Severn G

9.6

Happy Father's Day 2020 to all; I'm posting pictures of our fur-kids, an independent and somewhat self-interested bunch. Two boys (9) and two girls (3), all rescued from various locations across the East Coast of the US. They generally bring the utmost of joy to my life on a daily basis.

Nose has blackberry jam on moist leather, minor cedar, very light barnyard notes, grilled blackberry,
blueberry compote, brewed dark roasted coffee, wet garden soil, chocolate vines candy and dried orange peel.

Palate has over-ripe blackberry, wet tanned leather, dark chocolate syrup, dehydrated black cherry, chocolate covered blueberry and moist cedar.

Silky smooth, intense finish running +2m, still showing tannins. Expect this bottle to easily hold another 10+ years without concern, in proper storage.

Decanted ~5h. Paired with well salted (in advance), medium-rare, grilled NY strip steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm) and sauted, early season, baby squash in ozro with our garden herbs.

INAUGURAL vintage on this wine, I certainly didn't realize that fact when we bought it in September 2005! This has been in storage for the prior 15 years, just coming back home in January 2020.

Merlot 50% / Cabernet Sauvignon 40% / Petit Verdot 10% — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Long Shadows 'Saggi' is a thrilling blend of Sangiovese (Boushey and Candy Mountain Vineyards) with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon (Weinbau Vineyard) and the remainder Syrah (Den Hoed Dutchman and Bacchus Vineyards). The nose is drop-dead gorgeous with bacon fat, black olive tapenade, mocha and fennel. The stunning range of aromas bring you back to the glass for more. Revealing a silky texture and a wonderfully ripe mouthfeel, this slowly unveils smoked meat, black tea, milk chocolate covered cherry and roasted fig flavors. Decadent, layered and downright delicious, this beautiful wine will enjoy an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 20-9-2033- 95 — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2010 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, Napa Valley. 4 hour decant, deep crimson hued, this wine has a killer explosive nose of dark fruits, cinnamon, baking spices, menthol and flint. Chocolate covered cherries, cocoa and espresso mid palate, with a touch of nutmeg. Moderate trademark Rutherford dusty tannins in just the right proportion. Dense and concentrated. Beautifully layered with a silky mouth feel, and a lingering finish. In this age of $400-$500+ Napa Cabs, this wine takes a back seat to none of them. I’m a fan. You da man Rob Greer! — 8 years ago

Tripp Borstel

9.2

Yum. Chocolate covered cherries, berries, and a whole lot of yumminess — 8 years ago

Chris Langstaff

9.3

(Leather and musk on the nose?. I have a hard time identifying those but they were there on the first tasting pour. Not so much on the second...) Also some sarsaparilla? covered fruit. Nice tannic feel up front but not overpowering the fruit that comes next. Hard for me to ID the fruit. It’s not a classic Oregon cherry bomb but there is cherry - but also woody. This is one @Cynthia Langstaff will love. @David Langstaff — 9 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Pre birthday drinks celebrating 3 more birthdays than I thought I'd see 👍😍

Latest Grande Annee @ £56 that is big-bolly-boom bubbletastic gorgeousness 😍

🍇 70% PN & 30% Chard

🍷 Golden straw yellow

👃 Baked apple biscuit/pie covered in toasted almond bread with citrus infusion & a toasty oak kick

👄 Refreshing persistent fine soft mousse oozing creamy caramel honey apple, teasing citrus, shortbread biscuit & baked brioche in med acidity

🎯 Long buttery caramel apple & citrus toasty happiness — 9 years ago

Patricia Novo, CSW

9.4

Brown sugar and caramel covered peaches whaaaaat????? 🍑🍑🍑🍑 — 9 years ago

Brandon Boesch

10

Wow! Singing. Menthol, berries, hint of cream, herbs, cassis. I am influenced by drinking with the guy who made this wine while listening to him play songs from the album! Still excellent for an almost 20 year old wine. — 6 years ago

with Randy

E & K G

9.3

Light apricot with a dash of pears covered in honey. Brimming with energy and power. Can’t have enough.. — 6 years ago

