Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2005 such an amazing vintage.

The 05 Pipeau is a bottle that I’ve looked at in my EuroCave for awhile & have passed on it for bigger name producers. But, not tonight w/o disappointment. Especially, for $25 a bottle upon release.

It took a small glass & a few sips to get there. I’m there now.
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Ruby, Claret in a classic style.

Showing the beauty of the age & vintage. Ruby, inky, ripe, slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, raspberries, dried strawberries & notes of dry cranberries. Dry top soils, dark, rich, forest floor, river stones, dry tobacco, graphite, dark, grey volcanics, limestone/sandstone, anise to black licorice, dark, sweet tarriness, dry, dark dates, steeped tea with dark, withering florals that are also, red, purple and red. The acidity is mountain, cool, stream like and elegant finish that set nicely wire to wire with persistence.

Good first look and will drink well for another 15 years with proper storage.

Allen Brothers Ribcap...10 — 5 years ago

Wulf Losee

9.5

2012 opened August of 2019. Although I can understand another poster giving this wine an 8.8, this is not a wine for a Bordeaux lover. This is a rich full-bodied western US wine. Leather and bourbon on the nose. Unripe red fruit on the front, but it has a marvelous smooth-yet-astringent tannic structure. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Cab quite like this! No doubt the high alcohol content (15%) has something to do with this wine’s unique taste profile. Realistically, I think I’ve open this bottle much too early. I bet I could lay this bottle down for 20 years before this wine fully matures—but, alas, I don’t think I have 20 years left. So I’m drinking it now! This is a unique and powerful wine. Not for the faint of heart! ;-) — 6 years ago

Sunil Dhaliwal

9.3

Not a pop and pour wine. 2 hour decant minimum. But very worth it. Special place in my heart for Cain. Living up to what I remember. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located just east of St. Helena in Napa where Conn Creek flows out of Howell Mountain. Their 26 acres of vineyards are in the heart of this 40-acre grape-growing paradise. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot. A big wine with complex fruit and spice aromas. Juicy black berry fruits, with underlying smooth sweetness combined with smoke, spice and oak. Well structured, tannins still tight, gave in after 90 minutes, ending with earthy pepper character. Enjoyable now but let it sit in cellar. — 8 years ago

Wulf Losee

9.0

2014 opened Feb 2018. Very tight right out of the bottle. Needs decanting!. Mint and leather on the nose. Puckery tannins on the front -- which loosen up as the wine breathes. No fruit, though -- but funky in a good way. I taste the limestone terroir. Mineral tannins all the way back to the swallow. This wine is not for the faint of heart. If you like smooth well-balanced Cabs, then this wine is not for you. If you like over-oaked Napa Cabs, then you probably won't like this. But if you're an oenophile geologist who loves the way soils are expressed in the grape, this wine is for you! — 8 years ago

Jason Hemming

9.0

Not your typical GV. Expressive nose that backed it up with powerful apples, honey and white flowers. Mineral notes thru/o and finishes with pleasant acidity — 9 years ago

Justin Hart

9.2

2011 was a tough year, but Quilceda Creekvlade the best of it. Probably a bit early to be drinking this, seems tight and somewhat shallow even after defending, but after 2 hours of air, I taste the depth and quality of this wine. Deep dark fruit grips your tongue on the first sip and doesn't let go. I honestly can't speak to the nose because it is buttoned up and I just smell dinner. Fig, plum, and blackberry are all over this o the palette though. Sit on it until 2020... That's my advice. — 9 years ago

with Alex and Cherish

Matthew Cohen

9.4

The first German Riesling we ever sold. Always has a spot in my heart.

1er cru from young gg grapes. The more muscular of the two most known vineyards. I’m not going to try and spell it here.

Had pork in cider for dinner. Was in no mood for subtlety.

Nose is a big-un. Dense as heck. Stone fruit. Herbaciois but not vegetal.

Palate has great minerals but they take a back seat to the concentrated stone fruits. Still has that mineral grip. Bracing acidity keeps it fresh. So damned well made. Mountain stream freshness.

Needs 30 minutes to strut its stuff. And strut it does. Ass whips grosses Gewachs from all but the tippy top producers.

Bought from fass selections. — 6 years ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Better than the 16, not as sweet.
Jeb 94
$20.00 out the door doesn’t hurt either
Winery notes

T A S T I N G N O T E S
Seductive black cherry, blackberry and currant fruits laced with cocoa nib, sweet baking spices and cigar box with silky texture and a long, savory finish.

S O U R C I N G
Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills, Moon Mountain)
Syrah (Dry Creek Valley)
Cabernet Franc (Los Carneros)
Merlot (Moon Mountain, Coombsville)

T E C H N I C A L
Aged in 100% French Oak, 25% New — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

In my opinion, one of the top three wines of the night. Howell Mountain fruit, which is dear to my heart! I would say that the blueberry and dark black cherry with cassis that you typically see with Howell Mountain Cabernet is really not that present in these wines. This is more of a dark and deep black cherry, with a hint of youthful sweet chalky fruit that has a little bit of chocolate playing in and out in the middle. The finish of this wine is youthful, and shows a slightly jagged tanic edge that I am sure will softened over the next 10 to 15 years. Very impressed with this winemaker. Although I own zero bottles of theirs, I can see why they are one of the top visited tables at the taste of Howell Mountain events that come to the DFW area. Great pull, @Weston Eidson! — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Mono Head

9.1

2014 o shaugnessy Howell. - very nice Mountain fruit. Deep and bold with a good balance of fruit. 9.1 $100 — 8 years ago

J Greene

9.3

Amazing. Tight. Great spring mountain nose and still a lot of fruit for a 10 y/o wine. — 8 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.1

In Sonoma, Napa....with the Rettkes. Fifth Hill wine. Big, beautiful. Silky. Bordeaux blend....tobacco nose with peppery finish....lots o legs.... — 9 years ago

with Brad, PJ and 5 others

Cameron Etezadi

9.4

A fine release with rich black fruits and spicy finish. Some notes of clove linger and high acidity. — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.1

Celebrating my son’s first #birthday certainly merits the serving of some lovely wine 🍾🍷 What a wonderfully challenging yet humbling year it’s been raising a tiny baby into a little boy with a big heart, a loud laugh, and a captivating smile. I hope and pray today’s celebration is but one of many chapters.

Incredibly young (of course) and quite dormant. Decanted for 3 hours, probably needed another 1-2 at a minimum. Only until the final glass did some more defined notes begin to unveil themselves: vanilla, blackberry, baking spices, cassis, coffee grounds, mocha froth, and herbaceous qualities. Super powerful, yet it’s the blossoming gracefulness that will have me circling back on this in another 8–10 years. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

Katie

9.3

Beautiful bouquet and delicious fruit. Very drinkable wonderful pinot! — 7 years ago

with Kyle

Lisa sakai

9.4

Third glass of wine at Firedoor 😳😳 refreshing and sweet, from New England, Australia. Hits my heart given I’m from New England, US. check it out @David Lincoln — 8 years ago

George Yasutake

9.5

Perfect end to our Wine Night with my whin-o coworkers. Drinking well, soooooo smooth! — 8 years ago

with Marvin and Mitch

Jeanne Tanamachi

9.1

The always reliable Corvus comes through with a big red. Shipped from winery, $20 w/o tax and shipping, 4/16 — 9 years ago

Ken Swegles

10

This vineyard has a very serious place in my heart.. — 9 years ago