Dark Side Winery

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

A good wine. Oak, a bit of chocolate, dark fruit and cherry. Pretty dry but smooth enough that easy to drink. — 3 months ago

Doug and "Odedi" liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — 3 months ago

Daniel CammarataMichael Cammarata
with Daniel and Michael
Dave, Ira and 2 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1995

Great Beaucastel, dark fruits, still a little structured, long finish, excellent!! — 4 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Dave and 7 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Classic color, fragrances, and dark cherry on the palate. If you drink this wine at less than 5 years old, you might be disappointed. But at 7 years old, it is amazing. August 2025. — 4 months ago

Dave liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Bolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid medium dark garnet color. On the nose: perfumed notes of red fruit, herbaceous, eucalyptus, mushroom, smoked meat, ripe olives, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, velvety full wine with brambly dark cherry/plum, coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel, and a peppery- dried herbs- gamey long finish. YUM! A nicely aged and elegant wine with soft tannins and good acidity!! — 5 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 14 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Great vintage for Jamet showing dark cherry, berry, meat, graphite, olive, savory spice, mineral & violet — 7 months ago

Tom, Shay and 10 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 10 months ago

Vino, Andrew and 5 others liked this

19 Crimes

The Banished Dark Red Blend

Ritch oily smoothness😉 — 6 years ago

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Ming L
8.9

The Clark & Telephone Vineyard PN gave me a long lasting impression, and this Las Alturas is very similar in style in its richness and intensity.

Ripe plum, blackberry jam, eucalyptus, fig, black tea, and Chinese medicinal herbs bursting on the nose. Palate has more texture and a more elegant feel with dark chocolate and spice. Firm and a bit dusty tannins. This tastes more like a blend of Zinfandel and Cab. Nice! But again this is not the type of PN I like.
— 7 years ago

Somm liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Sometimes you just gotta drink it! Smooth, balanced, big dark fruit. Total yum. — 8 years ago

James Naphen
with James
dlow liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Special Selection is Caymus’ flagship bottling, the only wine to twice earn Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year.” The 2013 vintage comes from a benchmark Napa year—warm, consistent, and producing deeply concentrated fruit. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor sites, this wine showcases the Caymus hallmark: bold, plush, and fruit-driven Napa opulence.

Aromas & Flavors
Opulent blackberries, cassis, and baked blueberries, wrapped in layers of cocoa, espresso, and toasted vanilla. Secondary notes of licorice, sweet tobacco, and graphite add depth. With time in the glass, hints of cedar and leather start to show, signaling the early stages of graceful evolution.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, almost velvet-like, with powerful yet polished tannins. The 2013 vintage delivers intensity and weight, but with balance—long, lingering finish loaded with ripe dark fruit and spice.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous cluster selection, long maceration for depth, and extended aging in new French oak barrels (18+ months). Chuck Wagner’s hallmark style: unapologetically ripe fruit, creamy oak integration, and a seamless, approachable structure even in youth.

Food Pairing
A natural match for grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or herb-crusted lamb. For a more indulgent pairing, try it with aged Gouda or truffle-infused dishes.

Verdict
A monumental vintage of Caymus Special Selection—ripe, hedonistic, and still showing youthful vigor more than a decade later. Built for aging, yet already a crowd-pleaser. A benchmark expression of Napa Cabernet’s luxurious side.

Personal Pick Highlight
2013 stands out as one of Napa’s greatest modern vintages, and tasting it now is like catching Caymus in its prime sweet spot: power meeting polish. Cheers!
— 3 months ago

Ted liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 2012

Showing lots of dark fruits, smoke, meat, savory spice, mineral & violets. — 4 months ago

Hermes, Shay and 10 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

First bottle of the 2010. This is gonna be a really special wine but I think it need another 5-7 years. Tannins and softened, fruit is there, acidity is still strong, and don’t get me wrong it’s great now with a couple hour decant, but in a few years it’ll be really nice. Getting black, blue, and dark red fruit, ripe and juicy. Man so silky in the mouth. Graphite, stone, forest floor, cedar, hints of camphor, black licorice. Wonderful. Nice medium + finish. Really nice, only going to get better! — 4 months ago

Austin, "Odedi" and 11 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

Last had this vintage a couple years ago. These obviously have a long life ahead of them. With some nice air, this does open up. Wonderful dark fruit and earth aromas. Tannins are quite present and a bit bitter (not in a bad way at all). Excellent acid on the finish. Delicious pairing with kinderhook pork chops with tutto porchetta seasoning. — 6 months ago

Dave, Lyle and 13 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Sounds wonderful!

