Deborah M

9.3

Another one from last night’s birthday dinner. I had a little left to revisit on day 2 and it is still amazing. What a classic. I could sit with this for a long time. The smokey, deep dark fruit/licorice, and velvety mouthfeel, all make this wine shine. This one will definitely improve with more age. Easily one of the top 5 wines of the year for me. — 2 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. — 4 years ago

Raul Puga

9.0

Phenomenal Pinot for the price. Delicious — 4 years ago

Miriam De Lyon

9.0

100% Monastrell from Jumilla. Very nice with the big flavors at this restaurant — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.7

So beautiful and clear in its purpose, titillating on the nose and fulfilling its promises beyond. Balanced and velvety dark red fruit, hints of black tea and cassis but all in a more Old than New World Gestalt. Lots of secondary stuff emerging you just want to sip it slowly. If anybody wonders how well these age, track one down, it’s so worth it. Kudos @Cathy Corison for making this distinctive and enduring bottle! — 6 years ago

Lauren Prial

9.4

Few things compare to the Opus One flagship wine, but this more accessible version certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s velvety and decadent with a well-rounded nose. Overture is a NV but this one comes from the 2012-2014 vintages - all stellar years for the Napa Valley. — 6 years ago

Charles Jacobs

9.5

For you Ruth Zohrer and Rina Borromeo — 8 years ago

Pamela Maeda

10

Sitting on this one for a while but it was so worth it. Dom, Dom, Dom!!! — 8 years ago

Grant Bowman

9.5

Always a great one, especially for Thanksgiving! — 9 years ago

Judd Blair

9.3

You obviously know what you're getting into with this one - tannin, tannin, and more tannin. Amazing structure, nice acid, if you're in the mood for one of the Napa big boys this isn't a bad way to do it. — 9 years ago

Maelynn Seymour-Major

9.7

One of my fave Pinot Noirs. Light and perfect for everyday drinking! — 9 years ago

Mel B

9.1

So totally impressed with how this wine has continued to please over time. When selecting a value wine to enjoy in volume at our wedding I knew this was the one as soon as I tasted it. It took a while for us to get to the altar, but the wine held up and we drank an anniversary bottle today. Could have hung on much longer, but great with our lamb chops tonight. Called out for the meat and slight eucalyptus aroma and taste brightened it up. One more bottle for next anniversary. Interested in seeing what will happen. — 12 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Sayonara, 2021!! You brought periods of joy and excitement, apprehension and challenge, intense sorrow and grief; a panoply of emotions spanning the spectrum of the human experience…

So, we’re putting one foot in front of the other, crossing the threshold into 2022 with hearts full of gratitude and hope, while sipping delicious wine and savoring this quiet moment together.

We want to pause to say THANK YOU all for being a part of our wine journey and a constant source of inspiration, positivity, and learning for us. Cheers and Happy New Year! — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind alongside another bagged bottle. This is also dark ruby, more more opaque than the 90 Chave next to it. Very refined nose with dark fruit, some wood and a green olive thing that differentiates it from the Chave (and from other 90 La Chapelle's I've had in the past). I guessed this as the 90 Chave before both 90 Hermitage bottles were revealed to us. There is definitely some bottle variation with these 90 La Chapelle's as I've had better samples, including a better one not that long ago. The green olive thing was interesting and not necessarily desirable, at least for me. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from a family with farming and winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across, almost looks like a Cab). Rich berry flavors with cedar, spice and vanilla. Lingering ending with sweet oak notes. Consistent quality Nice! A Fav! — 4 years ago

Julian Gross

9.2

This is just a delicious brut rosé, really one of the best out there that isn’t four figures...beautiful fruit that melts on your tongue, just excellent — 5 years ago

San Gon

9.1

One of my favorites for stress out on Friday's — 6 years ago

Eric Egan

9.4

What a beautifully graceful wine! A bit muted on the nose (slow ox for three hours - perhaps I should have decanted) but one of the most amazingly expressive palates I have experienced for a very long time. All the elements in perfect equilibrium; one of the rare times that I would actually apply the term 'smooth' to a wine. Tannins still lightly peppery, poised acidity, and an insanely long velvety finish that kept revealing hidden layers of complexity. Like a Burgundian peacock's tail that keeps expanding, adding new layers of graceful shades and patterns to the rolling tapestry of flavour. — 7 years ago

