Byron C Mayes

9.0

Deep gold. Inviting nose of lemon curd and honey. Full-bodied dry palate echoes the nose adding quince, white pepper notes, and white flowers. Medium plus acidity. This is not your father’s Pinot Gris. Barrel fermented and complex, this PG will support a wide range of fall and winter fare from pasta carbonara and casseroles to roasted poultry and roots. Drink now through 2029. Maybe longer. — 5 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.4

Always love the wines that come out of this winery and this Syrah is no exception. Such a nice balance of pepper and dark fruit. Definitely filter this one, lots of sediment. Drinking very well right now. — 6 years ago

Patrick Blanchard

9.0

Its red, its good, its smooth. Had it at home with Turkey pot pie. — 7 years ago

Diederick Swagemakers

9.0

Thanks @Eric Hoepelman ! Ben geen cognac drinker maar toch van genoten👊 — 8 years ago

Irene Anderson

9.4

Wonderful wine! — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Over 30 years ago, Jack Cakebread came to photograph Napa for a book & bought a vineyard, Cakebread Cellars was born. I always liked Cakebread’s wine offerings, Chardonnay is no exception, consistent quality year/year. This was an early harvest showing aromas of green fruits, citrus & honey scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, melon & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with sweet mineral spice. Nice now but a few years in cellar will benefit. — 8 years ago

Brenda C

8.9

2010 and old vintage may not age well. But this is an exception. DOCG
Floral and honey
FI $49.99 — 9 years ago

David MacMillan

9.0

Decent bottle of champagne by Scottish New Year standards......not quite a gravelly mouth feel but super-brutish. Some toast, lemon and decent acidity.....definitely quaffable according to the old man, who claims not to be drinking but it is one ahead of me... — 9 years ago

joy horn

9.2

Bought 9/20 at Pine Orchard, $54. Not usually a fan of CA pinot, but this is an exception. Very smooth, mellow fruit flavors, long finish. — 5 years ago

Ryan Weber

9.0

Vietti is always great, and this Nebbiolo is no exception. High acid up front, with ripe red fruit and earthiness on the palate. A bit more reserved than their Barolos, but well balanced and a mainstay in the collection. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.

My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.

The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.

The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.

Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.

Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

The Sweet Life is fast becoming a Martha's Vineyard fixture. A young couple run the place and put a twist in classic dishes, locally sourced. This means that the menu might not always be completely accurate but market driven changes are always appreciated. Vajra's Albe is always a delicious choice, especially for the price. The 2012 is no exception - light bodied, red fruit, rose petals and leather. It was the standout value on the list. — 8 years ago

with Cara

Carl Fischer

9.6

Bright cherry colored in the glass. The nose explodes with cassis and blueberry jam, graphite and tobacco. There is no way you would ever know this was a 2011. EVER. This has a rich palate dominated by black fruit and cassis with a subtle mineral vein. Long finish. Great balance. Their wines are consistent and classic in style. I have had every vintage of this wine from their inaugural release in 1992 and with maybe (?) one exception have loved each one. If you have not yet tried a Seavey or visited them you should put them high on your list. Their Merlot is also insane. — 9 years ago

Benoit Duhamel

9.3

Très jeune, trop jeune... j’adore le Beaucastel vieilles vignes. Celui-ci ne fait pas exception. Le vin est pataud, riche, pas d’acidité, mais la texture en bouche est splendide et la finale ultra longue. À ce stade le vin est un peu sur les agrumes, les fleurs mais principalement sur le miel. Super match avec du comté ! — 5 years ago

Eric

9.4

Love their style, vintage, and bottle variance and this one’s no exception. Smooth tart and rich. Prefer their Merlot to their Cabernets. — 6 years ago

Ken Z

9.2

Drank 11/8/18. Tasting pour.

Nose of baked almond pastry and yeast, with some light caramel notes. Palate of almonds, green apple, brioche. Delicate mousse, medium finish.

4/22/9/4/3 + 50 = 92 pts — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

Bolly GA pink hits the spot & this £74 05 is no exception!

🍾 Disg’d May 15

🍇 72% PN & 28% C

🍷 Peachy salmon pink

👃 Toasted almond brioche & yeasty fresh bread, soft oak soaked peach, fallen red apples & red currant w/ pink blossom & smoke

👄 Med bodied fine bubbled creamy zesty fresh persistent mouse of red apple, sour peach, citrus zests, red currant, cherry, bread & creamy shortbread biscuit in med acidity

🎯 Med+ citrus zest, red apple & cherry dry biscuity linger w/ a touch of pink grapefruit — 8 years ago

Mark Morgan

9.6

'06 was a great vintage for Peay and this is no exception. Drinking very well right now with a few years left. — 9 years ago

.:;2):’kicndnebxhjd

9.1

I think it's hard to find a Chardonnay like this in the world so I stashed a bottle. It has the butterscotch fermentation element on the nose that says "California" which I love in steady doses. And it has the live, cold and ripe citrus acid element and that I find in Chablis. On top of that it's not very buttery, it has subtle minerality, stroke of vanilla.. there's a chance you drink this wine at the right day and time and can think it's a perfect 10 Chardonnay isn't in my wheelhouse of loves but this is an exception. For me tonight it's just missing... Peaches🍑 — 9 years ago

Jamie Wallace

9.2

Great Rosé champagne — 9 years ago