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1955

From mag. Dark intense gravelly fruit. Leather and sour cherry. Serious and bridging still. Great aged Bordeaux. — 7 months ago

BOT Paul WoollsMatt Lichtenberg
with BOT, Paul and 1 other
Ceccherini, Bob and 13 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

🐶

Dark Horse Wines

The Original California Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Black cherry and spice with a chocolate finish — 6 years ago

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Pure currant fruit, nimble with good concentration, still on the young side, aging very gracefully. — 7 years ago

Ira, Shay and 3 others liked this

Sine Qua Non

Dark Blossom Syrah

Not too much to say....power in a silky glove...close to perfection. — 7 years ago

Ira, Jeroen and 8 others liked this

Folie à Deux

Ménage à Trois Midnight Lot 369 Dark Red Blend 2015

Very rich with flavor. More flavor then the regular red ménage a trois. Both are great! — 8 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021

Pop and pour 375ml bottle. Dark ruby red color. On the nose: dark cherry, toasty oak, licorice, floral. Taste: young and tannic, give it time. — 3 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 21 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Château Léoville Poyferré 2014
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinguished Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) from Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Poyferré has been elevated under the stewardship of the Cuvelier family and Michel Rolland’s consultancy. The 2014 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This cooler year yielded wines with notable polish, freshness, and age-worthy structure.  

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive and refined, the bouquet opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and plum, framed by cedar, graphite, violets, and aromatic spice. The palate is layered with ripe red and dark fruits, along with hints of tobacco, pepper, and soft oak—a harmonious reflection of balanced ripeness and terroir depth.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, with smooth yet structured tannins and vivid acidity. The finish is long and mineral-tinged, echoing Saint-Julien’s limestone terroir while expressing both strength and grace.

Winemaking Notes
Vinified traditionally and aged in French oak barrels (predominantly new), the 2014 benefits from meticulous attention to extraction and maturation, resulting in elegant concentration and finesse.  

Food Pairing
Wonderful with roast lamb, herb-crusted beef, or rich mushroom dishes. Decanting for an hour enhances its layered complexity.

Verdict
A classic expression of Left Bank finesse and depth, Château Léoville Poyferré 2014 strikes an artful balance between fruit, structure, and refinement. Enjoy now with decanter or cellar it to explore its evolution over the next decade.Cheers!
— 3 months ago

Ted, ESF and 4 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Decant and pour. Nose: enticing perfumed dark fruit, mint, pine, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with blackberry, milk chocolate, earth, leather, graphite, and a lingering long finish with some slightly grippy tannins. YUM!! No hurry, time to go. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Dave and 16 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Enjoy Randy’s work. Never a rush on his wines. They simply get better and better with long bottle age.

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Dark ruby. Aged in American Oak. Full bodied on the palate with mild tannins. — 6 months ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Leather and spice up front, with a trace of dill that softens into dark cherry after an hour in the decanter. — 6 months ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

From MAG

2 hour decant. A striking purplish dark garnet color. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves. Taste: creamy, polished, structured wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, bell pepper, leather, and a decent herbal/potting soil finish. Drinks surprisingly well with the decant at this age, and of course a few more years it will improve. YUM!
— 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 18 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Only about 10-15 years too soon

Apothic

Dark California Red Blend

Great for dessert, chocolate. Somewhat sweet. — 7 years ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

Dark fruits, intense colour, great legs. A real bargain. — 8 years ago

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Dark and delicious. Meets it's name enjoyed with a nice grilled steak — 9 years ago