Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 8 months ago
The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.
The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.
The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.
94+ — 3 years ago
Very smooth wine. Great price but not as good as the Kirkland Columbia Valley cab/Merlot blend. — 9 years ago
This wine is inexpensive, kind of sweet, and good for unwinding. I was happily surprised! — 11 years ago
Fairly serious Cab for the money; characteristic dark fruits - black currant in particular, good structure with balanced acidity, some menthol notes — 6 months ago
Very good — 7 months ago
Not sure this is keto being my 2nd bottle@today! Smooth! Bit past? Maybe. Good though. — a year ago
Very good With strong black fruit, chocolate. Medium to low tannins. Good with burgers and red meats. — 3 years ago
The nose was weirdly muted and indiscernible. Also a bit tight but the finish was full and nice. It’s good but for the price and time in the bottle, it just left me unimpressed — 5 years ago
Okay - fine. It’s a good, probably great wine. Overpriced? Yes. Opus is filled with pretentious douchbags? Double yes. But this is a well-made wine bridging a gap between Napa and Boudreaux. Dusty nose with menthol, earl grey tea, tobacco, flowers, cassis, and creamy dark fruits. It has a really nice velvety finish. — 7 years ago
Garnet with thin translucent rim. Light complex nose of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, marshmallow, vanilla, baking spice and oak. Light body of mild pomegranate and red berry cola bring clean acid to the palate with a baking spice, smoke, leather, and earth background. Small velvety tannins leads to a long, slightly dry finish of pepper and cocoa. Very good balance and good structure make this a bargain at $19.99 USD as a sipper or light dish partner. — 10 years ago
Purple in color with a purplish rim.
Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, stewed cherries, raisins, figs, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, spices, light wood, peppercorn, dark chocolates and herbs.
Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.
This 3-year-old Zinfandel from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next few years.
Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Rich, but not 'too much'.
The alcohol is not very noticeable at this point, although it is very high, so watch out.
I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent. I usually like it better with a little more age.
Wine Spectator 92 points.
A good everyday wine. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with burger and fries.
A blend of 83% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante and 4% Mixed Reds.
15% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$25. — 9 months ago
I grab my wines by random out of the fridge. I grabbed it from the cheap zone and we really pleased with the quality as it is excellent.
Turns out it is not cheap, it's like $35-40. It's still good just not a great value — 5 years ago
Reggie Love had the 2014 vintage, a steal at $9, very good and very purple, easy to drink, definitely buying again — 9 years ago
Good stuff, putting some flames out... — 10 years ago
So good! My favorite Malbec currently. — 11 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
With Christmas Prime Rib seasoned in Maldon salt, fresh garlic, Thyme, Rosemary. Pepper, Basted in butter, meat juice, drenched on Campari Tomatoes & Shallots.
This bottle was good but it’s not up to others I’ve had in the last year. — 6 months ago