Jason Gelman

9.3

Kicking off birthday weekend with my first Musar experience. Sadly the cork did not hold up but after lots of straining I have some drinkable wine. The nose is extraordinary. Bordeaux profile with pencil shavings and tobacco leaf and a rich dark chocolate. Very expressive. On the palate this wine is mature and beautiful. Mostly aged Bordeaux character but there’s a mix of red cherry fruit and a touch of mint or menthol. Perfect drinking window as a lot of tertiary flavors are driving and the tannins are present but softened by age. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Let me start with a disclaimer: I’m a massive fan of Chateau Musar and a big fan of Tegan’s work with his Sandlands wines. I’m a buyer for both each and every year. So when I learned that he had modeled the 2018 “Red Table Wine” after the wines from Musar, I was like, “Abso-effing-lutely”!! A few nights ago, I couldn’t resist pulling the cork on one to give it the old college try (it is so young after all). I’m happy to report that the wine is tasty and does remind me a bit of Musar, even though the blend uses Zinfandel instead of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s quite reticent at this stage and it evolved at a glacial pace over four days. A mix of dark and red fruits with exotic spices, red rope licorice and coffee. As typical of Sandlands wines, this gained weight with air and the higher acid gives it a lot of energy. Today, I think these drink best with a meal. I intend to hold my remaining bottle for at least a few years. Equal parts Cinsault (Bechthold Vineyard 1886), Carignane (Spenker Ranch 1900) and Zinfandel (Kirschenmann Vineyard 1915). — 6 years ago

Scott Cowan

9.0

Best QPR in forever: $15 at The Wine Club. This Fronsac’s 10% Cabernet franc punches FAR above its weight class and holds together the juicy exuberance of the 90% merlot that wants to run in many directions at once: dark red blackberries just beginning to dry on the vine in late autumn... plus a tiny bit of the bushes’ brambles left in the mix during crush... a brand new Brooks leather saddle... Whiff of 5-30 weight motor oil from the garage down the block but only when the wind blows by... promises more layers in coming years. This 2016 opened up over three days, corked, as I drank it down; at the end (third day,,one hour in the bowl of the glass) it had begun to develop and lengthen a promising finish. If that continues, I’ll give this wine a straight-up 9.5 regardless of price!! Right now: 9.1 for that QPR plus just plain deliciousness at an everyday price. — 6 years ago

Morten Nilsen

9.0

The nose is incredible, a strange mix of easy on palette with full bodied finish — 7 years ago

Anil Saxena

9.1

Wow. Incredibly rich, full and lush cote de Rhône. Stood up well to middle Eastern food. Complex mix of dried berries and other dried fruit. — 7 years ago

Danny Hearit

9.0

Perfect Thanksgiving wine. Mix of Lambrusco and Merlot with a bit of sweetness, mellow. — 8 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

Spiced cherries & tobacco mix with vanilla & dill herbal aromatics. Grippy tannins & mild acidity frame the fruit & spice. Puts on weight as it breathes. Benchmark Rioja. — 9 years ago

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.2

Maturing nicely! Beautiful mix of fruit, dark floral and subtle spices. — 10 years ago

Paco Suro

9.0

Really interesting. Paired with a very eclectic mix at Passionfish and rocked the whole way through it. At $36 on the list. A steal. — 10 years ago

Eric Manuel Castrodad Santini

10

Perfect flavor, nice body and mix well with everything — 11 years ago

Michael Wilson

9.1

Really lovely blend of 10 different grapes. Lots of purple flowers and pepper. — 12 years ago

with Scott

Brent Young

9.2

Pure Joy
The nose is florality with some stony minerality and herbs
The palate starts with honeysuckle nectar and white flowers. The fruit is the usual riesling mix of apples and pears that veer toward peach and stone fruits on the sweet and lengthy finish

That’s the story of this kabinett riesling but also of the 2019 German riesling vintage overall. So much deliciousness from start to finish. Midpalates are plump with precise flavors. Properly ripe fruit with enough florality and balancing acidity to make them tasty & elegant. It’s hard to find a complaint — 4 years ago

Eric Guido

9.3

The 2017 Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape is taking its time opening up in the glass and remains youthfully poised throughout, showing a mix of crushed cherries and blackberries with violet florals and crushed stone minerality.  Silky textures wash across the palate with spiced black fruits. There’s a fruit sweetness here that’s quite enjoyable, as saturating minerals and spice settle in, and grippy tannins make themselves known throughout the long finish.  Although it’s the product of a warm vintage, the 2017 Charvin is built for the long haul.  I almost regret opening it tonight, because it’s certainly too soon. — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

