Steven Lee

9.3

Crushed rocks and mineral rocks. tannin is resolved and pencil lead and cassis. no vegetal but floral. i just not sure how far is from the latest vintage with those high scores — 2 years ago

Richard Russell

8.9

Really nice cab from discount rack — 4 years ago

Aravind A

9.1

Pop and pour, 1hr slow ox. Third btl from a half case. No brett or reduction on this btl, go figure (see previous notes for context). Lovely Cameron mushroomy funk, sandalwood, dark wild strawberry..fantastic purity. My favorite btl so far aromatically. On the palate: very good acidity, nice and savory with some earthy bark notes, maybe thinner than I would like, but very finely grained tannin on the finish. This btl is drinking very well now. — 5 years ago

George Chen

9.6

1929 vintage...bit Stew-y but wow the profile and finish rushed at you but lingers on finish like some exotic elixir from unknown tree...memorable wine for the ages! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

In hills of Paso Robles, not far from Hearst castle, there is a man with a Homeric vision. His name is Daniel Daou and he is devoting his life to creating outstanding Cabernet’s. Deep red with dark berry nose, aged for 11 months on French oak (60% new). On the palate blackberry, black cherry and licorice, pepper spice with savory fine tannins. Medium+ finish ending with cacao and earthy herbs. Great value. The ‘17 is a bit richer than ‘16. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Garrett Parker

9.0

Another solid Chardonnay from Far Niente. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

WNH event number 3...new world Pinot. Such a treat to experience the many different variations of Pinot!

The second of two white wines to get us started from @Shawn R . After seeing the scores that this has received I’ve been curious to try...for the price, I’m impressed. Lemon tart, stone fruit and mango on the nose with a rich palate...not quite reductive...poached pear honeyed cashews. — 8 years ago

with Mike, David and 4 others

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite deep ruby slightly narrower rim . This is more closed than any of the previous wines . Quite austere and more mineral , grafite notes . Quite serious on the palate with mineral and dusty cassis , cedar . Good refreshing acidity , slightly dry gritty tannins noticeable . This probably shows the best balance of the 4 so far , all the parts seem better integrated. Dark cassis , cedar and grafite , though not the marine/seashell influence of the 1995. Better length than all the previous wines . This will go further and is probably in the middle of its drinking window, from now and onwards for another 10 years perhaps ? — 3 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

Intense and dense but vivid aromas of strawberries, raspberry toffee, bramble, roses, Pronounced savoury and earthy spice character of cinnamon, nutmeg and a sweet vanilla note that brings a balanced complexity.
Palate is dry, medium acidity and Medium fruity tannins, soft and approachable but still it provides a solid framework that guards the palate, well integrated alcohol in a full body with a sweet and ripe, toffee like red fruit, profile that remain its nerve and tension and is far from feeling heavy. A dimensional complexity of vanilla and spice brings nuance a cross the mid palate through a solid finish that falls a tad short from the major league. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I had a number of 1997’s of this late. A good wine & value in 97’s courtesy of Clyde Beffa. 2005 such a splendid vintage and still youthful.

Decanted around 11:45a today, poured around 8:30p with an Allen Brothers Ribcap and it is simply velvet in the mouth.

Recent spilt auction purchase with @Paul T- Huntington Beach for $35-$36 a bottle…in OWC. From the same Technical Team as Leoville Las Cases. Different terroir but, excellent experience.

Excellent, ripe candied fruit of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, raspberries, baked strawberries, dark spices, black licorice core, mid & dark colas, river stone, limestone alluvials, dry crushed rocks, dry tobacco, leather, saddle-wood, dark, rich, forest floor with dry leaves, some tree sap, tea leaves, soft, round, fresh herbs, dark, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is excellent. The finish has length, balance, polish for days that falls on excellent soft earthiness.

2007 Bordeaux’s are already following suit as the 97’s in a lot of cases…only better. Value vintages in Bordeaux if you go looking. — 5 years ago

Craig Daniels

9.1

Henry does it again with a lovely blend of different grapes. The shiraz is up front, so the pepper is there, it's dry, but not too dry.
Great price point at the LCBO, after the first trial bottle we raced back to get the rest from the shelf... sorry! — 7 years ago

mindy ki

9.5

Christmas gift from boys — 7 years ago

Hernan Hernandez

9.0

This is the only Chardonnay from Cali that I can actually enjoy so far. Not super oaky and it has some European influence in the wine making process. Bought at Riverdale Vintner. $21.99. — 8 years ago

Rufus King

8.9

Delicious, mildly spicy Australian Shiraz, gift from Far East trip, served with swordfish on Drakes Island — 3 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

N:Big petrol and varnish nose, caramel, to•bac•oh! A drawer full of secrets this.
P. Unctuous going in, liquid caramel, tree bark, smoky barrel, the sea.
Marvelous stuff from one vineyard ( Marchanudo Alto) rich in chalk, sometime under flor, some static.
18° watch out.
This from the Autumn Saca. — 3 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

8.9

Staff BBQ; minimal notes, but my ratings are accurate; balanced, enjoyable — 5 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.5

Super Bowl vertical. Dry, full bodied. Classic, outstanding Napa Cab from nose to finish. — 5 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Marshall H

9.0

Lovely throwback from our honeymoon!! — 6 years ago

with Jaime

Rufus King

8.9

Balanced Cabernet Sauvignon from Dave Matthews, light with grape flavor and low acid and tannin, at Dirty Water Pizza Co. In Back Bay, Boston — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.

This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.

The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.

The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.

12% ABV 👍

Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 7 years ago