Sara Thomas

9.0

This mencia has personality! Blackberry, boysenberry, violets, loamy earth, touch of stemmy greenness. Slightly rustic but it all comes tog harmoniously - really like this wine — 4 years ago

Jeff Murray

9.0

Excellent blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo instead of Syrah. Works very well. I saw this described as “dusty fruits” which I take to mean earthy, and just slightly subdued. Relatively smooth and opens up nicely with air time. Will keep the other bottles for a while to see how the evolve. Another good effort from ONX wines out of Pasa Robles. Cheers — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.

This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.

The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.

The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.

12% ABV 👍

Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 8 years ago

R Bl

9.1

Rather closed but still attractive. Dark fruit, but crushed violets loom. White pepper hints. — 10 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Broad red fruit with herbal notes and violets. Slightly scorched. Intense fruit. Some stew. Long. Good. — 10 years ago

with Major-General

Scott Taddeo

9.5

Such complex aromas that benefited with a bit of air that lead to aromas of sandalwood and smoke, tea leaves, tart red fruits, violets, spice, damp earth and herbs. Long in length with cat tongue like tannin and perky acidity. So so good. — 10 years ago

garry post

8.9

Enjoyable wine with salmon entree. Blackberry , black cherry, violets. Soft and silky mouth feel. Touch of tobacco, licorice. — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.7

Great Hermitage black fruits, grilled meats, creosote, mineral, violets just an absolutely beautiful wine, my type of Syrah! — 12 years ago

Mike Kim

9.8

Chateau Marmont — 13 years ago

Lars Kirstein

9.1

Again a red Bordeaux in perfect shape, cigar box with leather and earthy notes, red fruits and violets on the palate, medium body and medium finish with a good acidity so you really want to drink the next Glas — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The BV Tapestry doesn’t show its real self and value until it approaches 20 years. When you open these inside 10 years, it’s an average to very good wine depending on vintage. I’ve said it many times, you simply can’t get this kind of elegance and flat gorgeous complexity with any amount of decanting. You cannot fake or cheat long bottle evolution.

The one quality I get from this bottling at this age is Cognac with deep caramel flavors.

The nose reveals, dark currants, deep blackberries, dark liqueur cherries, baked, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, baked rhubarb pie, poached strawberries, anise, heavily steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry, crushed, rock powder, sweet tarriness, soft leather, hints of graphite, dry twig, salted caramel, Cognac, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, dark, rich, turned earth, hints of mushroom, hints of; vanillin, clove, nutmeg, understated, medium, dark spice, saline, peppercorns, dark, red, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets and lavender. Floral heaven and then some!

The body is round & full. The mouthfeel is gorgeously sexy. The tannins are round, soft but, still show some teeth & tarriness. The structure, tension, length and balance are exquisite and still has at least 5 years of life ahead. It’s magnificently on the other side of its peak. Dark currants, deep blackberries, dark liqueur cherries, baked, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, baked rhubarb pie with golden crust, poached strawberries, kirsch cherries, figs, prunes, dates, anise, heavily steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry, crushed, rock powder, sweet tarriness, soft leather, hints of graphite, dry twig, salted caramel, dark chocolate, Cognac, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, dark, rich, turned earth, hints of mushroom, hints of; vanillin, clove, nutmeg, understated, medium, deep, dark spice with shades of palate heat, saline, peppercorns, dark, red, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets and lavender. The acidity is flat out perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, gorgeous, sexy, silky, ripe, lush, captivates the whole body, persists until you go to bed and even intrudes on your dreams.

While 94, no ordinary 94 with its age, complexity & beauty. It’s a WOW wine that rocks your mind, body & soul if you are deeply passionate about wine as I am. You want to slowly sip this all night.

