Brett Vanderbrook

9.3

Back in May of 2014 Serge and Gaston Hochar came to New York City and led a tasting at my local wine store. I wasn’t familiar with their winery or family at the time, but I understood it was a big deal. At this tasting we got to try both red and white wines dating back to the 1970s. Serge was enigmatic and passionate, and it was one of the most unique wine experiences I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I splurged and paid (at the time) the most we had ever spent on a bottle of wine for the 1999 flagship red. We had really liked the 1994, but it was beyond our price point, and we figured if we held onto the ‘99 for a few more years it might start to take on characteristics of the ‘94.

Tonight, almost 6 years later, while in week 3 of quarantine here in Brooklyn we decided it was time to get dressed up, make a fancy dinner and open that bottle. So we pan seared some duck breasts, oven roasted some asparagus, and made a celery root and potato purée.

In my brief experience with Serge, I learned he wasn’t much for tasting notes. He didn’t care to hear what the wine smelled or tasted like but more about the esoteric way it made you *feel.* So in honor of the late, great Serge Hochar I won’t tell you that the wine poured a translucent brick red or that its nose was an intoxicating perfume of red fruit, spices, leather, and barnyard. That it was still vibrant and bright on the palate with cherry and baking spice, and without even a whisper of tannins. Instead I’ll just tell you it made me feel not cooped up for a few hours. That I was actually sitting down in a restaurant and enjoying a meal and conversation with my partner, and not locked down for the foreseeable future. It made us feel normal again, at least for one meal. — 6 years ago

with Raina

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar. — 9 years ago

Henry Horn

9.2

Great wine. Held up well. Stong tannis. Great finish. — 9 years ago

Cameron Etezadi

9.7

Amazing and delicious vintage that has held up well. Rich tawny notes of caramel, ripe fruits, and smoke. Distinctly port like in its body and profile. Medium high acidity and lighter body surprises. — 9 years ago

with Eric and Jenn

Lewis Chester

9.2

2004 vintage. From Jay. 2004 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Dark ruby colour. Fresh violets on the nose together with cherries. A little tobacco wrapper. Cracked cloves. Nice fruit on the pallet and very silky. This is both elegant and old school in all the right ways. 92+/100. Drink 2017 to 2028+ — 10 years ago

Robb Miller

9.0

Held onto this one for a while... — 10 years ago

Sarah Stierch

Food & Wine Editor Sonoma Valley Sun

9.4

Happy birthday to me...from dad's cellar. Held up well! Thankfully not a dark moody Cab. Just what you would expect of an Opus of this age. We lost only 1 ounce to sediment. Didn't decant. — 11 years ago

James Carter

9.2

Aged very well. Structure held beautifully. Full fruit length of mouth. A delight. Cellaring may have been an issue for others who found it past its prime — 11 years ago

Greg March

9.1

Enjoyable bottle. Nice mouth feel and finish.
Held up well after opening too. — 12 years ago

Kristen Reitzell

9.0

Held the fruit for a good 30 minutes. Not bad for a wine that was stored in my Mom's closet for 30+ years. — 12 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Licorice, tar, orange peel, black olive, dried herbs, soft tannins and balancing acid. Very nice. Held up in the bottle for 4-days. — 6 years ago

Hayden B. Oothout

9.1

This has held its age well. Subtle fruit, good tannin structure. It only needs about 20-30 mins in the decanter. A lot of tertiary flavors, mushroom, forest floor, earthy. Great experience! — 7 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.3

Followed a pretty big cab and held its own. Very fruit forward with flavors of plum, blueberries, vanilla, chocolate and an herbal touch to the finish. — 8 years ago

Adrian Snead

9.7

1982 vintage. Has held up amazingly well. Wine as old as I am. — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

