Paul J

9.6

Medium yellowish/gold color. Beeswax, tangerine, peach, nuts, and camomile on the nose. Rich wine with ample complexity. Acidity is well integrated. Just coats the palate. Refreshing yet deep and bold. High quality! — 4 days ago

with Brooke

Eric Urbani

9.3

Just read the reviews — 5 months ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Liquid honey. Perfect with cheese. — 5 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

One of the best village wines in the biz, and 2021 is already drinking beautifully, quite different than the richer 19 and 20’s, but soft, pure and seductively elegant with amazing transparency and detail, and a liquid velvet texture. Last sips were the best. Love these wines! — 2 years ago

Christina T

9.0

Vintage 2022. Crisp, with some minerality. Love that it’s low sugar. Purchased at Trader Joe’s May 2024. — 2 years ago

Russ W

9.2

Fire 🔥 explosive aromatics. — 3 years ago

with Krystal

Eric Urbani

9.2

Still our fave — 5 years ago

Mcfossati

9.3

This wine has bright acidity, notes of citrus, green apples, yellow pears and white flowers. Which went very
well with the grill fennel with mustard seeds sauce and prosciutto, sweet potatoes, portobella mushrooms and skirt steak which was season with just salt, pepper and some mustard seeds. This wine is very well structured and the flavors are intense with earthy and mineral driving finish which went great side by side the stake. — 5 years ago

Joe Davant

8.9

Better than expected from a producer primarily known for their Chardonnays. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — 20 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 7 months ago

Jen

9.1

Quite nice. L’Etoile. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

A particularly great vintage for La Haute Lemblé, a gentle decant reveals its expressive core of rich and ripe stone fruit, hazelnuts, pastry cream and a liquid rock minerality. The forwardness and power of the vintage puts everything on the table. The palate shows great tension, racy acids, a soft texture and an incredible crystalline purity. Such special and singular wines. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Chosen from the wine list in advance and decanted 1 hour before serving. It’s beautifully textured with great lift, purity and balanced acidity representing the vintage well. It’s not the most deep or structured of vintages, it’s more about elegance than power. Ripe black and blue fruit, liquid stones, violets, spice and black pepper. Caresses the palate with a long, focused and vibrant finish. — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

On paper they say 08 wasn’t a good vintage but hey I love it. Old vine Reynard is excellent in 2008 showing all the Allemand sigs with dark fruit, olive tapenade and a liquid rock minerality. 08 is particularly Bordeaux like and not at all thin—that magical Reynard vineyard really ups the concentration of any vintage. Always a thrill to drink Allemand, my favorite Syrah. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 3 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Liquid gold 😍 — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

First time trying any of the new releases (and new labels 😏) from Bouchard. Starting at the top with the super rare old vine 100% Pinot Blanc Lieu-dit, La Bolorée. 2018 has been an early approachable vintage across many regions, and La Bolorée although obviously young, is plenty giving with some air. It is its texture and density that stand out the most, really such an incredible mouthfeel. Vinous, ultra concentrated and incredibly elegant, a rightful Zalto Burgundy wafts its layers of ripe orchard fruit, citrus oils, bread yeast, white flowers, gun smoke and liquid rock minerality. Its textural palate keeps gaining in volume and intensity, and finishes long with a seamless balance of racy citrusy acids and minerality. To age beautifully, indeed. — 3 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.2

Meh! Sauternes is a much better option if you have the chance. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Of course the 2014 Chaillot is in its early stages (although it is considered to be an early maturing and approachable vintage for Northern Rhône), but a multi-hour pre-dinner decant served it well as it was very open, giving and multidimensional showing great depth, power and an elegant backbone. Black raspberries, liquid stones, violets and a hint of black olive. There is a great midpalate richness leading to a long, finessed and lifted finish. — 6 years ago