Joe DAscoli

9.2

Recent addition to the cellar. Solid wine after gassing it with winepro2 oxygen. Good blue ripe fruit. Some vanilla but not too much. Pie like but with enough savory and depth to balance it out. — a month ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.6

Sweet herbal tones, tobacco, dark earth and dried black cherries form a dramatic bouquet as the 2017 smolders up from the glass. This is pure elegance on the palate, verging on opulence, yet with a core of tart black fruits and savory herbal tones to balance. Brisk acidity brings a nearly juicy feel toward the close. The 2017 folds in upon itself through the finish, balsamic and tarry, yet somehow maintains a lovely freshness as sweet tannins linger on. The 2017, an extremely warm vintage, contains 32% Petit Verdot, the largest amount ever included in the Reserve, balanced by 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec. Chris Figgins explained that Petit Verdot achieved perfect ripeness in 2017. (Eric Guido, Vinous, October 2023)
— 6 months ago

Bob & Elaine J.

9.5

Fabulous. — 4 years ago

Stephen F Laga MD

9.6

One of the best big Cabs. Certainly of Washington State it’s the best Cab in that state. Very smooth, deep rich purple hints of berries. 2016 vintage. Absolutely excellent. — 2 months ago

Andrew Formi

9.0

Decant and let it sit for hours — 6 months ago

Joe Roth

9.5

Delicious — 3 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

The ‘Loess Vineyard’ was planted to Bordeaux varietals nearly 20 years ago just due east of the winery. Weighing in at 14.7% alcohol, layers of toasty oak aromatics are woven together with violets, Turkish coffee and shades of huckleberry liquor on this gorgeous nose. The palate is fresh and impeccably balanced. Ripe dark cherries combine with cigar ash, Turkish coffee and shades of blueberry compote on this deep and luxuriously textured wine. Sinfully good to enjoy in its hedonistic youth, the 2017 ‘Loess Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon will enjoy drinking enjoyment for many decades to come. Be sure to give this a long decant if enjoying in its nascent phase. Drink 2020-2040- 96 — 4 years ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

Was good, but over the hill. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.

This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.

It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.

Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.

The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 3 months ago

Neil Shah

9.2

Discount Leonetti — 5 years ago