John Malcolm

9.5

Blueberries, herbs, and cedar. Complex, elegant, and intense. Such a lovely wine. Decanted for about four hours and served with lamb — a magnificent combination. — 4 years ago

Dan Cobb

9.5

Decanted 1 hr. 2001 vintage. Still had decent fruit. Dark chocolate on the nose. Had lost some of its structure and tannins. Very good pairing with the steaks tonight. w Michelle Carr — 6 years ago

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 6 years ago

with Bruce

Jim Enloe

9.1

Very nice, different from the traditional Napa cab. Firm tannins, should be decanted. Last glass the next day did better (under vacuum) — 8 years ago

Warren Grossman

9.4

Decanted, still in sweet spot. Very much enjoyed — 9 years ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really, really nice. Decanted for 1.5 hours and this guy is ready to go. Definitely a touch more fruit forward than expected, but still an excellent core of acidity that keeps it super lively. Very silky tannins at this point, no point to wait longer but also not at all over the hill. — 9 years ago

Jack Clare

9.5

Decanted, it was outstanding all evening...not early or late, in its prime! — 10 years ago

Andrew Turner

9.5

Our 10th anniversary wine. Excellent once decanted. — 4 years ago

Gaurav Tiwari

9.2

This is a classic! Decanted for 3 hrs. Clear watery hue, beautiful pale Garnett in the middle. Medium viscosity, medium alcohol. On the nose, red cherry, strawberries, flowers, spices - thyme, clove, wet cigar, wet leaves. On the palate, confirmed red cherries, strawberries and powerful/rigid but silky tannins and racy acidity to balance it all. Long earthy finish. Elegant yet tough...like a ballerina! Very well balanced and serious wine from a good producer. This is their entry level Barbaresco that punches above its weight for what it costs. Stocking up.. this will drink even better in 5 years. — 5 years ago

Geoffrey Green

9.6

Pristine cork, decanted for 5 hours: still balanced, complex, and harmonious as a 20 year old in a challenging vintage. Fruit still lively, with mellow tannins—this still has a few years left. Came out best for me in an evening of great old wines: ‘98 Corison, ‘98 Montelena Estate, plus de la Tour ‘99. Never underestimate the consistency of a great estate, year after year. Glad I have another bottle or two. — 7 years ago

Mike R

9.5

As the infamous spy Austin Powers would say "yeah, baby yeah!"

Like a junkie I needed a fix of something that speaks to me after drinking earlier wine plus my wife threatened me with ill will if I didn't uncork a beauty

My team got beat and I was upset but after opening this baby I feel like "it's alive"

I know it is a 2011 but it is from one of the best Napa vineyards and Schrader can make some great wine when they want to

This is not great but man as I said it is speaking to me with nice silky tannins - big dark blue fruits - intoxicating deep color that would make redacted artist envious and finally this last a really long time on palette - long like when parachuting and the chute opens and it feels like eternity but is only a few minutes or so - oh and decanted for four hours by accident

I like Mr brown as a winemaker and pray the Constellations group does not screw it up after their recent purchase

Big smiles! — 8 years ago

Eric

9.5

This took a loooong time to show up. Opened for 6 hours, then double decanted. Still needed two more hours to show its colors. Tannic monster with amazing black fruit. Bright acidity suggests 15+ years ahead of it. Bad ass wine! Tastes several other vintages at the winery last summer. This was by far the best. — 9 years ago

with S.R.Alexander

Jane Shiverick

Partner Langdon Shiverick Imports

9.1

Decanted YESterday — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 5 years ago

B

10

1994 Screaming Eagle. Dinner w J&L B and D&M H while staying with D&M in Santa Ynez. Opened and waited about an hour. Decanted right before serving. Tons of jammy dark fruit. Opened more in the glass. JB mentioned full palate and balance. Great finish. Preferred this to ‘91 Dominus once this opened up. — 6 years ago

Vincy

9.5

A very complex wine with big muscular structure. Earthy smell at the beginning, Graphite, pencil shaving, tobacco leaves, coffee beans, very strong tannic but change to silky after hours. Decanted it for more than 5 hours it showed a different way. Really impressive for this Sunday night. — 8 years ago

Christopher DiPalmo

9.1

Amazingly preserved, needed to be decanted for an hour but tasted the whole way through and what an experience. Perfect pairings for an evening at Kitchen a Bistro to celebrate my brothers birthday. — 8 years ago

Bill Carroll

9.1

Decanted for 3 hours. Barn floor, rustic raspberries, cow hide, smoke. Acid is balanced but solid funk. Great steal for $40 — 9 years ago

Bill Bender

9.0

Loved the funk and ripe sweat on the nose, like that time I climbed the rope in gym class....I was expecting resolved tannins and a softer entry but this is quite closed up. This was not decanted so I'd definitely suggest air and a little agitation to wake it up. — 10 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.4

Decanted and drunk over a few hours, this was accessible right away but kept getting better. Full of roasted and spiced ripe red plums, roses, violets and darker coffee, fennel, and licorice notes, the intense flavors were supported by a moderate body, enough acid to provide freshness, and a moderate amount of dusty tannins that are still holding on. There's a lot more fruit here than I'd guess for a 20+ year old Merlot! That and the tannins make me want to check on how much more savoriness develops in 5-10 years. Couldn't have been better last night with steak and friends, though. — 10 years ago

with Rajiv