Vitaly Domnenko

9.4

Bm+. Tm. Am. Fm. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Chocolate covered black cherry cordial. Went really well with our dinner, but when drinking this wine with Blue Bell cherry vanilla ice cream, it was otherworldly. The wind starts off with more black cherry and cola, picks up the chocolate notes in the middle. Finishes medium-plus body and just sits there on the tongue. 30 to 40 second finish. Compared to the 2011, this one has a little more structure, definitely more polished. Per the last email, this one was held back a year, and now I understand why. Crazy thing is, it doesn't score as well as the 2012 or 2013. If that is the case, I can't wait to get to those! — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Gorgeous bottle opened by some new friends while at Classic. My first Verite. Completely integrated and in a prime window. At 11-yrs old, this is the sweet spot for me. Mostly espresso and dark chocolate covered dates, alongside raspberries. Incredibly soft and the texture was basically perfect. One of those wines that seemed to be in perfect harmony...no one thing stood out, which can be a good thing! — 8 years ago

with Mark

ADAM STROMFELD

9.8

Ripe red raspberry on the nose. Big is not the word.... huge dark black fruit but soft long tannins. Finish goes on for what seems an eternity. Dark chocolate covered black cherries — 9 years ago

with Bob

Caryn Jones

9.3

Not impressed when we tasted at the winery a few years ago but it tasted really good tonight! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

You should never drink & drive but, it’s ok when it’s Santa’s magical sleigh.

The nose broods; dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, sweet tarriness, black licorice, very, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon and vanillin notes, wet clay, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, whiff of white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red florals.

The body is thick, rich & full. I thought this would be near or at its peak but, there is another 3-5 years before it gets there. The structure & tension are still quite powerful. The tannins are round but, thick, tarry, chewy and still well pronounced. It’s good but, lacks a little depth, complexity & character for me. Dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, raspberries playing hide & go seek, sweet tarriness, black licorice, strong dark spices with plenty of palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and vanillin notes, wet clay forest floor, shades of mushroom pop up, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, dry tobacco with ash, leathery, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red, blue & purple florals. The acidity is like a gentle spring. The long finish is, ripe, ruby, slightly candied, juicy and elegant that falls into seriously pronounced dark spices. Especially, for Merlot.

Good wine...it’s just lacks the depth I look for in a 10 year old red. And, not sure it delivers it down the road. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Wonderful Merlot. Nose of wild berries and bittersweet chocolate. The entry of this wine is dark. Brambly and blackberry and baking chocolate. The middle has a chocolate covered almond character to it. Hint of herb. Finished with toasted oak and nice acidity. I am 100% sure I will not have the willpower to hold on to my other bottle of this. I can also appreciate the 95 this one scored as well. Nice, nice Columbia Valley Merlot! Rolland and merlot are an excellent combo! — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2015 vintage. Oodles of sweet oak along with chocolate covered cherry at first palate impression. Light/medium body. Smooth and spicy finish. Pretty. — 8 years ago

Daniel Pariser

8.9

Mint, chocolate covered cherry. Plenty of tannin. Very nice. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎅 Advent 📆 Day 2️⃣2️⃣

Santa did well w/ this top year £32 halfy from my personal favourite US Merlot vineyard 😎

🍇 84% Merlot, 8% Cab Sav, 8% Malbec

🍷 Lightblocking ruby w/ purple rim

👃 Sweet blackberry & blueberry, light smoked oak, sweet cedar, sweet chocolate, plum & farmyard hints

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced sweet blackberry/currant, plum, blueberry & cocoa

🎯 Long sweetish black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate

🧀 Perfect for red meat dishes or cheese but not mince pies Ho Ho Ho 🎅 — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Dazzling mountain fruit aromatics of pencil lead, cinnamon and cedar shavings. Very dense and tannic but sweet blackberry fruit and chocolate covered expresso beans shine through. I absolutely love these wines but I highly recommend you give them 10+ years in the bottle so they can strut. — 9 years ago