Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 8 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Since Fass is offering the 2019 as a cellar release from the winery i went back to taste the vintage. 2018, 19, 20, 21 are all excellent and different. The 18‘ is more wild and rich, the 19‘ quite elegant and the 20‘big while the 21‘ is probably my favorite a combination of 19‘ & 20‘. The 19 is classic E&M i would drink the vintage and not keep it. Light and elegant, dark cherries, lime, chalk and this hard to define E&M signature best described as black forest meadow with thyme and other herbs. I could drink this by the bucket. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.9

Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 3 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.2

Those who follow me will know that this is a rare one for me, but I don’t have too many half bottles and my alcoholism took over late tonight and made me open something. This is one of the lightest Cabernet Merlot blends I’ve ever had. It’s still quite tannic but the winemaking is there. Seems to open a little over time and you can taste the French terroir. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 6 years ago

RustyR

8.9

Second night in a row for this wine. Very austere when opened had with a meal this time. Nose is same still little Woody with vanilla/oak. Cherry cough syrup comes in. Mouth feel is better on this one much softer (maybe open longer?) more fruit in front but still has mid finish. Good. I'd bump it up a point from last time — 8 years ago

Jordan Gianelli

9.5

Loved it at Press in St Helena after Albariño and Pinot Noir. Strong but soft, my happy place when one begins to describe older characteristics in a wine without the wine becoming a dead piece of acid without elegance and all you are left with is a sharp sensation and a longing to have opened the wine 10 years ago. Anyhow- beautiful wine and definitely the time to drink it!! — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.7

2013 vintage. From Jay. Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 2013 - Quick Note/Initial Thoughts: Lovely light ruby colour - really has sparkle. Strong presence of red fruits on the nose together with forest floor and brown spice - This is very special on the nose with fabulous balance between intensity and concentration. Across the palate the wine displays the power one always associates with La Tache but it is somewhat reigned in at this stage, however, the undercurrents are there and will certainly express themselves in time. Unlike the Richebourg that is playing its cards closer to its chest at the moment, this wine is clearly destines to be profound. 97/100. Drink 2028 to 2045.
— 9 years ago

Tina Termsomket

9.6

Carried this back 8 years ago when i visited Bodega the first time. This wine is traditional classic old school Rioja- earthy and fully developed primary nose, soft acid n tannin, haunting finish... 🍷💃 — 11 years ago

with Jon

Jay Kline

9.3

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex, spicy and tangy. Rich and elegant.

Showing a great mouthfeel with good balance.

Needs 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent, although not as good as their Estate Cabernet.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

A nice sipping wine, good by itself or with food.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 9 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

Time has been mind to this Antinori Tuscan. Timidity of three years ago has passed and this baby is entering adulthood. — 3 years ago

with Logan

Christian Fischer

9.4

After a coffee chat at work yesterday that ended discussing Hillside Select I was motivated to open one for the holiday weekend. Initially I was very disappointed as the wine was flat and uninspiring considering the pedigree and price tag. Read some reviews that this 2013 needs A LOT of air and sure enough after hours the wine began to evolve and markedly improve. It is an intense wine that lingers in the mouth for a long time. Smooth tannins, red fruit and tobacco flavors. Not my most favorite wine and not at the $229 I paid, but nonetheless a very good wine once it had the chance to get some air for a few hours — 4 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

As the summer is slipping out of our hands, its time to to pop those complex reds that we’ve been lastning for. Produttori del Barbaresco is considered one of the best cooperatives in the world and its 2016 Barbaresco is a solid proof of that statement.
Restrained at first and needs a couple of hours in the decanter to reach its climax. True to its provenance its clasically crafted, and puts up complex profile of red cherries, rose hip, strawberries, spice, bitter orange and a volatile dried floral lift over a canvas of wet soil.
An offensive approach on the palate with a high acidity and a generous portion of mouth coating tannins that is well accompanied by a pronounced fruit profile with an evolving finish. Very good indeed, but is a couple of level behind to reach the higher tiers. — 5 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

En Magnum. Still a bit brambly on the nose and evolving in the glass. There is a richness and depth that will enhance over time. Rich and lithe. BBB 2017 — 8 years ago

with Gregory and Chad

Ira Schwartz

9.4

I can not recall the last time I drank a '92 California Cabernet , additionally this is the most approachable Dunn HM I recall tasting. On the nose a potpourri of herbs, tobacco and leather. Full bodied in the mouth with smooth tannins buffering and onslaught of dark fruits.. A very nice extended finish is the icing on the cake for this terrific wine. — 8 years ago

