed gravel.

The wine is medium to full bodied, medium + acidity, medium + sandy tannins that leads to a long lingering enjoyable finish. This wine is everything I look for in a good Left Bank Bordeaux. Drink now or cellar for another 10 years. Have a great start to your work week and please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

The fruit for this Pinot comes from two of the coolest, most coastal parts of this appellation, linked by the influence of the Pacific’s cool marine air, which delays ripening. Bright Ruby with berry fruit, citrus and warm spice. On the palate, raspberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes and earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, lingering finish ending with woody spice. Very nice, has room to age. — 9 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.0

All that technology but it comes down to terroir. A good effort here. Not amazing but good. — 10 years ago

Ron R

9.1

On the nose, it comes across as a tightly wound coil , with tart cherries, minerals and exotic spices.

On the palette, the wine stands firm and bold. Tannins are far from resolved (even a touch gritty, perhaps), which was a surprise. It's a strong example which was dense, layered and compact. We popped n poured, to which I plead guilty. — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.8

Excellent bottle. The 01 is supposedly a better vintage but im not sure when it comes to this producer. Clear, day bright, garnet and orange brick like color, medium - concentration, orange/peach rim variation, slight sediment, low viscosity. Nose: sound, moderate intensity, stewed cherries/strawberries/raspberries, floral, spicy and lots of dill pickle and slight game. A mushroom note as well. Palate: dry, med- body, stewed plums over ripe cherries/strawberries, lilies, dill, vinegar, leather, button mushrooms, game, mulch with some cedar and coconut. Very complex. Med- tannins, medium alcohol, high acid, long finish. Between the 01 and the 98 its a tough choice of which one to put in the wine cooler to store. — 12 years ago

David Mason

Sommelier/Wine Director Inn at Palmetto Bluff

9.4

Starts off with typical barnyard funk blows off and fruit comes out sour cherry great acidity — 13 years ago