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

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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The fruits are dark & muted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, plums with strawberries come on late. Lots of moist clay, dry soils, deep dark spice, crushed, rock powder, graphite, black, dry soils, hints of green bell pepper, dry herbs with blue, dark withering flowers. The acidity is round but could be better. The long finish is balanced but, for me, comes up short and a little flat.

Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Greg Helmer

9.3

This is classic Cab. It should be for the price. Deep rich full, but just not as flavorful as a $75 bottle should be. I’ve got more to enjoy in the cellar and I’ll get another case when the time comes. — 6 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! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 8 years ago

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

Tom Kobylarz

9.0

Holding up nicely, the vintage character comes through as this is a subtle Bordeaux marrying elegance and power nicely with good acidity and plenty of tannin that is starting to soften. Not a long term aged this should go another 10 easy. — 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

David Crusellas

9.1

Great one, balance and tasty - www.viaspic.com — 11 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

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

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 — 6 years ago

Clive McNish

9.4

Been looking forward to this one. Initially tight and closed on the nose. Beautiful violet colour and comes to life after 2 hours in the decanter. Lots of depth and structure but not overly sweet like some extracted wines. Smooth with blackcurrant, cherry, lavender and marshmallow on the palate. Tannins are supporting the wine but are subtly integrated and allow the finish to be long and rich. I’m sure it’s going to get better and better as the evening progresses but at the moment it may be gone before the last rays of sun disappear on the horizon, highly recommended for now and the future. — 7 years ago

Richard Gray

9.3

Rich black cherry and blueberry on the nose and a very dark color. The richness of the nose leads to more of a medium body which initially disappoints, but the flavor is fantastic. Medium tannins with more rich, juicy fruit and some clay and a tad of spiciness. The oak comes through nicely and it’s well balanced. — 8 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. — 9 years ago

Rodney Martin

9.0

Smooth, very accessible wine; comes in a handy 4L bottle for those times when five+ 750 mL bottles for an evening with friends simply won't do. — 10 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

It has been a long week of meetings and job visits, so I am treating myself to a Loire beauty a Loire Valley Chinon. At first opening a bit pungent, but I like that with lots of good aromas. I am getting big notes of black currant, rasperry, violets and graphite. On the palate the raspberry comes through with plum and the typical vegetal notes, bell pepper. There is also earthy components, medium acidity, medium tannins with a long dying finish. Very nice and I like it. — 10 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 — 12 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

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

Dean Bernal Sr.

9.0

2012 Papillon by Orin Swift. Deep red fruit with a smooth, peppery (Cab Franc) twist.
Shhh, no need to speak. A melody comes back to me that we’ve heard before. For all this time, entangled in thoughts, dreaming in reality, I wait... — 7 years ago

with April, Jeff and 1 other

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. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

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. — 9 years ago

with Anne-marie

Roger Cabrera

9.0

Glorious to behold. Elegant body with a thin waist. The minerality comes through like a proper burgundy and its elegance, with notes of green apples, underripe white peaches, white flowers, and candied citrus is just captivating. Elegance. — 10 years ago

Jay Svoboda

9.0

I know there's an argument to be made for where the best Sauv Blanc comes from, but I truly love New Zealand. If you want pure tropical fruits and super crisp acidity, NZ can always be counted on. This bottle is no exception, and a bargain to boot. — 11 years ago

Greg Sorensen

9.6

2001s built for the cellar when it comes to traditional Rioja. La Rioja Alta 904 continues to be one of the standout wines of the genre. — 12 years ago