Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2016 Lore Vineyard pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe black fruits: brambles, plums, cassis, loads of tobacco, leather, a touch of bell pepper, organic earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is velvety. This is modern Napa through and through. Balanced but big. Drink now through 2036. — 8 months ago

Charles Garrison

9.2

Lush, succulent Pinot…dark ruby on pour, dark fruits rise out of the glass setting the stage for an enjoyable first sip…no noticeable tannins…lingering finish…this vintage is in a really good place today — 4 years ago

Susan Hanners

9.1

Cranberry/currant on the nose, bizzare color, 1st sip raspberrish second taste apricot yet tart — 5 years ago

Jocelyn Yard

9.9

Liquid perfection and shockingly drinkable straight out of the bottle. Didn’t need to decant — 5 years ago

Evan Griffith

9.1

A bit more on the cherry cola rather than just cherry end of the spectrum than I prefer, but nonetheless nice — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

The darker side of Rivers Marie. Where all of the Occidental bottlings share red fruited characteristics this is more black fruits and fresh earth. The supporting acidity and the hours it still takes to open up give me hope that it should continue to develop in bottle. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Last tasted 4.17.24 (9.1). This grew up quickly...filled out in all the right places with the smoke, plum flavors/scents tabulating receipts. Not quite as much body as their La Bohème effort but close behind. Newish AVA. 03.19.25. — 9 months ago

Frank Soldano

9.8

Very nice wine! Wonderful bouquet, with deep rich dark fruit. Big flavor with a smooth finish. My favorite of 8 Pinot’s at a sampling. Love this wine. — 10 months ago

Kamall

9.2

Deep, dark and lovely texture. — 4 years ago

Sam T

9.3

Delicious. Perfect wine for a Happy Thanksgiving! — 5 years ago

Susie Reinecke

9.4

Zippy and delightful! — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.0

Not exactly my style but it’s done well, so it’s good. Actually ended up enjoying this more than 75’s Cab. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

Ed Lehrman

9.1

A little heavier than I remember but fully mature and fun to drink with friends. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

A Burgundian-styled Cab Sauv from the one of the most compelling Sub AVA of Napa mountains (Mayacamas) which has an amazing soil and solid influence from the Pacific. Crafted with an amazing balance of 68% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot, 5% and the rest to round it off its structure and age ability. The 2011 is still climbing to its peak. Enticing notes of dry red fruits on the nose and mouth, delicate, outstandingly silky and nearly perfect balance!
The finish shows its beauty. (if you find it, it won’t disappoint you) it will give the run for the money. — 10 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Sweet. Stone fruits (apricot and peach). I would score it higher if it had a bit more acidity. Enjoyed with a pear tart. — 2 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

Found this quite jammy and unidimensional. Pleasure bomb nonetheless. — 5 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

Lemon kissed butterscotch. Rich butterscotch on the round palette. A drinker’s cali chard. — 5 years ago

Aupa Monyatsi

9.6

Absolutely amazing wine, well rounded with a vanilla finish. Lawwd!!! — 6 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.5

opaque purple, prominent glass staining tears; aromatic, blackberry jam, fig, lavender, kiss of vanilla; dense, intense, sweet black fruit, slightly minty finish; full bodied, medium+ acidity, nice tannin/texture, 14.5% ABV; sourced from a single choice block of Larkmead Vineyard in Calistoga, 100% Olmo clone; drinking beautifully now — 6 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