A classic from Napa, this 1999 Martha's Vineyard is definitely past its prime, but still a pleasure to drink. The tannins have largely disappeared (but made for a great match with a fantastic cut of filet mignon from the local butcher). Most of the primary aromas are gone, but some great secondary notes of leather and spice remain (the absence of the tell-tale eucalyptus from Martha's was a bit surprising). Color density is still pretty impressive after almost 17 years! Finishes a bit thin, but this wine has held up beautifully. Had an amazing tasting with David Heitz back in 2005 and this brings back all those memories. Cheers to one of the pioneering wine families of Napa Valley! — 10 years ago

with Vanessa

John Giaquinta

9.2

Lovely red colour with sweet oak and vanilla on the nose. Still has enough fruit flavors where you can taste the balance and elegance of dark cherries and blueberries. I've opened up older vintages that have just not held up and surprisingly this one is still going. I don't think it gets any better, still pretty awesome. — 10 years ago

with MG

Alexandra Harner

9.1

Held up beautifully! — 11 years ago

Brandon Griffin

9.2

Being held accountable! — 11 years ago

Cole Dowsley

9.2

Lovely Syrah blend. Held up beautifully to hand cut NY strip. — 11 years ago

A B

9.7

Tasty wine. Very fruit forward on initial pour. Held up after 24 hours of decanting. — 12 years ago

Leslie Bedolla

9.4

1979 held ip super well after travelling from France to the US then to Germany for the uncorking. Notes of dark cocoa, deep plum, cherry, saddle leather — 6 years ago

Andrew Keenan

9.4

1995 Vintage, held up very well — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Seven Stones was the wine of this market visit to Napa. For me, it is the very definition of why I drink wine. Great fruit that is not overworked and is the Webster’s Dictionary of elegance, even at this young age.

On the nose; beautiful dark & medium red cassis. Ruby in style with amazing florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries & blue fruit mix. The red florals are so engaging, They possessed me for quite sometime before getting to tasting the wine. Soft baking spices with understated vanilla.

The body was medium full. Tannins unbelievably soft, silky and elegant for such a young wine. The fruits picked at the perfect ripeness. Such elegance! Creamy and ruby fruits of; cherries, dark cherries, creamy raspberries and wafting blue fruits. Soft spices, dry crushed rock powder, delicate volcanic minerals, touch herbaceous, whiff of black olive, dry soils, beautiful red roses and violets. The structure firm yet delicate as was the tension. The length and balance in perfect harmony. The long, polished finish simply amazing. Especially, in a wine this young.

Photos of; the property with the seven stones from Yosemite that are held together by gravity and weight 100,000 pounds, and two other artworks from the owners amazing art collection and the view from their terrace. — 8 years ago

M

9.4

Cassis, dark berries, and toasted baguette, a stunning compliment to smoked prime rib. Ridge is held to a different standard but rarely misses the mark. — 9 years ago

B

10

1968 Vina Rēal Cosecha Gran Reserva Temperanillo blend. Drank this at Reddwood lunch for A&S' birthday. Hard to believe this wine was almost 50 years old. We didn't decant this and it was great- held up perfectly. Gorgeous brick color, still fruit on the nose, elegant and slightly sweet finish. So fun to try! — 10 years ago

Jim Hines

9.3

Full bodied, held its own after 15 years! Very good. — 10 years ago

with Mary

David Hemmerling

9.0

Cork pulled clean very little sediment and nice garnet color. Nose okay and decanted and let breathe over several hours sipping. Held up and improved over the evening though lacks sparkle. — 11 years ago

Brook Jennings

9.6

1998 vintage has held up really well! With my buddy Gibby and wife. Let it decant over several hours and it opened up beautifully. Cedar, leather and mineral on the nose. Long finish with full body. Wish I has 10 moe bottles. — 11 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured through a Soirée and decanted for 30 minutes. Beautiful garnet robe. The funk hits you first and I like that. Wet hay and bright brambles with black pepper and garrigue. Delightful still on day three. Tannins and acid to round out. Balanced with the 15% ABV held in check. Loads of life in this yet. Hold or enjoy with patience now. Four bottles remaining and I'll get more if I can. — 12 years ago

John Rubino

9.1

Held up very well to the lasagna! — 12 years ago