Sharon Harrison

8.9

The 2017 Pessimist has a powerful and intensely aromatic nose that ascends to greet you with blueberry, boysenberry and black plum fragrance. Evolving layers reveal elderberry and truffle, with cocoa and cardamom spice accents, further augmented by hints of eucalyptus, leather, cherry pipe tobacco and grilled meats.
Broad and expansive on the palate, bestowing lush and generous flavors of black cherry, blueberry, crème de cassis and damp forest floor. Notes of lavender, anise and black olives complement the rich fruit. Massive in weight yet elegantly structured, this wine is a powerhouse that reveals itself in controlled stages .
The finish is smooth and leisurely. Essences of pure dark berry fruit seemingly refuse to abate with a gorgeous fitting finale. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

Just concluded our annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

60% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, for the 2005 vintage blend. This label features Redhead ducks, which we have commonly seen occupying our beachfront, not this year unfortunately.
Nose has vanilla bean, pipe tobacco, ripe cherry, ripe blackberry, prune (light) and over-ripe plum.
Palate has rich blackberry & cherry, oak plank, chalk (light), dried strawberry, ripe plum and raisin (light).
Beautifully long finish and tannins are long gone; this bottle is at the end of its life, also our last bottle of this vintage. Always interesting to see how long they will hold. The labels have always been a favorite of ours. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

After trying this, I was informed that this one had been slow-oxing for 3 days! Soft quality with very rounded edges. Red and black fruits here get you right in the front with a dried nut character. Plum, pipe tobacco, a little foresty in the middle. Finishes with a lot of elegance but still has enough grip and pepper that it would go very well with really just about any food or fare. If this wine is drinking this well after 3 days, it still has a ton of life left! — 5 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Martijn

9.5

Rain, hail, 7 degrees Celsius in May. Time for some fire and toro wine! Some iberico ham and bang we are back in Spain. Purple red. Almost black in the middle. Big nose: figue, almondpaste, hay, cedarwood, pipe tobaco, chocolate. Wow in the mouth. Big Bold taste which finishes over the minute. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This wine is made by Michel Rolland. Large and in charge merlot. Mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, and a lot of ripe blackberry. Nutmeg and cinnamon. Cab lovers merlot. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is a sample of the 16 Insignia still in barrel.

On the nose, the dark fresh florals exploded. The fruits are very dark currants and well extracted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries and blue fruits hues on the edges of the glass. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, core of anise and fields of violets.

The body is thick and full. The wine still very fresh. The tannins big, meaty and chewy. The dark fruits are quite floral. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries with blue fruits. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, crushed dry rocks, river stones, tough leather, cedar, core of anise with red flowers and fields of violets. Very good round acidity. The long, big, ruby, lush, well balanced finish is beautiful.

The fruit, tannins and acidity all speak to it being 95+ and a long cellar.
— 6 years ago

Sheri Pattillo

Consulting Sommelier Texas Hill Country

9.2

Roses, leather, pipe tobacco, black cherry, lingering finish. — 8 years ago

Penny Halvorsen

9.1

Good young wine Notes of pipe and clove — 9 years ago

with William

David Sawatzky

8.9

Sweet and tasty, nice after dinner treat. — 10 years ago

Justin Hart

9.5

Wow! What a difference 5 years makes! I always suggest, when people are trying this wine in the tasting room, to try laying this wine down for at least 3 years. It changes so much! Smells big a fruity on the nose, with a kick of strawberry fruit leather with a side of raw bacon. On the palette is is definitely fruit forward, jammy, but not cloyingly so. When this wine was young that fruit was all bound up, now just oozes deliciously around your mouth. Strawberry, vanilla, and pipe tobacco dominate initial experience, followed by progressively mellower notes of herbs, green olives and pomegranate. Yum!! — 5 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Shay A

9.1

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Nice to revisit this from earlier in the year. Out of the flight, I found this to be the most aged. Integrated. Dusty and underripe black cherries on the nose with herbs. Cherry pipe tobacco, bayleaf and leather on the palate with a fading structure. Drink up. I guessed early ‘90s left bank Bordeaux. — 5 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza Rioja is a compelling blend of 65% Tempranillo, and 25% Garnacho, with equal parts Mazuelo and Graciano. This single vineyard Rioja opens with an intense bouquet of sandalwood with pipe tobacco, leather and red fruits that align with the citrus zest and peat moss undertones. The palate revels in its silky texture and soft mouthfeel. Generous red fruits dance with exotic spices, and shades of orange infused black truffle on this exotic palate. Marvelous now at the nine year mark, the 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92 — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

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.

