Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Day 1: very primary, fresh, vibrant fruit with some tobacco but super compact. Day 2 was a different story with fresh raspberries, cassis, plums, and tobacco and wonderfully balanced. Loads of structure to go with. Finish is long and delicious. This bottle already exhibits a lot of sediment, expect more in the future. Best yet to come. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great Cabernet from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, figs, light oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, pencil lead, black pepper, dark chocolates, dark coffee, earth and leather.

Medium to full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, herbs, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, dark chocolates and pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Cabernet from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with great complexity and mouthfeel. Smooth, elegant and very tasty. This 4 year old is peaking now.

This is not an expensive wine, but with proper short term aging, it drinks wonderfully. Worth giving it a try.

Good right out of the bottle and so much better after 2 hours in a decanter.

I paired it with cheeses, nuts, dried fruits and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$15. — 7 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.2

This is a big wine and it paired nicely with spicy food. Lots of mouth feel and a long finish. Now that it’s done I am wishing that we had another! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Excellent tasting with Chris.

Medium ruby red. Attack of dark cocoa and woody notes. Finally opened up with a light flora undertone. Solid acidity, heavy tannins (7/10) and balanced. Full bodied and layered with dark fruits like black cherries, and dark raspberries. Good amount of spices, pepper and anise with a nice zing. Dark gravel near the long finish and a touch dry. Rhône style blend made up of 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, and 2% Tannat. Made through a series of co-ferments from 16 vineyards. Drink from 2018 till 2027. — 8 years ago

with India

Lewis Chester

9.6

1986 vintage. Chrismaka lunch at the house. Served after 3.5hr decant (which was probably a few hours short of what I would do next time round). Medium garnet hue - the only true sign of age I found in the wine. Strong pencil sharpening, creme cassis and smoke. Cedar. Very youthful. A lot of fruit. Amazingly youthful. Complex. On the palate, medium plus acidity and tannins - ripe. Medium alcohol. Medium plus concentration of flavour. Balanced. Very long finish. Depth and balance. This is so young still. Don't open for another 10+ years. Drink 2026-2056+. Wonderful potential, but still a baby. Is there a wine on the planet built for the long term better than Las Cases? NB: this is superior to the 1982 I had a month ago. — 9 years ago

Jerod Gunsberg

9.5

Stunning. So fresh and bright and concentrated without being overripe. Surprisingly deep color for a Grenache. Red flowers and cherry on the nose Same on the palate with baking spices and toffee on the long finish. Complex and special. Russell is rightfully known for his Syrahs but the Grenaches are in the same league. — 10 years ago

Justin Paterno

8.9

Finish is a bit short but nice wine — 10 years ago

Gary Vaynerchuk

Founder WineLibrary.com, Host WineLibraryTV

9.3

Honey, honey and a hint of asparagus on the noise. This wine is super thick almost dessert wine level fruit ... A hint of pear, apple and nectarine and finished long and strong - a ton of people would love this wine - it's fun if not a tad over the top but for tonight, breaking fast... It's perfect — 11 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous Cabernet from Napa Valley.

Deep ink in color with a short Ruby rim.

A gorgeous nose of blueberries, currants, cherries, wild strawberries, dried figs, cedar, vanilla, dark coffee, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, earth, chocolates, eucalyptus, black pepper and Mediterranean spices.

Full bodied and gentle with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, sweet spice, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, mocha, earth, graphite, leather, coke and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful example of a Napa Cabernet. Showing great complexity with a wonderful nose and a great, smooth and gentle mouthfeel. Very elegant.


Still not showing its 6 year old age and could age very nicely in the next 15 years.

Good right out of the bottle and much better after an hour, when all these flavors open up on the nose and palate.

By now, the alcohol is well integrated alcohol, although it is very high.

Good by itself or with food and a great sipping wine to have with friends and talk about.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$90. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. This week it's a fabulous Cabernet from Alexander Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose of cedar, leather, brown sugar, bacon, blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, light vegetables, coffee, chocolates, blue cheese, earth, tobacco leaf, spices, peppercorn, smoke and peppermint.

Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, peppercorn, spices, mold, green vegetables, chocolates, mocha and cola.

Long finish with firm tannins and black pepper.

This is a great Cabernet from Sonoma County. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing good complexity with some vegetable notes. Spicy with a great chewy mouthfeel.

Still young, but already enjoyable even by itself, and will age nicely in the next 20 years.

Will pair very nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Aged for 24 months in American Oak barrels (50% new).

13.9% alcohol by volume. — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

A nice Cabernet for my Friday's cab fix...

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, plums, sweet cherries, strawberry pie, licorice, vanilla, spices, oak, graphite, chocolates, mocha, earth, coffee, black tea, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Full-bodied, big and bold, with medium plus acidity and nice long legs.

