Mason Balistreri

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

9.0

It's funny, the Syrahs from this winery I've had lately are ultra high tone, acidic with minimal body. This of course, is the opposite with huge amounts of ripe, creamy red fruits. There is a cream soda aspect here that is far too opulent for me. I could see alot of people enjoying this, but I was looking for something else. — 10 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.6

This was from the case @Jim Westby had bought decades ago- served blind with steak frites. Although it tasted far too young & fresh to be an 88, I couldn't think of a more recent vintage in this lighter, brighter style. It had so much minerality that I thought it was Graves! — 10 years ago

with Jim and Cleora

Levi London

9.1

Far from ready. — 11 years ago

Jay Svoboda

8.9

I'm going to come clean, I'm not a huge Caymus fan. It's by no means a bad wine - far from it - but I've always felt they blend their Cab with too much Zin. I could be wrong on that account, but I don't think I am. Still, a nice brooding nose of dark red and blue fruit, with a touch of candied fruit and wet earth. — 10 years ago

Bryan Garcia

Sales Grand Cru Selections

9.2

So much 🐴🍂✏️🚬 ! Nice to have an "off vintage" in pristine condition. Far from a blockbuster but delicious, soft, and very easy to drink. #birthyear — 10 years ago

Frances Hinson

9.5

Delicious blend from the North Cali coast. Dave Matthews part owner. — 11 years ago

Dmitri Bourkovski

9.6

The second best white from CA. — 12 years ago

Nicholas Livingston

9.3

A delicious nine vineyard blend from California's Central Coast. Hand harvested and fermented by ambient yeasts in open top fermenters and then aged without racking in French oak, 10% new. A richly scented but elegant Pinot Noir with a creamy texture for its duration on its lees and tart cherry and red currants with a pomegranate fruit tannin that is polished but complex and nuanced with a wisp of clove, camphor, and a trigeminal response almost menthol but more like a piney and resinous juniper berry. Would think because of its ratio between higher alcohol to fruit that this doesn't have forever but I would like to see this in a couple of years when the components fall into more balance. All the same, it is a delicious glass of wine and far more expressive than many at this tier. — 10 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.1

Leathery and spicy with good fruit intensity, length and texture. Bit of heat from the alcohol. Probably the best of this vintage I've had so far. — 10 years ago

Collin-Peter Casey

Northern California Sales Manager Weygandt-Metzler Importing

9.2

Valdespino night at the compound. Yeah, they make a shit load of it, and it's far from natural, but man... Do you give a shit about whether the Tequila , scotch, or beer you're drinking is " natural?" I like to think of it outside of the realm of wine, as it's really not unlike drinking a brandy or something. It's a grape product. Not much else. And it's good. — 11 years ago