Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

I recently review the 2016 Angels’ Share Shiraz, however the Gnarly Dudes packs a bigger punch. Deep and dark purple color with aromas of fresh blue/red fruits with spicy notes. The palate revealed rich ripe fruits, plum and blueberry with firm tannins and acidity to match. I noted some cacao, toasty oak, vanilla and black pepper on a lingering finish. If you open a bottle, give the wine a few minutes to let it approach it’s beauty. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Nathaniel DiMaggio

9.0

Extremely enjoyable cab right here. Has all the fixings. A great blend of blue and black fruit. Drink up! — 9 years ago

with Gregory

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Loads of blue fruit on the nose. Nice rich full blue fruits; blueberries, olallieberries, ripe black plum, blackberries, fair amount of baking spices(vanilla & cinnamon), medium body, round & elegant, tannin have nice evolution and are fine & dusty, dark & mocha chocolate, medium to medium + intensity on the dark fine minerality, violets, medium + acid, rich lush elegant dark fruit finish w/ lots of chocolate on the finish. — 10 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.7

Classic Gran Reserva. Nose is leather and oak. Complex in the mouth with leather, oak, clove, cinnamon, tobacco, fig and a hint of blue cheese. It finishes with more oak, medium acid and chewy tannins. A lovely dark, blood red color to boot. At a meal, this is the main course. Me gusta. — 10 years ago

with Susan

TheSkip

9.0

Nice wine. Probably not the 94 that it has received in the press — 10 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. — 11 years ago

Patrick Wicker

9.0

One of my favs from Catherine Hall. Great dark fruit favors, low acidity and a very smooth finish. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.2

Ken Kahn is the owner nick goldschmidt is the consulting winemaker from all estate fruit 80 acres of vines the young vines go into this cuvée. — 13 years ago

Eric Waxman

9.0

Red fruit; plenty of life. Excellent Pinot. — 7 years ago

with Thelma

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Dark, moist, rich earthiness, dry stones, black berries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, vanilla, dark red florals & violets.

The body is full. Tannins firm but dusty, Dark currants. Black berries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, some strawberries, vanilla, dark spice, dark, firm leather, dry brush, tobacco, graphite, red florals & fields of violets. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

Final night of the cruise.....night ten coming to a close so we decided to go with another Special Selection.

Deep and dark purplish ruby red, completely coats the glass. Plump and rich aromas on the nose with blueberries, vanilla, cinnamon, blackberries and even some purple flowers. Rounded and integrated heavy tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Love the blue and black fruits on the palate of this wine. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Sharyn Grant

9.2

Luscious fruit, sweet blue berries and acidic on the back. No decant and drank over a few hours. Showing really well now but think it will mellow over the next few years. Great bottle of wine. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried this again, about a year later. Time proved well. The vines of Lilian-Ladouys are found a stone's throw from the Graves of Cos d'Estournel and the Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. Purple, with inky tones. Aromas of black and blue fruit, smoky notes and soft spice. Palate displays black and blue fruits with toasty oak flavors, full body with round tannins. Finish ends with earthy mineral tones. — 9 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.3

Back home in SD for a Labor Day BBQ and this was an easy pull for ribeye. Velvet tannins overlay a focused dark blue/purple fruit array with tons of spice box and mocha, and the finish is endless. TRB definitely has skills with respect to Cab. — 10 years ago

Jacob Joseph

10

Delicious, dry. I always let the bubbles relax a bit as when first opened, it can be a bit yeasty. Lots of structure, woody with dried fruit. — 10 years ago

Leela Steiner

9.2

Have had the 2012 and 2013 and both excellent. Very smooth and full of flavour. — 11 years ago

Erin Toth

Senior Wine Sales Associate Granville Liquor Store

8.9

Rich without being cloying. Could use a touch more zing of acidity but the fruit and brioche are very nice. — 11 years ago

Stephanie Maree

10

Very very smooth wine. Nice finish and the perfect combination of slightly dry and fruity that doesn't leave your mouth desperate for water. — 11 years ago

Monroe Bryant

9.8

Ethereal. — 13 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Part 1 of the final and main event for the Fall WNH. The most spectacular lineup of wines I’ve ever seen, and an overall wonderful ending to an amazing trip with fantastic people.

A baby, but already strutting its power. This is no doubt a modern take on Bordeaux with more rich/sweet black and blue fruit than others, but it reigns in before it gets too Nap-esque as the fruit is more underripe. Mid palate and finish show dark chocolate, bay leaf and a touch of leather. Because of the style, not too adverse to opening now with a 2-3hr decant, but this will improve for many years. Bravo, @Mike R . — 8 years ago

with Mike, David and 4 others

Conrad Green

9.4

Dark and juicy. A stanky minerality. Very rich, hint of blue and poised. Good stuff of its type — 9 years ago

with Paul

David Shapiro

9.5

This gamay is excellent -- juicy but also a touch of savory leaves. medium body, very low tannins. Versatile and approachable but sophisticated. Highly recommend! — 9 years ago

Beachin Wino

9.3

Like Baby Blue the blueberry aromas jump right out of the glass. First glass, honestly didn't seem any better than the Baby Blue. One hour later with filet mignon the wine had opened up considerably and WOW! This is one to pair with a juicy steak🍷. — 9 years ago

with Fred

Delectable Wine

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9.4

A deep, inky wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is endowed with serious depth. Here the flavors are unusually dark and intense, with plenty of blue and black stone fruits. Graphite, cloves and licorice contribute to an overall impression of gravitas. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet needs time in bottle to truly shine. Hints of violet, lavender and plum add the final shades of nuance. All of the signatures of the vintage come through beautifully. The translucent, mineral-laced finish is especially appealing. Frankly, it's hard to put the glass down. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 9 years ago

Andrea Emdad

9.2

Reppin' Colorado. One of my favorites. — 10 years ago

with Amy

Arnaud Tronche

9.3

Really good. Structured, dark/blue fruits with touch of olives. Tannins became more and more apparent with air. Needs a few years. But very well done for a difficult vintage. — 10 years ago

Ryan Key

9.5

Wow. Beautiful plum color, rich vanilla aroma. Perfect balance of fruit and spice. — 11 years ago

Alexander Niehenke

9.1

Give this baby a decant. — 11 years ago

Rod Phillips

9.8

What better wine for a lake front BBQ. Here's to blue skies ahead.
Dense red cherry, blueberry and violet nose. Lively, complex texture. flavours of black cherry, cassis, and leather. The finish is yet another turn showing ripe plum meshed with cinnamon and pepper. — 12 years ago