James Forsyth

9.6

Next up was the 1968 from Periera D'Oliveira, which was bottled in 1996. And wow. Dark amber. Spice cake on the nose with dried apricots too, which carry on in the flavors on the palate. Initially spices are most distinct, but through the long finish the pitted fruit elements emerge. It is midweight and beautifully balanced. The orange peel at the end of the finish adds freshness, and the acidity gives a youthfulness to it. I think this wine is still in the market. If not too expensive, I might pick up a bottle and start my Madeira collection... — 8 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

Barolo and white truffle goes together like peanut butter and jelly. What a wine, so much dark fruit even at age ten. Still tightly wound I️t needed a good hour of decanting before some of the floral notes started to emerge with the usual tar and rose characteristics. This has a few decades left in I️t. If you are looking for top quality Barolo conterno francia is a great choice. — 9 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Savory nose with hints of dark fruit, countered by an explosive blackberry & black pepper palate. Tannins emerge with air & add textural nuance. Always a favorite. — 10 years ago

Wes Hagen

9.4

Light garnet with brick emerging on edge. Dried cherry and savory with tomato skin and hints of dried raspberry that has faded with age. Fascinating and purely new world, not a Burgundian clone. That said, a bit of tar and violet emerge as if to challenge my assertion, and in the mouth the wine is complex, earthy, tarry but still nerves with structure. A gorgeous testament to great farming and a light, masterful touch in the cellar. — 10 years ago

Scotti Wilson

8.9

A nice dry red — 11 years ago

Steven Weisler

9.3

Firm for the first hour. Then an incipient roundness begins to emerge. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel... — 11 years ago

Weibo Jiang

9.7

Tight, reserve yet polished upon opening. 很女性很温柔的感觉。After 15 min in the glass emerge with cherry liqueur, perfume, rose petal, gaining a bit more weight, expansive on palate and solid yet delicate finish. 非常柔亮，有10年清冷坚实的结构。 — 13 years ago

with Laury, Yonan and 3 others

David Kline

9.5

Dense red currant is ‘wrassled’ down by fennel aromas, mint and black cherry with strawberry and blackberry hidden beneath its thick canopy of fern and forrest; including moss and mushroom. Actually amazing! Not going to ever guess that this herbaceous monster with rim to rim colt density is an 11 yr old Calistoga! Meaty notes of grill and marinated fungi. Celeriac root, fennel and licorice notes define this angel with a minty coolness persisting! Blackberry and black cherry emerge in the finale to shine like young wine despite the years!#Larkmead #2007cab #Calistoga #Napa #napacab — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Gordon L

9.2

Classic claret. 89 and humming. Still needs years for tertiary flavors to emerge. Can't beat it with a rare prime rib in the background. — 9 years ago

Matt Yaeger

9.2

Crushed strawberries, and a definite dill note on the finish. Structured too: noticeable acidity and integrated tannins. Tertiary flavors starting to emerge. A classy wine. — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.7

This had a marvelous perfumed nose, redolent with dark fruit, garrigue, spices and pepper. The wine is just delightful, a more grown up, sophisticated version of the ’45, lacking some of its zest, but expressing beautiful composure, seductive in its remarkable balance. You get licorice and sweet truffles past the mid palate, it is showing somewhat more lavish fruit than its more famous ’61 sibling, thyme and provencal herbs emerge next, and the beautifully cushioning tannins are evident in the midst of the sumptuous fruit, all cohering so wonderfully on the brilliantly elegant, panache-filled finale. — 10 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.2

This was classic with ripe red cherry, rose, and irony earth. With several hours' air some tar started to emerge, so this is quite tightly wound, even if enjoyable for those who like tannic wines. Rating for now; with the flavor intensity and structure in 10-20 years this wine should be shooting for the moon! — 11 years ago

with Rajiv

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

The nose shows lots of stewed berries with a touch of bramble happening in the background. Raspberry and chocolate flavors emerge on the palate, with short pleasurable tannins. — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Got another ‘08 to try. Dark red color, black fruit aromas, notes of sweet savory spice. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavors emerge, not as jammy as previous tasting showed, with oak, leather and some cacao. Good balance and integration of Tannins and acidity. This full body wine finished very smooth. Drink up, it's a gem. — 8 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Very good and is slowly evolving from primary fruits to secondary flavors.
Dark fruits,and grilled meats with leather and tobacco flavors starting to emerge.
Still is youthful and has many more years to go. — 8 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.0

90 points like everything on delectable! Actually delicious wine from a decent vintage. Drinking excellent right now. Pretty Magenta color. Complete CdP nose with pepper, rose petals, garrigue, strawberry and spice. Soft and supple. Just a great wine. Blackberry, sage and fresh green tobacco emerge over time — 9 years ago

Julia Indik

9.4

Floral aroma then early flavors of cherries and plums but after it opens then deeper flavors emerge along with an undercurrent of leather with a brisk finish — 10 years ago

Eric Urbani

8.9

Needs several hours of air to emerge, wasn't able to last that long so my rating is an estimate !
— 11 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.2

 Excellent and powerful nose with lots of flower stems and black flowers. Tightly wound, with fruit just beginning to emerge. Only 5 barrels produced — 11 years ago

CYesh

9.9

Secondary aromas and flavors are finally starting to emerge with beautiful balance. Long life ahead. Spectacular wine. — 13 years ago