Adam Sabin

9.2

Fantastic Moscato. Not my favorite grape varietal, but it definitely fit the bill for my friends who love it. — 10 years ago

Bobby Linsley

9.2

I really wanted to enjoy this wine but it fell flat. One of my friends told me you should never drink aged cabernet expecting it to be a crowd pleaser, he was right. It is a brilliantly made wine in terms of structure and acidity but still too tannic and grippy on the palette. Maybe it's indicative of the wine's superb structure but not my bag at all. Definitely seeing how cabernet is the thinking man's wine... — 10 years ago

CynCon

10

Waited over a year to drink this wine.. Bought it in Paris during our honeymoon and was slated to be uncorked on our first wedding anniversary... Until, that is, Vivian came along! Good things come to those who wait! — 12 years ago

Shannon Jones

10

I bought this lovely wine from a lovely Frenchman who said I spoke French very well. I was supposed to save it for friends but I opened it up after work instead. It is meaty and spicy on the nose with notes of black pepper and allspice. Tart with red fruits. — 13 years ago

Harry larson

8.9

Ok simmer down. If you want to be a wine snob it's not that great. If you want a great summer drink that's also a wine... It's fantastic! Drink it on the deck with friends !! — 10 years ago

Andy Paynter

8.9

Great cab franc. Very simple but well balanced. Good dark red fruit and an acidity that lends a juicy tone to a fairly well structured wine. If you can get it for less than 20 bucks do it. But drink it soon and with friends. Grabbed the 2012 vintage from chambers street wines. — 10 years ago

Bernard Rethore

Owner, Fion Wines

9.1

Back in 2006, I had the good fortune to invest in a box of the Neal vineyard designated bottlings pre-release. They have been sleeping in my cellar ever since. Last night, Tony the Fish, who is a frequent contributor to these pages, arrived with a bottle of the 2010 Neal cab sav. It was a solid effort and Mrs Fish quite enjoyed it. As we finished the bottle I remembered I had some of the 2003 vineyard designated wines in the back of the cellar and figured it was time to check in on them. We started with the Second Chance from Atlas Peak. Generally I am a mountain fruit guy, and like the volcanic soil that yields low yielding structured wines. There was plenty of stuffing left after 11 years, and a nice contrast to the 2010 cab sav blend. We then moved to Chafen. Another mountain- Howell this time, slightly lower elevation vineyard. This wine was bigger than the Second Chance with mouthfuls of ripe cassis, berry fruit and coffee- almost a cocoa powder character to it. The final wine of the night - and best of show - was the Howell Mountain Estate. Dark rich tannins with intense velvety chocolate cake flavors. This was a fun night going from the 2010 blend to the all 2003 single vineyard designates. Most of us aren't patient enough or buy them as a group so you can taste them altogether at once. Everyone should do this from to time. It reminds me at least of how different climate and soil can be in the same year. It's even better with friends. Thank you Mr Fish for the inspiration. — 11 years ago

with Susan

markus gould

8.9

what a special drink!
ancient recipe of piedmont winemakers using barolo, china-bark and plenty of (partially medicinal) herbs.
curing your upset stomach after a heavy meal, and it's said that it may heal emerging flu if taken in time...

who needs more proof that alcohol is remedy..? — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.5

Amazing Merlot!!! Pure pleasure - an extraordinary mix of power freshness and complexity. A masterpiece. Those who know me, know that I don't easily grant 5 stars. But here each star is well deserved!!!

My score 95, drink 2014-2028!

The wine is almost black in color, the nose is seductive and essentially you fall in love with this wine from the first sniff. The aromas are rich and concentrated, plum, black cherry, sweet spices, licorice, coffee, chocolate, blueberry jam and much more. Body is full, chewy, rich intense , rich and extracted, a rare combination of fruit forward and freshness, the tannins are round, smooth and caressing, the light acidity keeps you addicted. The finish is long, and addictive.. Impossible to stop drinking it — 11 years ago

CS

Sales Amy Atwood Imports

9.3

Jou Jou Vin 2011 Mossik Cabernet Franc from White Rock Vineyard, Napa Valley. It's always difficult when tasting friends wines to remain objective, and while I want to shout this wine from the hilltops (Radio-Coteau style!) I also want to be I also aspire to eliminate personal biases - positive or negative. Jou Jou you should know your wine received much conversation towards a mostly positive frame. The touch of brettanomyces was dually noted, there were comments on carbonic maceration, but I found balance throughout. I jested about the wine being topped with Baudry La Croix Boissée but the fact is, this wine has a strain of brett that works well with the fruit. The brett adds a spicy, wet earth, or mulchy wet tobacco leaf component that lends itself to wines of Chinon or Bordeaux. Is that replicable? Future vintages will tell. Will it grow in bottle? I plan to drink many more for my own recognizance. First day had some notes of carbonic maceration and brighter red fruits, along with that leafy Cab Franc character, fine dense tannins and moderate acidity with a slight sour note likely a proponent of brett. Day 2: I'll be damned. This is some damn good shit. It's worth that $250 dollar price tag! ;) But truly, the leaf/mulch quality is intact and integral, the darker berry fruits come out but there is still a pleasant sour cherry mid-palate that combines with the albeit softer yet still dense/fine mouth filling tannins. I realize part of the reason this wine was the talk of the blind tasting was that the brett, while in balance, set it apart from every other wine tasted. It was unique, it spoke of an older world style, it crept up in conversation because it lent something else to talk about. Kudos Jou Jou. The wine was made from 12 year old CF vines farmed organically (uncertified) grown in a layer of white volcanic ash. Grapes are fermented WC with ambient yeast in open top macro-bins, gently foot tread, native ML, pressed dry into 75% neutral FO and 25% Stainless Steel. 50 ppm SO2 added post ML, 10-15ppm added before bottling, racked once to bottle in June 2012. 25 cases produced. Good luck finding some! — 12 years ago