Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 9 months ago

Mark Rosse

9.4

“On the palate, the sensation is one of diving into a wave:a satiny texture curls and unfurls on the palate, embracing and caressing it. An instant of weightlessness, matter vanishes, the finish vibrates, the taste buds are aroused by a controlled ardour. The persistence is remarkable with just the slightest undertone of tartness (citrus zest and buds) “ Richard Geoffroy
Chef de Cave Moët Chandon
Says it perfectly! — 4 years ago

Wolfgang Brych

9.0

This Tiganello is almost at the end of his life. The colour already reaches into a light brown. However, he tastes amazingly round, velvety. It should not be longer in the bottle. — 6 years ago

Bodil Martin

9.7

Loved it!! — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.5

BYOB wine night with friends & various industry acquaintances celebrating the recent induction of a couple of them into the ranks of CMS Certified.
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Beautiful. Overripe pineapple, creme brûlée, honeysuckle. Loads of power. See you in another decade at least. — 7 years ago

with Krystal

Jay Kline

9.3

High shoulder fill. Cork just short of being completely saturated. Poured into glasses about an hour prior; consumed over a three hour period. Color is a dark garnet with maybe the slightest hint of bricking on the edge. Intoxicating aromas of crème de cassis, tobacco, cedar, baking spices, and forest floor. On the palate, the fruit was remarkably fresh and vibrant for 35 years of age. Zippy, black currants, plums, leather and a touch of earth. Tannins are still holding fast! Finish lasts for a minute, plus. Stunning bottle. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a producer in Bordeaux that punches this far above its class. There was more than enough structure for this to easily go another 10 years...maybe even longer. Wow. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I Coravin-ed this bottle awhile ago. I put it back as it wasn’t drinking as I would have hoped. A couple of months later and it’s come around nicely. I been doing short term and longer term tests of Coravin bottles. As much as I love my Coravin, I am a little more skeptical of their research that states their bottles will hold up 9 years after their first Coravin. I believe the Coravin help develop this 04 a little sooner. It’s drinking nicely without food tonight. On the nose; dark currants, expresso, black olive tapenade, cedar, tobacco, sweet soft leather, vanilla, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked black plum, plum, an array of blue fruit mix, light cinnamon, clove, medium spice, mocha chocolate, dark chocolate, stones, rich, moist black earth and dark decayed florals & fresh violets. The palate is medium full. The tannins are not quite 50% resolved. After it opens up with a half-hour in the glass, it’s like velvet in the mouth. The structure, tension, length and balance are starting to develop into a very good place. However, there are many, many years of aging to go. The fruits are ruby, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked black plum and strawberries. Expresso, black olive tapenade, cedar, tobacco, sweet soft leather, tobacco, menthol, graphite, anise, vanilla, light cinnamon, clove, medium spice, mocha chocolate, dark chocolate, dry stems, crushed rocks with dry top soil, stones, rich, moist black earth, volcanic minerals, and dark decayed florals. The acidity is very good for what was deemed a ho-hum vintage. The long finish is; rich, ruby, gorgeous and lasts well over two minutes. I am enjoying it a lot tonight but will still wait another 10 years to open another. I believe at that point, it has all the potential to merit an outstanding score. When I tasted this at the UGC in Bordeaux fresh into bottle, I thought it was one of the top three wines of the day. In the right photo, you get a full sense where the wine gets it’s stoney & rich, dark earthiness. — 8 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

13.9% 1995 Caymus - wasn’t sure what to expect, this is drinking beautifully. A window into a past era of Napa in a great way. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2016 vintage. Last tasted in May 2022. At that time, the wine had shed much of the baby fat and gone leaner bodied. Ummm…this bottle added the weight/body back on along with the overt fruit missing for the last year back into the hopper. The most Jekyll/Hyde BDX I’ve ever had the pleasure to taste multiple x’s. Have zero idea what to expect on the next visit but thinking it won’t be boring. 2.20.23 — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Sayonara, 2021!! You brought periods of joy and excitement, apprehension and challenge, intense sorrow and grief; a panoply of emotions spanning the spectrum of the human experience…

So, we’re putting one foot in front of the other, crossing the threshold into 2022 with hearts full of gratitude and hope, while sipping delicious wine and savoring this quiet moment together.

We want to pause to say THANK YOU all for being a part of our wine journey and a constant source of inspiration, positivity, and learning for us. Cheers and Happy New Year! — 4 years ago

with Deked1

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. — 6 years ago

Molly M

9.1

Just can’t get a bad wine in California it seems! Picked this up at the little mini mart outside Yosemite for $10. Delicious! — 8 years ago

Bryan Ghows

9.8

The 1982 is drinking superbly now. Very polished and refined. All the elements have integrated into a lovely drink. No edges. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

As you can see by the abv, this one reflects the warmer vintage that was 2005 at 13.5%. Darker, richer, 2005 is considered one of Chinon's top vintages of the 21st century. Aromas of dark red and black cherry, blackberry and dark red raspberry, red currants and cassis, with cedar and sandalwood notes, the fruit is starting to turn tertiary with shades of herbs and savory. The pepper notes are ripe and well-integrated, with the fruit the lead in this wine. The palate is med+ and concentrated, with tannin that are starting to resolve into a finer structure. This finishes fresh and long with fruit and spice, excellent! — 3 years ago

Ericsson

9.4

Elegant with butter, oak, and light acidity as well as ripe stone fruits notes. This rare Napa Chard has definitely peaked into a harmonious elixir in the pallet. — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Decanted for around an hour, the recently released 2013 Grand Vin from Chateau Musar is an enormous wine at present in its youth. Gradually, it opened into a gorgeous, exotic and utterly unique product of this unlikely corner of the wine world. There’s plenty of Bordeaux-like character in the form of dark fruit and cigar box, but there are notes too of cranberry, liquorice, clove, mandarin and five spice. The mouthfeel, as a whole, has a quasi Brunello quality to it, with its bright cherry fruit and mouthwatering acidity. But woe is anyone to compare this wine to any other, for it is incomparable. One of Serge Hochar’s last vintages before his passing in 2014, and one that will doubtless have a long life. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured out of a 1.5L and this was lights out good. I love the 2005 vintage in Barbaresco and this was a beautiful example and seemed to have so much left in the tank! The fruit was still bright and full of life. Tannins are still firm. Great acid for food and paired beautifully with frutta di mare fra diavolo. Secondary characteristics are just barely creeping into the fore. Wish I had another mag to drink in 2029. — 7 years ago

Jo Anne B

9.0

Voted best rose of 2018 and its owned by hottie Jon Bon Jovi. 😍. Holds up to the rating. Rhubarb, lemon and a little honey. A great buy! — 7 years ago

Martijn

9.0

1997 vintage on 24.12.18 Cork broke into 1000 pieces.
Still a red fruit bomb. Drinking easily but I will keep my other bottles in the cellar. — 7 years ago

Adam Reinhard

9.9

Damn. Still rockin strong. Like Dave in the good years. I fooled my wife into thinking it might be old world/ that all the praise you need to know. — 8 years ago