Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose shows, ripe, stewed fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum & mix of blue & purple fruits. Anise, used tobacco, medium intensity dark spice, crushed rock powder, tarriness, dry brush, herbaceousness, steeped fruit tea, mixed berry cola, dark liqueur notes, whiff of green pepper, loamy soils, saddle-wood, moist clay, mocha powder, very understated baking spices, red, dark, fresh & withering, candied florals with shades of violets.

The body is medium and tannins still show dusty, tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are just shy of peaking. It’s elegant with juicy, ripe, slightly fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, black plum & mix of blue & purple fruits. Anise, used tobacco, medium intensity dark spice with some heat as it lingers on the palate, crushed rock powder, tarriness, dry brush, dry herbaceousness, eucalyptus, steeped fruit tea, mixed berry cola, dark liqueur notes, green pepper pops up here & there, brewed black coffee, loamy soils, dry river stone, saddle-wood, moist clay, dark chocolate, mocha powder, salted caramel, very understated baking spices, red, dark, fresh & withering, bright, beautiful, candied florals with shades of violets. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish glides over the palate and is; ripe, very floral, well balanced and persists nicely.

Photos of, Mayacamas, very old school cellar, old tasting room that burned in 2017 and their Mount Veeder Vineyard. — 7 years ago

Sean Grullon

9.5

Okay - fine. It’s a good, probably great wine. Overpriced? Yes. Opus is filled with pretentious douchbags? Double yes. But this is a well-made wine bridging a gap between Napa and Boudreaux. Dusty nose with menthol, earl grey tea, tobacco, flowers, cassis, and creamy dark fruits. It has a really nice velvety finish. — 8 years ago

Narun P

8.9

48 M, 38 CS and 14 CF with 7.3% vin de presse.

Intense garnet, transparent, compact rim.

Leafy cabernet aroma intermingling with subtle floral spices. Only slightest sign of hot vintage ripe fruit.

On the palate, it shows dusty tannin, med plus acidity, med bodied. Classic Bordeaux profile with dark cherry, cassis, gravel soil tone, hint of smokiness.

Very pretty wine that can be kept for 10 more years at least, though no reason to wait. 89. — 9 years ago

Mark Royer

9.4

Dusty tannin. Some Brett. Earth tobacco mushroom spice. High int acid. — 10 years ago

Jake Kimar

9.3

Dark fruits, dusty tannins, lively and focused on the palate. Not bad for 38 years young. — 10 years ago

K Wines

10

Great acidity, tobacco, toasty oak, subtle red fruits, dusty — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

10

Dark black currant, ripe black plum and blackberries, iron, white dried roses, forest floor, dusty cedar oakiness with a lingering red apple skin acidic finish. — 11 years ago

with Jenelle

Rick Little

9.5

Very easy to drink. Starts fruity and finishes dusty. Impressed. — 11 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Dusty red fruit, chicory, long and building finish. Very special. — 12 years ago

Scott Kirkpatrick

9.0

This was fantastic. Lots of earthy, dusty preserved red fruit. Not too tannic, but definitely still pretty tight. I'm so glad I have another bottle! — 12 years ago

Joe Kaiser

9.3

What a true expression of the Rutherford terroir, it had dusty notes with tons of dark blue fruit, still very young at 10-years of age, I think I might open one of my four left in 2024. So one of our friends needs to celebrate something special I 2014! — 7 years ago

with Debbie and bill

Victor Hwang

9.3

Par for course. Delicious fruit forward California Cabernet. No sediment. Sweet cherry fruit with dusty mocha tannins. Can’t wait to have this with the grilled rib eye! — 8 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

2nd wine of the 1983 horizontal series of the weekend. Mushroom and toast and currant on the nose. The wine is deep red with a slight orange rim. The palate is wonderful : currant, strawberry, coffee alongside the acid backbone, fully integrated tannins with some very slight dusty things, a long finish that lingers quite a bit with strawberry and raspberry. I freaking love it — 8 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

Deep ruby color. Dark berries and cherry liqueur on the nose with undertones of red licorice and garrigue. Concentrated dark, brambly fruit and light, dusty tannins on the palate with a long finish. — 9 years ago

with Kelly

Matt

9.4

Dusty, cigar ash, R. Apple skins, dried earth, spices, dried herbs, smoke. Structurally this wine is very sound with vibrant acid and tannin still holding on. Almost Nebbiolo-like in texture and elegance. Very pretty and beautiful. — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Rust...dusty and dried tertiary beauty of red fruits, spice, leather and forest floor...fun and actually better than the last bottle!

Should have used the #durand! Old Bordeaux transforms into a much wider spectrum of cuisine pairing. We had this with a seared duck breast and confit leg...excellent match! — 10 years ago

Dede Goodman

9.0

Dede had this 11 years ago

Yianni Stone

9.3

Dusty lean, uniform ripeness, bright acidity — 11 years ago

with Haley and Matt

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.1

The way C Classico should be. Purely red fruit, rose petals, earthy minerality, cedar and tobacco oak. Medium to light bodied, fresh and acidic, sour red cherry, cranberry and and a lovely long dusty oak finish. Good purity — 11 years ago

Kevin Walsh

Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting

8.9

2008. Dried cherry, black tea, dried mushroom and rose, prosciutto. Minerality is reminiscent of standing on a dry, dusty dirt road. Only criticism is that it falls off in the mid palate, but finishes with a nice gamey note. — 12 years ago

Andrew S

9.2

A lot of power, plenty of fruit and acidity for days. This is in a nice spot, but still on the way up. There’s a nice dusty/tar note, fennel, a touch of leather, maybe even a hint of violets. Best with a big rich meal. — 7 years ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.3

Dusty earth, liqueur cherries, candied violet petals, pomegranate, stewed strawberries, leather, anise; acidity is still super bright, fine, powdery tannins. — 8 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.4

At peak. Looking exactly as it should. Classic big Oz Cab Shiraz. Delicious ripe dark berries and Christmas cake spices. A touch of leathery development and dusty oak add to the complexity and satisfaction. An Oz, old school classic in a pretty good spot. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was fuller bodied & more primary than the LM with dark red cherry, plum, dusty leather & tobacco. — 9 years ago

Josh Weinstein

9.3

Dusty and sooo good. Wish my Thxgiving stomach bug would have allowed me to dive a little deeper into this one. Kdubs had solid pours. — 10 years ago

with Kristen

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Text book Brunello at a peak. Smooth dusty cherry on a structured backbone. No evidence of the hot vintage. Just a lovely bottle. years to go. — 10 years ago

with Roy and Judy

Brian Messineo

9.5

Dark cherries, menthol, tobacco and dusty tannins. So good. — 11 years ago

Gerald Montoya

9.5

Blackberry, casis, dusty earth, stones, stemy and gritty tannin. Brilliantly light texture(for cab) with depth and concentration. Had a great chill to the wine which left it refreshing and easy. A CA cab I can drink a whole bottle of! — 11 years ago

Les Huisman

9.2

11 years old, and delicious. Dusty sweet fruit and elegance. 2004 vintage. — 11 years ago

with Justin

Nick Wolfe

9.6

Wow. Long finish on this deep and beautiful wine. Roses, earth, chewy tannins, and something beautifully dusty. Just wow. — 13 years ago