Layne Eaton

9.5

Layne had this 5 years ago

Ron R

9.5

A much maligned vintage, which we don’t see in the wines that we’ve tasted.
@Martin G Rivard brought this to our attention. We really enjoy wines from the Round Pond vineyard, but never knew this existed.
The nose displays charcoal and dense black fruits. Palate is powerful with big tannins and complementary acidity. Lovely sweetness and texture on the mid -palate. This is a power play expression of a Napa cab - not for the feint of heart...
Leave this to unfurl for a few more years, if you can resist it!
Happy valentines 😍 — 5 years ago

with Anne-marie

Brandi Bratek

9.3

I could drink this all day everyday. If you see it, buy it. — 6 years ago

Angela Large

9.8

This bottle...has had me on a wild goose chase for a couple of months now. I picked this up in South Bend Indiana on a quick weekend trip and was astounded by the exquisite quality in a $19 bottle. This was the perfect wine for me. Great juicy, ripe berry flavors, not too dry, slight spice and smoke. I crave it; unfortunately it’s not available in Oklahoma! If you see it, buy it (and mail it to me)! — 6 years ago

Stephen Pierron

9.4

Excellent representation of Saint-Émilion with aromas of earth, floral, herbs, and notes of blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and cedar. While it had low tannins, I was surprised to see so much minerality with this vintage. It was a great bottle and was decanted for over 2 hours, but definitely was not enough time and won't revisit until at least 3 more years. If you have a 2015 of this wine, my recommendation is to hold on to it as it is still very young. — 7 years ago

Ted Boydston

9.0

Today's selection for contemplating hurricane Irma's arrival Sunday here in Melbourne, FL. Fine cherry character, almost jammy, tamped down by a slight petrol undertone. Light, yet acidic, mouthfeel, lingers for many minutes. Probably passed by this winery in McMinnville, OR during a visit years ago to see small boutique wineries and the spruce goose. Wished I had seen it, even though this is a multi-vineyard multi-appellation blend. Worth a spin, especially at the price, if you can get a bottle out of the 1100 cases produced. — 8 years ago

Kyle Harvey

9.2

Christmas Day bubbly...Our favorite Etna sparkler...the 2008 was 👌👌👌. If you see this one on the shelf, grab it. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

In a word “Elegant,” 100% organically farmed Tempranillo from village of Laguardia, aged in barrels for nine months limiting the oak influence. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and subtle light spice. Palate, clean and fresh fruit flavors of cherry and sweet blackberry, very smooth with super fine velvet tannins. Long finish, complex ending bringing everything together. Outstanding about 1000 cases made. Don’t hesitate if you see a bottle. — 5 years ago

Charlene Vacon

9.2

What a delightful light red. If you close your eyes, you’re drinking a white. Soft fruit, light acidity and a sweetness that’s fresh. I had it at room temp this time but I could see putting it on ice in the summer months. — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 6 years ago

Wouter Aalst

9.0

Past it’s best for a few years now, but still very interesting to taste and absolutely not completely gone.
Garnet colour. On the nose as expected a lot of tertiary aroma’s like tobacco, coffee, ceder, chocolate, meaty, smoke, leather, mushrooms, earth, caramel and balsamic. On the palate it is confirmed that the fruit has faded and so have the tanins. This make the wine a bit thin and structureless, like you see often with wines if this age. Great experience! — 6 years ago

Philip Dobrin

9.1

Makes me excited to try their ‘13 Brunello. If you see this buy it — 7 years ago

Erika B

9.1

One of my absolute faves. If you see it,buy all of it like I just did. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Drink up if you have some! Sweet ripe red fruits, damp earth, mushroom, tobacco and licorice spice. Can't see this getting better over time. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

2002 is such a beautiful vintage IMHO. In many ways, I think even better than 07. We’ll see in five years from now as I lack a time machine.

I’ve said this a couple of times over my nearly 4,200 Delectable notes. There is no amount of decanting a young wine that can reproduce the beauty, elegance, florals, integration, balance and finish as long bottle age. If you are buying expensive Cabernets and drinking them young, you are simply short changing yourself out of your deep investment.

This largely under known Napa producer is a shining example of that tonight. Proof in the pudding so to speak.

The nose reveals, sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, understated blueberries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, incense, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets.

The body is; round, rich & luxurious. The tannins still have baby teeth and show chewy tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit their peak. It’s not going to improve, it will simply show you descending changes which, can be quite enjoyable but, not necessarily for the ones that appreciate wines young. Interesting, none the less, for the ones that enjoy all sides/aspects of wine evolution. Sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, mulberries, boysenberries, more blue fruits than the nose, cherries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices with just the right amount of heat, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth, fresh tobacco, suede style leather, saddle-wood with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets. The ABV on this wine is really nice given today’s hotter wines. Climate change, it’s a bitch. The round acidy is as good as it gets. The long, excellent, elegant, rich, ripe, ruby, gorgeous, sexy, floral, perfectly balanced finish falls into persistent heaven.

This is a gorgeous example of what Napa Valley is capable of in grand vintages, if you have good storage & can show patience.

Photos of; an arial view of Jones Family Winery, patio tasting area, beautiful Jones Family Cabernet fruit and their amazing vineyards. — 5 years ago

Hayden B. Oothout

9.3

Spectacular moon mountain cab. I love Cabernet Sauvignon from this AVA. Good minerals and fantastic fruit on the palette. This is fantastic now and would age well in the bottle for a few more years. If you see this, grab it! — 6 years ago

Susan Reiner

8.9

Had this for a special Valentine’s Day lunch. Delicious food wine. Not too much fruit. Just enough tannin. If you see it, try it. — 6 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.1

If you see this for $35 go buy it. Buy all of it. What a deal for this guy. Full bodied and powerful, but still super tight and acidic - this guy will age for awhile. Dark red cherries but with a smokey roundness and fruit preserve jam-iness. — 7 years ago

with Jillian

Steve Bozich

9.1

Upper Sonoma coast, flinty and minerally and lemon citrus. They got away from that on a couple recent bottling - not sure if it was the harvest or a change in style, but it was more lush. They already do some really nice Vouvray and Roussanne. Dry - man, you should see photos of their "soil"! — 8 years ago

Kyo Jin

9.3

Very competent and slick with much composure and with tremendous confidence. Just lovely. Get one if you see one. — 9 years ago