A young 3rd growth that is just starting to develop. After 2 hours of decant, the nose blossomed into really nice mix of black and blue cherries, cassis, violet, raspberry, olive, and herbs, with slight hint of leather and and crushed rocks. The entry was soft and elegant, with juicy acidity. Firm but fine grained tannins.
2014 Bordeaux is a great bargains compared to 15 and 16. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

A nice PV. William Harrison anniversary PV outdoes it quite easily, but this wine is delish. Pours like ink! Nose is a mix of floral and candied black fruit. Darker mulberry cassis(?) and violets. Thick and dense wine. Finishes with a mixed bag of dense black fruits and pepper. Going to hold nicely for the next 5 to 7 years but I think drinking these now wouldn't be a bad idea! — 6 years ago

with Dan, Bradley and 2 others

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another bottle. Stéphane Ogier is one of Côte Rôtie’s most well-respected stars & looks for concentration in the vineyards and freshness in the cellars. "Le Temps est Venu, ‘the time has come’ for an adventure farther south, with old-vine Grenache and limestone slopes. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah that comes from the Plan de Dieu and Visan AOCs. Red fruit aromas and pepper spice notes. Sweet raspberry and cherry flavor adding herbs to the mix. Medium length ending with earthy notes. Nice value! — 8 years ago

Mike Evans

9.4

A savory mix of bell pepper, dark cherry and black currant fruit, and a compelling meatiness on the finish, supported by tongue-prickling acidity and tannin, it has definitely hit its peak but isn't at all in decline. Magnificent. — 8 years ago

with Eric

Nicole Dutram

9.5

Spice. Good body but not overpowering. Citrus hint trying to make its way into the mix. Quite delicious. — 9 years ago

Brian Messineo

9.3

Nice mix of red / black fruits, leather, mushrooms and earthiness. — 10 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.4

This really does need a good ol decant but has wonderful concentration, very deep, almost broody nose of intense blackcurrant and dark plum fruit as well as a strange but very attractive mix of blueberry & graphite, almost heading towards prune.
A very well balanced mid palate though seems to be somewhat lacking in acidic lift overall but the fruit seems well integrated with the tannins, slightly underripe black berry fruit and with some grip on the finish, food would benefit this wine at the moment but it would be interesting to see how this comes along. Feels like it would benefit from at least another 5 years in bottle. Decent length. — 11 years ago

Don Hanna

9.6

Great mix of old world and new world Cab tones. Another cab fav. Rat Pack lives. — 12 years ago

Matt

9.2

Great showing, perfect cork, completely alive, complex, beguiling mix of dried petals, exotic spices and deeply alluring black fruit character, crushed to roasted. Tannins have integrated and made for a supple but postured sip. ‘05 still has my attention but this was showing very well. — 4 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Cigar ox nose with a mix of leather a touch of Pierre a fusille. Drinking well for a dark, cold winter night smith with lists of backbone to this wine. Years left but expect it will evolve well in the glass — 5 years ago

with David and Danielle

Shay A

9.3

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

The Fantesca property on Spring Mtn is gorgeous, and their tasting room at the winery is stunning. Really enjoyed getting to try more of their wines.

Give it time and this will be a point or two better easily. The only Fantesca wine not made by winemaker Heidi Barrett, but by assistant winemaker Tony Arcudi. A good balance of classical Cali Pinot with some old world flair. Fruit here is slightly underripe and a mix of red and black berries. A definite herbal influence with underbrush. Lots of layers here...rhubarb tart and candied black cherries up front before evolving to show herbs de Provence, cedar, crunchy cranberry and tobacco leaves. Complex. Delicious. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

Even with the couple hour decant, this was very young tasting (no surprise). Cedar and underbrush, blackberries, cassis, mix of red and black fruits...finishes with bay leaf. I’d hold for 7+. I called this ‘13 Left Bank. — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Josh Spurling

9.0

Really tasty with a mix of pear, citrus, and tropical fruits. Mediterranean herb notes add spice add interest. Great spring/summer sunny day sipper! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 8 years ago

George M Wood

9.0

Good, nice mix for peppery food, balanced, better as it airs — 10 years ago

with Nury

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.7

Fantastic mix of berry fruit, earth, spices. A very seductive wine with immense power and long finish. — 11 years ago

Andrea Watt

10

The blend really brings out subtle notes from both grapes and makes a smooth but intriguing mix of flavors. One of my favorites for the price. — 11 years ago