Ian Hamel

9.4

A really gorgeous bouquet, with tertiary development but still “on point” with dark and red fruit, meatiness, flowers, etc. It smells like only Northern Rhone syrahs with some age can. The palate went through some phases - it started with lots of black olive, but more fruit and a balancing acidity re-emerged. Not huge and with a certain polish and restraint also. You always wonder what five more years would do, but really, it could be different but hardly better. Had with roast rack of venison with an allspice, clove and wild pepper wine sauce 2020/1/6. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This is the 2003 D.R. Stephens Premiere Valley IX Lot No. 045 Moose Valley Vineyard. Bottle number 23 of 60.

I picked it up yesterday in honor of Premiere Napa Valley happening this week. If you have never heard of this event, it’s a gathering of Napa producers, industry professionals and re-sellers bidding on lots of wine. Many of these lots are special bottling’s of a producers best barrel etc. Quite an event of; tasting, bidding and a little partying.

If you haven’t tried D.R. Stephens wines, I suggest you give them a strong consideration in acquiring. However, these wines are made to cellar. While you can drink them young, if you do, you will sell yourself short of the harmony and bliss they will give you properly aged and enjoyed at their peak. As delicious as this bottle is tonight, it hasn’t achieved its peak.

The nose reveals; beautiful, ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender.

The body is rich and full. The tannin's still quite big but, well rounded. The structure and tension are about 60% up the top of bell curve. The length & balance are beautiful and will hit their peak in 7-8 more years. Gorgeous wine! Ripe, candied and floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, baked strawberries and stewed blueberries & raspberries. Black licorice, steeped tea, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, berry cola, warm spices, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, some black pepper, dry top soil, dry crushed limestone minerals, dry clay, leather, graphite, notes of Provence herbs, bay leaf, dark rich turned earth with fresh red flowers, violets and lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long, elegant, gorgeously rich, we’ll balance finish is amazing and is everything you look for in a quality Napa Cabernet and then some.

Photos of; an auction shot from a past Napa Valley Premiere auction, tasting & dining area on the Estate (2nd home for owners - Don & Trish Stephens), another property shot complete with pond and shot of the Estate as you walk into beautiful property.

Thanks to @Jason and Jennie for exposing me to D.R. Stephens. — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

Mitchell Mulder

9.3

5th Anniversary, re-release in a 4-pack box under $20!!! Had this back in the day, loved it then, still love it, this is close to original " Ruination" big piney hops, grapefruit, caramel malt, bitter as it was meant to be, a true west coast classic beer, Stone has come away from this style in the last few years, but it good to see them put this out, because as they say, most people think or say they had this beer, but really they did not, it was a very limited release, I do remember that, it was only available in very few states, and really only widely available in California — 9 years ago

Mitchell Mulder

9.1

Fresh bottle, re- review, still almost the same, again this Green Flash beer, not Alpine, still very good, but not like the one you can only get at Alpine Brewery, that goes for all the beers you see on the shelf, very disappointing, that they did not keep the true recipe when the merger took place of Green Flash and Alpine, why? I do not know, the only thing must be to keep down the cost, well that is a bad thing, because this brewery, had some of the best beers in the world, and to down Grade them is a big mistake, so lower points for that — 9 years ago

Laur

9.7

Really loved this. Soft tannins, balanced acidity, just the right amount of fruit. Opened up beautifully as a meal of fennel salad, ricotta and peppers, halibut with potatoes and green beans, and finally a perfectly cooked steak progressed. Re-do any time. Happy birthday to me! — 10 years ago

Dave Wismer

9.4

Back to Portugal. Re-do pic for Jo. If you like your Booze with cherries this is your bottle. — 10 years ago

with Mark, Jo and 1 other

JeremyC

9.3

Loved so much had to re buy which I nvr do. Got over the anger of seeing it at kl after bringing it back from FR. Accidentally prev gave a crappy rating but the wine is stellar, balanced complex and delicious. Actually just bought 3 more btls as KL is fire saling. — 6 years ago

romo

9.1

When Kermit Lynch tells you to re-visit the islands, you do it. #vermentino #corsicanwine — 7 years ago

Erica Sarlo

9.3

Pure unsweetened Honest Tea flavor. Also Michelle Williams is in the back of this photo starring at our poor use of the flash. Jessi don’t look now. — 7 years ago

with Jessi

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

One of my favorite things to do when I go into K&L is to look through their library wines. From time to time, I look down and smile when I see 10-15 year old Cing Cepages. Especially, at the price they are re-sold. One the best values in Sonoma/Napa Cabernet. This 05 followed the 05 Alban Reva and it was drinking perfectly. Soft, luxurious and elegant in the mouth. Beautifully ripe; black plum, blackberries, plum, dark cherries & black raspberries. Well balanced fruit and earth, nice baking spices, excellent florals, round acidity and well polished finish. For those of you drinking your new big red wines too young, this is they way to go. Buy library wines like these to keep you from opening your very high priced red wines long before they're ready to drink. Good library wines will drink much better and cost you so much less than your new big red wine releases. For example, I find these older Cing Cepages for around $35. The lowest price for their 2013 vintage on Wine Searcher is $59. For less $$$, you're drinking beautifully elegant and READY wine. For every new producers new release you buy, buy some nice library wines. You'll reap the benefits of patience down the road. Photos of; Chateau St. Jean, their vineyard grapes and Winemakers Margo & Don Van Staaveren and the Chateau St. Jean barrel/tasting room. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Gray

