Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite deep ruby garnet core and medium ruby garnet rim. This is showing more development, with cedar , cigar box , cassis and blackberry richness , aromatic and enticing from the very beginning . On the palate with is well balanced with a good mineral backbone , grafite and blackcurrant hints , really good symmetry and balanced , refreshing acidity , polished fine tannin . Long finish . Showing well now , in a really good spot where this has development on the nose but no lack of fruit of backbone on the palate . Will certainly continue at this level for another 10- 15 years . — 6 months ago

Will Stanley

9.4

The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.

The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.

The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.

94+ — 3 years ago

Jared O'Connell

9.1

This was a bottle the previous renters left at my parents house in the wine fridge. Unknown storage but it’s in pretty good shape. Nose has rose pedal, brambly fruit. Palette tart cran. Serious smooth tannin and acidity but pleasant. Undercurrents of bittersweet chocolate and leather. — 5 years ago

Monica Ramirez

9.4

Smooth finish, love this addition from Mondavi. Can taste the hint of bourbon — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

For me and considering the price difference, this is close to Krug Rosé. It's doesn't bring the full joy and palate dance Krug gives. However, for a $160- $200 less, it's in the ballpark. The fruits shine; black cherries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, tangerine, citrus blossoms & English biscuits. The chalkiness & minerality has precision and cuts sharply across the tongue. The acidity is perfectly crisp and the rich finish simply doesn't stop. This is certainly a benchmark of very good Rosé champagne. — 8 years ago

Mark Lipton

9.4

If you have to drink a 2011 Napa Cabernet, this is the one. Overcomes the flimsiness and off-centered taste of many of its peers. Blueberry, suggestive of Alexander Valley cabs, is present in spades, and wonderful, smooth, and satisfying midpalate and finish. — 9 years ago

Nicole Behrman

9.5

Having this one today. This one is more in my budget vs the Caymus Bros we had yesterday... Damn me and my good taste! Lol — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits, cedar, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vanilla and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, cooked cherries, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, cedar, earth, dark chocolates, licorice, cola, spices, vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 17 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing great complexity and delicious, but I expected more from this great 2007 vintage. I had the 2001 not too long ago, and it was so much better.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. A good food wine too.

A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$350. — 6 months ago

Peter Collins

9.1

The nose was weirdly muted and indiscernible. Also a bit tight but the finish was full and nice. It’s good but for the price and time in the bottle, it just left me unimpressed — 5 years ago

Alan Weinberg

9.3

painfully intense in a very good way, bright fresh dense fruit all lifted by a well-integrated acid backbone. Superb creaminess, fine mousse, long future. Damn, makes me want 08 even more. Blows away 04 and 06. — 5 years ago

Chris England

9.4

My favourite St J Chateau & been eager to pop this 💯 Parker pointer @ £180 just entering its early drinking window 😁 Already good but a sure 98-100 in 10-30yrs 👍 93-95 today

🍇 60% Cab S, 29% Mer, 6% Pet V & 5% Cab F

🍷 Deep opaque inky ruby

👃 Smokey oak, dark plum, blackcurrant, minerals, pencil lead, soggy earth, gravel, charcoal & sweet cedar

👄 Med+ body of creamy mineral infused ripe black berries & plum in mocha & liquorice

🎯 Long dark fruits filled w/ minerals & lashings of mocha & liquorice — 8 years ago

Mike Cleland

9.6

Surprisingly fruit forward for 25 years. Dark fruit and plum flavors with smoothed tannins. Good bottle bouquet. Cork fell apart but there was no taint to the bottle. Bottle well kept for at least the last 15 years - and supposedly the first 10 before I got it from a private buyer. I would not believe this review if I had not done the tasting myself. I had an 88 and a 90 in recent years that had not held up - flat flavors and thin color — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

1st vintage if this wine, so a real treat to try. A little shrill and sharp at the front. Lovely fruit. Still some fresh notes but in a good place age-wise. Doesn't hang together as well as the wines beside it. — 8 years ago

with Matt and Paul

Judy Martin

10

Smooth & rich & really good. Deep red in color. Served chilled. Had with Jenna at J. Gilbert's 09/27/15 — 10 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Garnet red in color. Offering nose and palate of dark cherry, herbs, leather, cedar, tobacco, prune, fig, vanilla and dill. Structured and long. A very good effort and a favorable pvr. — 2 years ago

with Judy

Tom Garland

9.2

Opus One tasting

2019 Opus
2017 Opus
2012 Opus

The 12 drinks really well with time to go but hard to imagine it gets a lot better, the 17 was uninspiring with muted nose and subdued taste, the 19 has good potential in 6-9 years. Note: Pours were a little light for the price, so buyer beware! — 2 years ago

with Karin and Brenda

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Telltale (but under control) barnyard funk livens the tangy red fruit and crushed granite on the nose. Cleaner in the mouth, with great intensity but very lively acid balance. Lip-smackingly good. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 5 years ago

Barb

9.7

Wow... So many flavors in this wine. It's quite a treat to your mouth. Smooth with a great mid taste and a long finish — 9 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.0

Blueish red intense color; rich complex nose with dark fruits and some new oak; very interesting taste with ripe dark fruits, some port notes, oak notes, and some unique personalities in the shape of perfumed flowery notes (could be well integrated vanillin notes). Although Zin dominates this unusual blend by percentage, it is not simply a Zin. Would like to try in 2020. — 10 years ago