Mason Balistreri

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

9.3

My mom is in town so I figured it was time to open some nice wine. Like others said here, the 1999 takes some time to open up. No fruit at all at first but then you get this beautiful strawberry and licorice and that beautiful aged subtle American Oak spice blend. Great body and deep dark color that doesn't suggest it's age. — 9 years ago

with Kate

Eric Egan

9.2

Super-weird bottle. Mid-shoulder, crumbly cork, and the colour of freshly pressed strawberry juice - extremely pale as slightly cloudy! The immediate scent was quite off-putting but after 30 minutes it stormed back! Scents of autumn mulch, burning vine roots, sour cherries, and raspberry compote. A weird sourness and heady acidity on the front of the palette but it still keeps together well. Clearly badly kept but still really interesting to drink! A true testament to The quality of Mouton under the stewardship of the late Baron. I wonder if this is what some of the better kept bottles might be like in 100 years' time!? — 9 years ago

William Hughes

9.2

Time to drink this. My Veteran's Day wine for my first holiday since retiring from the military. Leather, garrigue, dark fruits, and a fine incense aroma. 1994 has a higher percentage of Mourvèdre than is typical of Beaucastel. Tasting better than the pundits said this wine would. — 11 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 9 months ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Opus One tasting

2019 Opus
2017 Opus
2012 Opus

The 12 drinks really well with time to go but hard to imagine it gets a lot better, the 17 was uninspiring with muted nose and subdued taste, the 19 has good potential in 6-9 years. Note: Pours were a little light for the price, so buyer beware! — 2 years ago

with Karin and Brenda

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is a powerful, muscular wine that speaks with booming authority. Blackberry, gravel, chocolate, spice and lavender are some of the many aromas and flavors that saturate the palate. Far from an easygoing 2018, the M. Étain is a brooding Cabernet that needs time in bottle to allow the formidable tannins to soften. It remains one of the most distinctive wines made in Nape Valley. Dollops of Merlot and Malbec from the back of the property round out the blend. There are 2,400 cases of the 2018, a large production within the context of Napa Valley for a wine of this level. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago

Brett Rogosin

9.0

Beautiful even color. Nose of ripe red plum, plum skin, leather, wet cinnamon bark, wood bark and some vanilla. Stay ok some grippy tannins with acidity that hits the tip of the tongue and slowly expands around the outside of the mouth. Palate transfers through with some dark chocolate and blackberry. This can use time, but is quite tasty right now. — 5 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.4

Outstanding power is hidden underneath its youthful facade, it needs time to evolve, either in the decanter or cellar. It shows a dense fruit profile, ripe but with a vibrant backbone, evolving complexity that developing through a long finish. — 7 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.7

Fuck me! I have never had a Leoville Barton at this level! The nose actually made me hard. Probably smelled it for 15 minutes before my wife told me to eat my damn dinner. This is one sexy bitch. Total balance. Great complexity. Wanting for nothing. Give it a 30 minute decant and sit back and enjoy. I'd happily trade a 2010 Hundred Acre for another one of these. Not going to bullshit you with hints of truffle and smoke and other bullshit...this is just damn fine wine...thy I have had way too much of tonight😳 — 8 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

The beauty of great producers in great regions is how the wines wear the vintages & tell the story of that place & time. 2014's story & soul lie transparently in the texture. High toned, fresh red fruit with an acidic core which seems to brighten the wine as it breathes. The aromatics are never far from the palate here, as that is where the power lies. Undeniable floral & strawberry perfume overtake the senses as the glass is raised. Call me crazy, but this was a star alongside chicken Marsala. White in the sauce, red in the glass. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

2008 vintage. From Jay. 2008 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Dark saturated ruby colour. Big robust tannins. This wine has a massive spine and is all about power and structure. A very brooding wine which will need lots of time to develop. 92/100. Drink 2025 to 2040. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

2000 vintage. Deep ruby, edging to deep garnet around the rim, very bright. Plush on the nose. The black cassis notes from the Cab and the violets from the Cab Franc are very noticeable. The wine is developing with huge sweet spice, vanilla, smoke and leather. There's a bovril, meaty note here that's very attractive. On the palate, medium acidity, high tannin - grippy, but not coarse; well integrated. Alcohol is 13% and unobtrusive. Good concentration. Fruit is riper on palate than in the mouth, and a distinctive dark chocolate and cinnamon note. The finish is long and attractive. Hard to imagine this wine drinking any better from here. — 10 years ago

Mitchell Bennett

9.5

The Prisoner from Napa Valley is excellent--second time tasting, but first time with the bottle. Delicious both times. — 12 years ago