Jay Kline

9.4

Opened several hours prior and decanted off sediment and a portion of the cork that had broke and crumbled before returning to the bottle. The 2007 “Howell Mountain” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and very slight rim variation. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of dark fruit: black currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, earth and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is firing on all cylinders right now and the structure suggests the power of the 2007 vintage is not slowing down anytime soon. Drink now with a decant and through 2037 with ease. — 7 months ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Beautiful, beautiful wine. The last 96 we had was maybe a smidge more together but it’s marginal. Quite dark in the glass. Deep restrained red fruit on the nose. Tannins are slightly dusty but overall very seamless. Excellent refreshing acid. Perfect with a dry aged strip steak. — 5 years ago

Jared Silvia

8.9

Deep Purple! Lovely full bodied red wine and a great value. The blackberry and blue berry notes pair with the vanilla and hints of cocoa. Think pie with cookie dough ice cream. The taste is smooth, spicy. — 7 years ago

with Brandi

Kevin Blix

8.9

Good wine. Almost a 9 — 8 years ago

John W

9.0

2007. Deep purple coloration. On the nose cherry, plum, oak and vanilla. On the palate tobacco, oak, cherry, high tannins after 8 years. Can age much longer. Short finish strong tannins overpowering. — 9 years ago

Chris Madrid

9.6

Had the magnum. Very smooth with dark fruit, oak and deep structure. — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!

I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.

In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035. — 2 years ago

Sam Agami

10

AMAZING! This is well above my price range, but was a wise choice for a splurge bottle. Deep structure, blackberry, vanilla and leather. This is a super-premium cab and worth the C note... — 5 years ago

Amit Srivastava

9.0

Magnum. This is one of the best Paso has to offer. Deep purple and just a delightful taste . Full, big ! — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Deep ruby thin rim still with a pink hue. Primary fruit still, blackberry, blackcurrant , touch of spice. In the mouth lots of ripe black fruits, ok to reasonable length. It doesn’t come across as overly complex , not many different flavour profiles , though this may come with more age. Full bodied, the tannins are sweet , acidity in balance. Cocoa and coffee notes on the finish, slight warming alcohol . Nicely made wine , showing well now though I am sure it may age further . Very little development as yet. — 7 years ago

Nick Chang

9.3

Just a nice balance of flavors... — 10 years ago

Matt Wilson

9.2

Deep concentration, dried cherries and plum. Licorice, leather and charcoal. An icon — 10 years ago

with Kyle

Z. R.G.

8.9

Good on its own — 3 years ago

Nandita Bhagwat

8.9

Deep and delicious — 4 years ago

Cecil Ramirez

9.2

2013 vintage. Vibrant ruby color, med bodied, soft mouthfeel & tannins. Bright cherry, cola, plum, strawberry, vanilla notes. Nice lasting finish. — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.1

I just can’t get into Italian reds for some reason. This needed a lot of air and is very young. Harsh on the palate but did open up with nice, deep fruit. Overvalued in my mind. — 6 years ago

Courtney Nichols

9.0

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

Pete Bartling

9.8

Very smooth — 8 years ago

Mary Lanham

9.9

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

David D

9.5

Great, inexpensive wine — 12 years ago