Extra dry on the palate, with sweet cherries, blackberries, black currants, black plum, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, nightclub mocha, dark coffee, cola, earth, pencil lead and black pepper.

Long finish with firm tannins, raspberries and black pepper.

This is a great Napa Cabernet with a very typical nose and palate. Well-balanced with nice complexity.

Still young, but already delicious, and would be even better in the next 5 to 10 years. Enjoyable by itself or with food and will pair nicely with BBQ grilled meats.

15% alcohol by volume. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Randy Dunn makes wine for your retirement and perhaps your grandkids. This 02 is just coming into it's elegance/groove. When you consider it's been in bottle for basically 12 years, it's still a pretty big wine. Tannins are resolving but still packs a palate punch. On the nose, it's a wild berry blend, baking spices and a mix of dry and fresh roses. The fruits start elegant transitioning to juicy & finishing with dry medium tannins. Blackberries, black cherries, black plum, raspberries with very ripe juicy strawberries painting the back palate. The mix of fruit is incredible. Baking spices of caramel & vanilla, just a touch of spice; allspice & light sage, black tea, dessert style dark minerals that finish with dry crushed rocks, graphite & eucalyptus. Followed by; raspberry cola and acidity that is just short of perfect. The finish pierces the mid palate with dark tannins. However, the mixed berry fruit finishes long, juicy to dry & with sheer beautiful elegance. The finish lasts & lasts. It's simply a guilty pleasure. I have two more bottles. I'll have one in 7 more years and the last in 15 years. Love to note the changes! That's the really enjoyable part of cellaring wine. — 9 years ago

Bryant Bickel

9.4

The usually tight tannic punch has faded and melded with the usual Washington velvet, a dark abyss of blackberry, plum, black cherry, it's in a nice place, I honestly wanted the kick in the mouth, but it's more elegant than you would expect. And I'm okay with buying her dinner, cause she delivers! She wore the long dress, thought I'd be looking at a short skirt, but this long dress is taking me home, thanks! She got feisty after she opened up & she delivers impressed! Give it 1hr and she will sing in your ear! — 11 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This is my second Herman Story wine. Normally, I’d sock my ‘16 Syrahs away for years, but I’ve seen reviews say this is so enjoyable young, so I decided to experiment. This is like rocket fuel...full throttle. BUT, it stops short of being out of balance/gloopy. These wines make me think this winemaker, named Russell, is like the Russell Bevan version of Paso Rhône varietals...big, bold, & delicious in style.

After only 30mins, this revealed some smoked meat, peppercorn, olive and underripe blackberry. Some sage as well. Massive on the palate...all sorts of dark, ripe fruit with a sweetened core. Bacon fat, roasted plum, and baked berry pie. This is hedonistic in style and not for the faint of heart, but it does a good job of restraining itself from where it could go. A fun wine. — 6 years ago

with Weston and Mark

Chris England

9.5

1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣5️⃣

🗞 eBay, DVD, Atlantis 🚀 Mir
🎵 You Are Not Alone, One Sweet Day
🎥 Toy Story, Apollo 13
🗣 Houston, we have a problem
🌍 5.66B

Gorgeous old world Rioja @ £75

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brick

👃 Smokey burnt oak, sweaty leather, ripe black cherry, caramel, sherry, herbs, earth, dusty cellar, potpourri, red currant & cocoa dust w/ liquorice & balsamic

👄 Med smooth body of slight tart & sweet bruised red & dark cherry soaked in earth, oak, sweet liquorice & cocoa

🎯 Long earthy oak cherry seduction — 7 years ago

Jake Rubash

9.2

Exactly what I wanted after a long week. Big F'ing fruit — 8 years ago

Fred McQueary

9.1

Very nicely drinking with short decant. Nice fruit with long lasting finish — 8 years ago

with Terri

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Super mineral, amazing precision in the aromas. Limestone. Just short of GG quality. Will age wonderfully. Sick aromas. Deep, ripe and wonderful freshness. Apricot and stone fruits, complex and mineral, dry and structured. Long, and so precise. 1.8 grams of RS. Almost tannic. Yellow orchard fruits. 12.5%. So clean. Long and salt finish. — 9 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.0

This afternoon was treated to this 1986 Chateau Talbot. On the nose was dark fruit, prune, tobacco, spice and dark cherry. After decanting for a short period of time at first taste the palate gives notes of black cherries, leather, spices, licorice and sandy tannins. There is medium acidity and medium tannins with a very nice long finish. I would say this at least has more life to go a good 5 years. — 10 years ago

Ryan Guy

9.0

Roasted plums, pine, lifted floral and mineral notes on the nose. Earthy plum and blackberry with a surprisingly long finish glistening with minerality. Drinking well after a short decant now, but will also last a few more years. — 11 years ago