Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.8

One of the best sakes that I have had for some time. — 7 years ago

Sean Grullon

9.5

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. — 8 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Mad flavor — 9 years ago

Taylor Leigh

10

Love this dry red wine ❤️ — 9 years ago

Kelsi Garrison

9.8

I love this so! — 10 years ago

Michael Brooks Jr.

9.5

I visited this winery, bought a half-case, and this is my first bottle at home. I love it. — 10 years ago

with Bryson

Michael Kvasnicka

9.0

2013 Vintage. Real nice Clark. — 11 years ago

Carolyn Morris White

9.5

Love this Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cab! — 11 years ago

Dirk Pitt.

9.0

Chocolate, coffee, purple fruit — 13 years ago

John B

9.0

Thinner than previous bottles. Perhaps entering it’s dumb phase? — 6 years ago

Joel Haith

9.2

Pop and pour, wine shows fantastic out of the gate. Insanely dark, inky in the glass. Wonderful nose with loads of vanilla oak and a hint of pepper with a slight alcohol burn. First taste far exceeds expectation. Velvety tannin l, the vanilla note shines in this wine (which works wonderfully) for the price this wine is amazing. A Calistoga wine for the price and quality is almost unheard of in this day and age. Defiantly seek it out. — 7 years ago

with Timothy

Rob Sternthal

9.6

Pre and Post Yom Kippur wine. I forgave @Benoit Touquette for all his sins!!! Haha. Extraordinary effort. This wine gets better with each vintage. — 8 years ago

Arun Raniga

9.1

Smooth and soft 2012 vintage on 1 Sept 2017 — 9 years ago

Justin Lees

9.5

Went down a treat — 9 years ago

Katy Wallace

9.7

Love it. So smooth. Medium bodied. Deep, rich, ruby color. 2013. Wine club October — 10 years ago

James Gourley

9.8

This wine is a stunner. The fruit is vivid but not overpowering. The mouthfeel is silky but weightless at the same time. And the acidity is sublimely balanced with the rest of the wine. A truly excellent expression of pinot noir. — 10 years ago

Lance E. Farman

9.0

Juicy. Balanced. Soft. — 11 years ago

Clayton Bahr

9.4

This homework went great with my vegan chili — 11 years ago

Nikki Norrell

10

WOW. Amazing! — 11 years ago

Pablo Garcia

9.4

Great left bank Bordeaux blend from South Africa. Dark fruits, pencil lead...Cabernet Sauvignon taste....actually this is all Cab Sav. Made by a Bordeaux lady who moved to South Africa — 7 years ago

Joe Puppet

9.5

Fantastic wine — 7 years ago

Jen & Will

10

This was the 1999 Barton Family Reserve zin. Not the big bad wolf. Couldn’t find this in the DB. Amazed it held up. Very soft for a zin, closer to a Pinot, plum, cloves, earth, apricot. — 7 years ago

Michael McCarthy

9.5

Not as full bodied as a CA cab. Could drink a lot of it! — 9 years ago

Karen Scarborough

9.8

Bought it for the beautiful bottle, will keep buying it for the beautiful wine. Very light and crisp. — 9 years ago

James Gourley

9.7

This wine is amazing. The acidity is still vibrant. The flavors explode on the palate. It's amazing how fresh it still tastes. Just found out these guys are starting back up and I can't wait to taste the new vintage. — 10 years ago

Jusden Aumand

8.9

Quality forward style Paso. Blend produced some interesting complexity and boldness. — 10 years ago

Leon Aleksander

9.2

Light, fresh red fruits. Pinot noir style. Good summer wine. — 11 years ago

Oscar García

9.2

Light, earthy.. Best greek wine I've tasted — 11 years ago

Dirk Kennedy

10

Impeccably cellared , The 96 opened tight with all her secrets yet to be told. After the 1st hour, pure elegance. Notes of soft cedar, plum, fieldstone and black cherry. Lalande is always a lady first. Then the seduction begins — 11 years ago

with Dana