9.2

80+ year old vines. Old and insanely steep roman terraces planted to mencia. This wine needs a lot of air. If you don't give them air, they can seem like simple wines. I drank half, re corked and left alone in a cool place. Day 3 was nuts. Very intense representation of place. Electric acidity, vivid dark & juicy berries with intense granite minerality. Almost graphite like. If you like N. Rhone and Cru Beaujolais, pay attention to D. Ventura. — 9 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Has the presence of a serious sauvignon blanc from NZ but diff palate--all lemony and flores , short on the soapy finish common to Torrontes. Good maker. This was described as having "corpo" when in the wine shop/vinoteca. Mi suegra liked it, si do i. — 10 years ago

Patrick Harrington

10

When I lived in the DC area, I tried to have Sweet Katharine several times a year. Haven't been able to locate it in the Grand Rapids, MI area but if you're thinking about giving it a go, DO IT. You most certainly won't regret it.
Guess I'll order some.
— 10 years ago

Mitchell Mulder

9.0

I was slightly disappointed by this much talked about and praised IPA in the beer community, I like it, and think it had some nice things going for it, but I was not blown away like many are by this beer, nice middle of the country hops and well balanced malt , citrus, very pleasant and subtle, not in your face or palate IPA, 5.9 % ALC/VOL do not taste any of that, very good starter IPA for first timers, defiantly different then the West Coast IPA's I will keep this on hand and give more time to grow on me, only want to give more time because so many are big fans, will re review if something changes, — 11 years ago

Fernando Figueroa Sánchez

9.4

Frutos negros en sabor y olor. Regusto sabor higo y arándanos. Delicioso, solo eso sí, si no te agradan los vinos salados, este no es tu vino. Los vinos de la Ribera del Guadiana me recuerdan mi visita a Cáceres, la patria de Hernán Cortés, muy ácidos, ideal en un corte como Sirlon o Arrachera. Los vinos europeos no suelen ser tan salados, como los de México o Sudamérica pero éste es riquísimo.


Black fruits in flavor and smell. Incredible taste flavor figs and blueberries. Delicious, only that if you do not like salty wines, this is not your wine. The Ribera del Guadiana wines remind me of my visit to Cáceres, the homeland of Hernán Cortés, very acid, ideal in a cut like Sirlon or Arrachera. European wines are not usually as salty, like those in Mexico or South America but this one is delicious. — 7 years ago

Jose Menchero

9.0

Rico! Con mi amor! — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

Opened and decanted last Wednesday night and it was very clenched and unyielding. Disappointed, I re-corked and then audozed for a couple hours before Thursday night dinner. What a difference a day and some air makes! This is just mind blowing stuff from @Fraser McKinley when it’s given the proper treatment. Impossibly concentrated dark fruits, a creamy textured core, creosote, blood, iodine and mahogany mix and mesh and tantalize the palate. Get some of his stuff. When you do give it ample time and if you can’t do that give it the air it needs. You will reap the benefits. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Build-your-own-pizza night with our lovely brides, and I wanted to try something unique. I normally don't drink Cab Franc with pizza, but it actually worked nicely.

My introduction to Acumen was about 3 months ago and I had their Mountain cab...really liked it. Found out that Denis Malbec was the winemaker through 2015 before his passing, and @Steve Matthiasson was the viticulturist. Steve is now the winemaker. I was then re-introduced to Acumen by @Henrik Poulsen , who shares a love of cab franc, like I do! Henrik, thank you for getting me re-acquainted with Acumen! My understanding is that the Acumen cab franc was made in small numbers, and was mainly a project for the family to enjoy.

Acumen is an Atlas Peak project, so naturally I enjoyed it as Mountain fruit is my favorite. This cab franc needs air time, but even as it opens, there is no trace of green pepper. Tart and dark fruit dominate the nose, mainly dusty blackberries. Deep red/black in the glass. Very nice mid palate texture and the finish was of crushed rock, truffled mushrooms, blackberries, and a touch of rhubarb. Thanks again, Henrik! — 8 years ago

with Luke and Cody

Alice Jones

9.2

Re-do this rating. — 10 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

9.5

Now this. How do I explain this. 1949 magnum re bottle from chateau. Just exquisite and still red and fresh and fruity. Strawberries and dried cherries. Lovely and lively. — 10 years ago