Another very good wine. Super soft. Tastes more modern in style. Ripe. Mixed berry pie, chocolate covered cherry cordials and pipe tobacco notes. Balances fruit and savory notes. With an extended decant, this is very enjoyable now, but will get better. I called this ‘14 Left Bank. Thanks @Colby Siratt . — 5 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Christopher Fowler

9.0

Dark chocolate on the nose. Medium body. Sweet tobacco and ripe fruit on the palate. — 5 years ago

with Tricia and Michael

LM Segal

9.9

BBQ smoke, hot espresso beans, black cherry paste lead a lifted and broad, completely integrated beam of burnt strawberry, pipe tobacco and dark cassis. 60 second finish was interfered only with an imperative to go back for more. Fully resolved and at its peak, cork on the verge of danger. Unreal. — 6 years ago

Beau Carson

9.2

Spectacular, and worked perfectly with teriyaki and pork chops. Mocha, pipe tobacco, black cherry, rich, and nice dusty tannins. — 7 years ago

Andres Montoya

9.2

Elegant, dried flower, eucalyptus, sweet pipe smoke, dark chocolate. — 8 years ago

with Martonio, Alex and 1 other

Kyle Groombridge

9.4

A gift from Larry Tsai himself! Beautifully structured Cabernet.. red fruits galore on the nose, with a hint of cinnamon, and milk chocolate as it opens up in glass. Rich redcurrant on the pallet with a touch of pipe tobacco.. lovely stuff as always! — 8 years ago

Eric Grasser

9.0

1995 Brunello Classico. Brick-brown in color. Fully matured. Aromas of pipe tobacco, ground cocoa, worn horse saddle and dried cherry. — 9 years ago

Alina Ferguson

10

Damn good! Need to make a run up north again! :D — 10 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2016 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon is a show-stopping wine from winemaker Steve Levesque. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with the core fruit sourced from a barrel selection from the Sacrashe Vineyard. Simply captivating, this opens to inviting aromas of ripe dark currants and blueberry compote that collide with violets, tar and shades of sweet pipe tobacco that all sing in the glass. On the palate this is soft and plush, with beautifully round polished tannins and a gorgeous seamless quality, as well as wonderful weight that truly entices. It continues to deliver layers complex flavors including blueberry compote, leather, mocha, creosote and shades of Asian spices that all build up to the long multidimensional finish. While a delight in its youth, the 2016 'Katheryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon should also go on to provide enjoyment for twenty years. Drink 2020-2038- 97 — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group night. Our theme was American oak vs French oak. All wines tasted blind. We started off with two bottles of bubbly and finished with two non-themed reds.

Posting my review from a few months back as my experience was the exact same.

Very ripe and integrated. Full spectrum of red and black fruit, cassis, pipe tobacco and worn saddle leather on the nose. Structure was still very solid with plenty of tannins at the finish to keep this upright. Round on the palate...dark cocoa dusted dates, roasted plum, cardamom and muddled raspberries. Drinking really well but will probably hold in this window for a few years. — 5 years ago

with Jack, Mark and 4 others

Shay A

9.7

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

Cerebral and spectacular. Best Bordeaux I’ve had. A stunning showing at 19yrs young. I called this early 2000s Bordeaux but actually thought it was Right Bank...there is a gorgeous medley of soft and ripe dark blue and black fruit here. Not juicy, but more floral and expressive. Palate was lifted with fantastic structure and softened tannins (thanks to 4hrs in the decanter). Pipe tobacco but hardly any herbal or leather notes. The softness of this wine is what made it a star. Flavor without being dense. Co WOTN. — 5 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Ara Aslanian

9.5

Beautiful nose; pipe tobacco, leather, earthy. Long finish. — 5 years ago

Christopher Fowler

9.0

Medium/light body. Enough tannin to give it a backbone. This one's a treat. — 6 years ago

with Linda and Michael

Kevin

9.0

Very close to peak condition to drink. 13 yr old cab based wine shows pipe tobacco, plum and wood aromas. Med tannins with solid finish-90 points. 2004 vintage drank August of 2017. — 7 years ago

Matthew Beninati

9.3

Solid purchase from 90 +. Strong vanilla coffee and pipe tobacco. Finishes remarkably smooth for such a young cab. Will probably be better in 5 years, but this does not disappoint now. — 8 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

The sweet smoke of a pipe and the deep dark depths of a plum jam and cranberry sauce. #vegasicilia — 8 years ago

Diedra West

9.5

Diedra had this 9 years ago

Ian Burrows

Sommelier Atelier Crenn

9.0

Ripe Red Cherry & sour plum, fennel fronds, pipe tobacco, subtle black truffle and smoke. — 10 years ago