Photos of, all the amazing scenery in and around BV...a Napa pioneer & legend. — 7 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

8.9

2016 vintage. Black plum, black raspberry, black cherry, violets, little bit of sanguine-iron, dusty tannins. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.2

I loved 2011 & @ £45 the new vintage hits the spot nicely 👍 Drinking great but will age nice 😎

🍷 Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 A piggy in the farm chomping on peppered smoked herb & blackberry, washing it down w/ a cherry & vanilla cola wearing violets in its ears, a stylish leather thong & dancing on woodchip w/ a blueberry cream pie face 🐷

👄 Med body of smooth earthy parma violets, blackberry, blueberry pie & cherry cola

🎯 Long dark cherry & blackberry oink 🐽 — 9 years ago

K J

9.3

Spicy Fruity. Violets. At Frenchie wine bar — 10 years ago

Greg Gregory

10

Spectacular! Mind blowing. One of my top 10 of all time. On every serious wine lover’s bucket list, and here we had a nigh perfect bottle. While aromatically a little recalcitrant, you still got some of the Margaux violets and potpourri on the nose, hints of clove, all trying to shake off their doldrums. But on the palate, it was timelessly ravishing. The finesse, richness, balance and smoothness, with an underlying, almost flabbergasting mixture of complexity and delicacy, was just astonishing. The finish is marvelously sweet and intense, with chocolate and cassis and utterly seamless tannins. This is a miracle of wine making and an exaltation of vintage and terroir besides. Wow! And bravo! We can only pray for an encore of such a wine. — 10 years ago

Michelle Steiner

9.0

Great wine - smooth, robust, affordable! — 11 years ago

Paul Hogan

9.8

Mad Men of Riesling 2012 great southern Australia — 13 years ago

Karen Daenen

9.7

Violets, aroma that jumps out and grabs you — 13 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

Signature manure and violets on the nose, purple flowers and forest floor. Very balanced and pretty, incredible acid and chalky minerals all the way through the finish. Great if not quite the brilliant energy and structure of 2014. Such a unique and iconic expression of cab franc. Upgrade to 9.4 after a few days open. Just beautiful. — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Dark cherry, kirsch, earth, wild herbs, black olive, pepper & violets. Still somewhat primary that is approachable now but still needs more time. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Le Parc at Les Crayeres in Reims. Deep dark ruby color, opaque. Wild nose with notes of black cherry, violets, menthol, slate stone and some mocha. Very perfumed. Rich and silky in the mouth. Tannins integrated. This is ready for consumption. — 8 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

More notes later. Stunning. So smoky and sweet. Ethereal.

Nose of smoke, mesquite, sweet raspberry fruit, violets and other flowers. Unreal.

Palate is soft and sweet and spreads to every nook and cranny. Unreal purity, length and delicacy. — 8 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Nice showing for this Unico. Purchased off of their list. Fully mature & at its peak drinking window with many years ahead. Great aromatics of dried berry fruits, mocha, leather, tobacco, earth and dried herbs, very floral with notes of rose petal & violets. This was elegant & silky with good acid & tannin structure. — 9 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.0

Very good. Crushed violets/roses in the nose. Smoked meat with tea leaves on the palate. Would like to see it in a few years — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

2004 vintage. From Jay. 2004 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Dark ruby colour. Fresh violets on the nose together with cherries. A little tobacco wrapper. Cracked cloves. Nice fruit on the pallet and very silky. This is both elegant and old school in all the right ways. 92+/100. Drink 2017 to 2028+ — 10 years ago

web bond

9.2

Classic, and still needs a lot of time. Violets, granite, savory fruit. — 11 years ago

Marla Shelton-Watts

9.3

Purchased in Bend, Oregon from local wine shop. What a surprise! Very smooth and light....not jammy at all. — 11 years ago

Dirk Pitt.

9.9

From Blewitt Springs, single vineyard. — 13 years ago

with Winehouse

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Floral nose, with apple skin, blackberry, and violets, leather adds to the palate as this is drinking really well right now with youth and maturity playing tug of war with the palate. Best Mourvèdre ever for me so far! — 13 years ago