Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby in colour. All the classic Cabernet descriptors - Blackberry cassis, black olive and of course Mint - textbook Coonawarra Cabernet. On the palate such purity - ground cocoa, call it dark chocolate, berry fruits, touch of cedar. This wine at 10 years of age, whilst only young, and will live at least another decade, is drinking beautifully now. Made by the talented Sue Bell who was the Dux of the 2007 Len Evans Tutorial ( a handpicked group of only 12 - outstanding winemakers, somms and other full time wine professionals. Aubert de Villaine every year generously donates a mixed dozen of DRC, such was his friendship with Len Evans and James Halliday). Needless to say Sue Bell has one of the best palates in the country. A few years ago she was a guest Judge at the Toowoomba Wine Show where I often judge. I was in awe of her knowledge and her palate. On the strength of this wine I will order her 2015 Cabernet. — 5 years ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

8.9

It’s got age and showing well. good balance of flavors. Nice chocolate there. — 6 years ago

Marc vanholst

9.8

What a privelege to be able to taste this in presence of Aubert de Villaine and Bertrand de Villaine. Silky, smooth and gentle with incredible length. A beauty. — 7 years ago

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9.6

Good dark red; not crystal-clear. Very ripe, musky, multidimensional nose combines blackberry, raspberry, violet, earth, game, black pepper and herbs, plus a positive vegetal nuance. Plush, silky and very ripe but not particularly sweet, with concentrated dark fruit, spice and pepper flavors complicated by a hint of prune. ("More fruit ripeness than the '15," noted Aubert de Villaine just moments after we had tasted the '15 La Tâche) Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a note of licorice. Not particularly high in acidity but this extremely complex wine is still just short of its peak drinking window. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, March 2018) — 7 years ago

Maciej Kurka

9.2

Great find at Independent Spirits on Broadway in Chicago. Reminds me of recent '14 Gouges and A et P de Villaine. Opens up with tartness and bitterness that mellows with time to pleasant plum flavors. In color too more intense. Medium tannins. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

From the folks who brought you (in label order from top to bottom) Anamoly and Zeitgeist, Hyde de Villaine and Long Meadow Ranch, Terra Valentine, Massican and Larkmead, Hobel and Milton Road Trading Co., lead by a Master Sommelier employed by Dana Estates, previously with Harlan, Bond, and Promontory, and the sell side being handled by a VP of marketing from Michael Mondavi's Folio.

The stated goal was to create the best pound for pound Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa (highest QPR). The band pooled resources and pulled favors, sourcing the grapes from "one of 'those' vineyards" that cannot be named due to a NDA. 18 months in 1-year old French oak. 15% Merlot and 2% Cab Franc round the balance of Cabernet Sauvignon.

I knew going in this would not be an over extracted fruit bomb, but upon opening I had my concerns that this might be too far in the opposite direction. Fortunately, after 30-45 minutes, it started adding weight like a prize fighter after weigh-in. Acacia flowers, melted licorice, black fruit, with plenty on mineral laced, satiny tannin. Give this an hour, wait for your second glass, and it will envelop you. 93+

And for the record, my guess is they sourced the grapes from a Spring Mountain vineyard. — 9 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Lemon/lime. Tart balance. Lean Chardonnay. — 9 years ago

with Grace, William and 1 other

p w

9.3

1940 DRC RC - recorked in 1986 - evolved over a couple hours - wildly oscillated between notions of dark fruit & floral/wood tones — 10 years ago

with Mark

Gilbert Lara Jr

9.6

2006 The Hyde & De Villaine Families Syrah Hyde Vineyard Carneros — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Nice Provence Rose from Le Domaine de Triennes & the team of, Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée Conti & Jacques Seysses of Dujac.

Classic, well crafted, great on a warm day & palate shifter from white to red. Excellent QPR @ $15...not giving up my Domaine Tempier habit but, will get worked into the mix.

I won’t open another bottle for one to two more years. Needs some bottle evolution to soften its sweetness and integrate in IMHO. — 5 years ago

Steve S

9.0

Aubert. Classic — 6 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.2

So this was amazing....tasted blind..I thought without question...burgundy....damn good, acid and mineral all present with great fruit and oak balance. Just a killer Chardonnay — 6 years ago

with Ryan and Deb

ADAM STROMFELD

9.3

Big red fruit on the nose. Definitely Sonoma nose. Pairing this wine stone fish turns this into an elegant earthy terroir driven beauty! Mushrooms and earthy — 7 years ago

with Joe

Sarah O'Kelley

8.9

I agree with other comments - very reductive and bold but some pretty orchard fruit behind that and plenty of minerality. Perhaps not as pretty as villaine! — 8 years ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.5

Best tasting of the day! — 9 years ago

Darren Dittrich

9.2

Lovely... Certainly more reserved than West Coast Pinots, lighter, brighter, more mineral. After some air, we could not stop drinking this one! — 9 years ago

Dave Weick

9.0

Nice wine. 2001 vintage - nicely aged. Tannins are softened. Black cherry, cassis, dried fruit... — 9 years ago

Piet Sanders

9.2

back in the game — 9 years ago

Ezequiel Lamb

9.0

Ezequiel had this 10 years ago

Adam Shaylor

9.1

Honey, lemon, and hints of minerality. This is something special. — 6 years ago

Eric

9.4

50/50 (give or take) Cab and Merlot. Tart raspberries and baking spice. — 6 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

Domaine A. ET P De Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise “Les Clous” - so this is my first time with this vineyard but De Villaine is pretty solid on most of there bottlings - some undergrowth , cherry fruit ,Stoney , earthy but lean almost sarsaparilla, rose petal character — 6 years ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.7

So much fun — 7 years ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.2

Very nice. Hdv wines have wonderful noses. — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Not the Guerra, but thats the only rose they have listed on Delectable
Great Rose, hard to find though — 8 years ago

R Bl

9.1

Aromatic, classic red fruit, good balance with subtle forest floor and tar. — 9 years ago

Nate Miles

9.0

Aubert Villaine says he drinks 5-7 year old Aligote whilst at home. Who am I to argue? Pears and stones and something else on which I cannot put me finger. — 9 years ago

mattswineworld

9.4

Seriously tasty and drinkable Viognier; floral and fruity, but balanced. — 9 years ago

Mark

9.2

A wonderful chardonnay, able to stay with a beef roast in spite of its age. A real winner. — 9 years ago

Kimberly Charles

9.6

Dry-farmed 100% exquisite balanced inspired by Aubert de Villaine — 11 years ago

with Alexandra