Deep Purple

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2024

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of black currants, black plums, and cedar. On the palate, it's dry, medium acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and a pronounced intensity of primary and secondary flavors. It tastes like blackberries, eucalyptus, graphite, and black cherries with a long finish. This wine is a little off balanced (the eucalyptus flavor is a little too intense), complex, and intense. Overall, I would rate it as very good. Nellie liked it with steak. — 5 months ago

Nellie Bauman
with Nellie

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Dark and briny. Gnarly fruit with dried herbs and intense meaty fruit. Mineral and deep. Rich and long. Great — 7 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jay, Jeroen and 17 others liked this

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Deep ruby colors with delicious fruit and balanced tannins. Wonderful yeast aroma on the nose. Blackberry fruit with an after taste of current. Very enjoyable wine!!! — 8 months ago

Jeron Senn
with Jeron
DAD, Neil and 5 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Good stuff

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 1999

Deep and intense. Violets and saddle leather. Delicious and profound. Amazing. — 9 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Juan, Jay and 8 others liked this

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2020

Mostly Petite Sirah with small amounts of Syrah, Grenache and other mixed Rhône varieties, aged 14 months in American oak, 19% new, very dark Ruby-purple with aromas of ripe dark fruits and an array of spices from cigar box to full spice cake. On the palate flavors of black cherry preserves and blackberry jam, layering in some licorice, leather, tobacco and black pepper spice. Savory grippy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy character. A powerhouse! Decant first! — 10 months ago

Neil, Douglas and 6 others liked this

Roots Run Deep Winery

Educated Guess Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Pleasant aroma, fruity on the tongue with a dry finish. — 6 years ago

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc

Joe Ho
9.8

Deep currents in the nose with a beautiful round smooth mouth full of flower petals light citrus and berries. — 6 years ago

Chronic Cellars

Purple Paradise Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend

2016 vintage, very reliable fun wine for the budget. Easy drinking yet flavorful. — 7 years ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 9 years ago

Cynthia LangstaffChris Langstaff
with Cynthia and Chris
Chris liked this

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Nils W
9.4

Silky smooth with deep tones that kept resonating wonderfulness — 11 years ago

Linda liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1985

No formal notes . Quite deep ruby , garnet , thin garnet rim . This is quite open and aromatic , with a spicy , herbaceous cassis , truffle , tobacco , grafite hints , very classic and serious but also really attention grabbing . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy for Las Cases , good mineral , grafite tinged cassis , quite fine but present tannins , balanced acidity with a tobacco tinged finished and pretty good length . Drinking well now but also can go a while yet, perhaps over the next 10 or so years . — 5 months ago

Dave, Bob and 13 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1982

Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1982 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a mix of tart, ripe and dried, mostly black fruits: cassis, blackberries, tobacco, dried flowers, grilled Poblano, leather, dry gravelly earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. One of the earliest vintages of Opus One, this is showing really well at the moment. Drink now through 2042. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister, Dave and 16 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — 8 months ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 9 months ago

Rob, Jonathan and 3 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1960

Deep amber color. Soft sugar plum, apricot and botritis aromas. Amazing 1960 D’Yquem! — 2 years ago

Quentin Heim
with Quentin
Bob, Tom and 15 others liked this

Bodegas El Nido

Clio Jumilla Monastrell-Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Tasted 3/20. Very deep. Very dark. Sweet beautiful dark wine. 91 — 6 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Bruce F Taub
with Bruce

Belle Glos

Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Very full bodied/deep in color/richer than expected. Easy to drink but has more depth than a typical Pinot Noir. — 8 years ago

terrence liked this

Caymus Vineyards

40th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Fruit forward, deep red purple color. Mouth feel is awesomely smooth all the way through the finish. This is a favorite of mine! — 10 years ago

Michael David Winery

Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon

Rasberry and earthy on the nose with a sweeter, deep dark fruit finish. Acidity and fruit are well balanced. Love it. — 11 years ago

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Amazing nose, deep color, perfect with Bison! — 5 months ago

Tripp Cox
with Tripp
Tripp liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Deep ruby color and great nose. Velvety on palate with rich dark fruits. Soft tannins and a lasting finish. Good blend of Zin, Cab, Petite Syrah, and Syrah. — 5 months ago

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1959

From mag. meaty with dark plum and beautiful fresh balanced fruit. So bright and intense, with iodine, deep plum, salinity. Gorgeous stuff and an immaculate bottle. — 7 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Ceccherini, Bob and 14 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2022

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 9 months ago

Andrew, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Deep Ruby with aromas of blue & black fruits, sweet spice & slight mineral character. A blend of mostly Cab Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot & Cab Franc from their estate-owned Napa Valley vineyards, aged 18 months French (62%) & American oak (38%) (about 50% new). Palate, complex flavors, blackberry, plums & cherry with sweet spice, oak & tobacco notes. Well balanced with good acidity & developing tannins. Full-bodied, long finish ending with pepper & wood spice. Nice! — 10 months ago

Neil, Joe and 5 others liked this

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Underwhelming at first with a deep aftertaste. Leaves you wanting more — 6 years ago

Navarro Vineyards

Deep End Blend Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2013 vintage. Vibrant ruby color, med bodied, soft mouthfeel & tannins. Bright cherry, cola, plum, strawberry, vanilla notes. Nice lasting finish. — 6 years ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

I sure like this one. Dark purple, big jammy dark fruit, cocoa and coffee flavors. A real treat — 7 years ago

Orin Swift Cellars

Machete Petite Sirah Blend 2013

A powerful blend of Grenache, Petite Syrah and Syrah from Orin Swift. Deep nose of dark fruit and chocolate. A full bodied wine that lingers on the palate as the lush fruit , tobacco and cocoa comes across with an exclamation point. We are drinking this in lieu of dessert. — 10 years ago

Mike, Ryan and 1 other liked this
Jeff Shapiro

Jeff Shapiro

In my next life, I want to be David Phinney
Mike Mayer

Mike Mayer

No kidding! Great winemaker but an even more brilliant marketer!
Jeff Shapiro

Jeff Shapiro

My list is short - him, Jennifer Beloz or Jayson Woodbridge for "mainstream" and Paul Hobbs or Ken Wright for insider "cult" following.