Joe Pea

9.1

This the third time I've had this in the last year and it shows beautifully right out of the gate. The wood and fruit are so interestingly and well melded at this point. Oak moves to cedar on the palate. Definite alcohol lift in the nose still and you can feel it the nostrils but not obtrusive...indeed it's actually a promising hint of what's to come on the palate. Dried cherry and stone fruit tastes on right away. Slightly mentholated. Definitely picking up distinct vanilla undertones on the nose and palate but not over the top. Satisfying medium tannins. Soft mouth feel but with really good/balanced structure. Perfect finish in line with what preceded it. Just a great fucking wine. And for the price? Getcha some! Can't believe this is still just around and available (not telling where!). Not for those who don't want wood in their wine but even here what you think will finish moderately chalky moves to soft-ish tannins at the perfect time. So many riojas are over top in the wood category or just so out of balance one way or the other. Everyone has heard of Rioja but have you really had a good one? Here's your chance without breaking the bank. I'd put this one up against the best or at least those considered the best. Maybe lacking a LITTLE finesse to be world class but damn close (can you use the word finesse with Rioja??). Drank in gulps with parmesan dusted NY style mushroom meatball mozzarella pizza from Peppino's in Athens, GA while watching Parenthood with my 17 YO daughter (who also pronounced the wine delicious). What a Tuesday night...thank you sir may I have another. Anyone really disappointed with this wine has WAY more money than me and is a spoiled brat. Geek out. — 8 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.9

My 4th bottle, the best and my last, this absolutely killed it and is why I love Napa Valley Cabernet, especially #Spottswoode. 12 years old this easily has another 10 to go but is in a beautiful place right now. Open or decant for 30 minutes, though I did not decant. A deep resold color, not a sign of brick as one would expect. Shows the importance of provenance (bought from winery). A complex set or aromas and flavors of creme d'cassis, currants, sweet and sour cherries, sweet cedar, and graphite. Palate wise the textures are all in alignment, with medium to full body, ample acidity and medium grain slightly chewy tannins that may be it's only flaw. #2002 — 9 years ago

Ravi Kalyanaraman

9.2

Great Shiraz for the price 👍 — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure, though it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030’s. — 3 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.3

I was given this bottle at a milestone birthday 10 years ago and drank it to celebrate another milestone birthday. Given that I rarely have the patience to wait for my wine to arrive at its next place, I was really looking forward to having this one. It was terrific. Deep integrated flavors and a softening tannin structure that has given way to a deeply satisfying experience. Very much enjoyed this and can see why this wine gets high marks year in and year out. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Lots of fun bottles were popped at Al’s hosting this past weekend for his birthday celebration. All were served blind. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 6 reds and 1 dessert wine.

Out of all the wines from the night, this one changed the most. At first, it was very reminiscent of South African blends with a smoky rubbery like note. Odd. After about two hours, it shed that and was showing a lot of sweet cassis, baking spices, ripe red and black fruits. Balanced and smooth on the palate with graham cracker, dates, dark cocoa and mixed berries. I called this Napa cab but couldn’t pin point a producer. Props to Weston for calling this Shafer HSS! — 5 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Chris England

9.4

A few years ago I had this bottle as a birthday gift & enjoyed immensely one Xmas with cheeses, so when in St Emilion & I found a lone bottle for €110 it was meant to be, so here we are again reunited with cheese to boot 😍 two lost lovers reunited 💗

🏵 94-95 points

🧀 Comte, Cambozola & Creamy mild goat

🍇 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot & 5% Cab Franc

🍷 Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Tortured blackcurrant & beaten dark plum thrown over torched smoking sooty oak in a damp cellar w/ leather bondage, herby happiness, liquorice whips & a mocha tickles on a gravel earthy floor

👄 Med body of black currant/berry w/ plum, red liquorice & touch dry mocha

🎯 Med+ dark fruity liquorice mocha slap on your tastebuds
— 6 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.5

Krug GC with 2002 base wine from Jero at Harry's Bar for the annual Soprano's dinner. The colour was a gorgeous pale gold. Small persistent bubbles. On the nose, roasted almonds, burned toast, brioche, roast apples - deep and complex. On the palate, perfect blend of high, crisp acidity, medium alcohol and depth of flavour. The toasty brioche dominates the mid palate and leads to a very long finish. This is one of the best young GC's I have had and will drink now until 2036. A — 8 years ago

Ali Yigitbasioglu

9.9

Very powerful intense cab sauv blend, good time to crack open. Dark saddle leather spicy bouquet, balanced acidity, tobacco and wild boar scents, strong earth nose. The taste stays in the mouth for a long time. Spectacular. One of sassicaia's strongest showings, good time to drink — 9 years ago

Andrea Ogden

9.8

Let it breath alittle and it was all we had waited for. One bottle left in the cellar hope it's just as special — 9 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 9 years ago

Rex Chua

9.6

I generally don't like Sauternes. Too sweet for me. But I like this one. — 10 years ago