Shay A

9.5

When I purchased this five years ago, it was without a doubt the nicest bottle of Bordeaux I owned. 2001 was a good vintage for certain producers, and with Haut Brion being my favorite first growth, I wanted to have one of these with some age to see how they evolve. I slow ox’ed for 1-2hrs, consumed from bottle over the next three hours, and saved the last quarter for the next day.

Amongst quite a few first growths (and a ‘94 and ‘04 Haut Brion) this held its own. Compared to HB, it doesn’t have that brooding power and deep fruit core as intensely, but it wasn’t too far behind. More red fruit/black cherry than the dominant black I normally get with HB. Potpourri, baked black cherries, and cherry pipe tobacco showed strong on both days. No reductive funk to blow off. Faint notes of mocha, scorched earth and peppered strip, but it meshes with the cassis and grippy herbal tannic finish. What I didn’t expect was how vibrant the acidity was on both days. A beautiful example of high quality Bordeaux, and one I wish I had more of. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a bottle with a nice fill and solid cork. Tawny color. Dense. Exotic nose. Notes of plum, black cherries, old wood desk, tobacco, leather saddle, dark soil and a little menthol. Improved over 5 hours as it got more air. Long finish. A truly great aged bottle of HB. — 7 years ago

B

10

1996 Colgin Herb Lamb. HB w Mark R and J&H R. Perfect. Big. Tons of fruit. No decanting. — 8 years ago

B

10

1995 Leroy Clos de Vougeot. Jaws at HB w J&L B and B&K K. Didn’t decant. Awesome. — 8 years ago

Vinny Eng

9.3

93 degrees in da HB — 9 years ago

Aaron Means

9.3

Leaner than other HB chards, good acid and deft touch with oak — 9 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Deep, dark amber tinged and tawny color. Hits me immediately as a gravel-influenced Bordeaux and I’m am in Graves with my guess. Notes of tobacco, graphite, ash, earth and gravel stone. Big shoulders, and a little hot. Yet silky in the mouth. I guess 82 La Mish HB. This has plenty of life in front of it, but give it 5+ hrs of air if consuming in the near term as the provider of this wine did. — 6 years ago

B

10

2007 Mauro. HB w J&L B, J&J Koz. Drank last, after the ‘95 Artadi and ‘68 Lopez de Heredia. Great! Most lush and fruit-forward of the bunch. Loved it. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tasted blind. Dark violet color. Notes of gravel, tart black cherry, some wood. Nice richness. Looks young but has a great tasting maturity in it. Guessed Graves and 82 La Mission HB. — 7 years ago

B

10

1996 Domaine Dujac Clos St. Denis. HB w Mark R and J&H R. Perfect. No decanting. — 8 years ago

B

10

2013 Dana Estate Sauvignon Blanc. Jaws at HB w J&L B and B&K K. Tropical fruit- heavy pineapple- on the nose. We all really liked this wine. — 8 years ago

J Wolfe

9.8

Specialty of Provence, France. — 9 years ago

Barbie Fiallo

9.5

Lovely silky 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with a blend of grapes sourced from Napa's best Vinyards. 2013 needs a little time to open up but drinks beautifully nonetheless. Will definitely be picking up more of these!!! — 10 years ago

with Jonathan

Ron Siegel

9.5

This was a dead ringer for La Mission HB with lots of dark fruits, cedar, leather, smoke, graphite & tobacco. — 6 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

Easily one of the better incarnations of this wine, the 2015 Sky is drinking really well. I think (but am not 100% certain) that by this vintage Greg Brewer had moved from Melville to John Hilliard’s operation just down the road on Route 246. Has many of the same characteristics you’d expect from a St Rita Hills pinot - beautiful bright strawberry-laced fruit, a bit of earth and spice, all wrapped together in a wine with a seamless mouthfeel. Very sad that life circumstances compelled John and his wife to shut HB down, but this wine is a terrific reflection of what they achieved in a very short space of time. Cheers! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Yianni Stone

9.4

Stunning bottle of 1970 HB. — 8 years ago

with Haley and Matt

B

10

2012 Peter Michael Ma Danseusse Pinot Noir. Jaws at HB w J&L B and B&K K. No decanting. Tons of fruit. Easy to drink. Enjoyed. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This started out with a little funk of barnyard & earth but soon blew off to show red fruits, cassis, mint , leather, tobacco & sandalwood. Outclassed by the HB in this flight. — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.4

My first Cabernet Sauvignon from Morlet Family Vinyards—I've only been lucky enough to taste and have been dazzled by their sublime Chardonnays. That said, the 2010 Mon Chevalier didn't disappoint, displaying classic Knight's Valley character, it's a treasure trove of cassis, black currants, incense and sandalwood, tar and menthol. Black pepper and spice box. The palate is a layered as the nose, with a dark-fruited succulent core framed in an understory of fine, mouthcoating tannins. 15.0% ABV — 9 years ago

B

10

1998 La Spinetta Gallina Barbera d'Alba. ELO at HB w J&H R and Leon. We were surprised by how much we liked it. Note to get more of this wine! Really well balanced- some fruit, leather, soil, and smoke. Not a super notable finish, but greatly enjoyed this. — 10 years ago