Rob Sternthal

9.2

Those who follow me will know that this is a rare one for me, but I don’t have too many half bottles and my alcoholism took over late tonight and made me open something. This is one of the lightest Cabernet Merlot blends I’ve ever had. It’s still quite tannic but the winemaking is there. Seems to open a little over time and you can taste the French terroir. — 5 years ago

Jessy Manuel

9.8

Orange peel and honey flavors. Clean and vibrant. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Deep, dark tart cherry drenched in the Silver Oak characteristic notes of .... oak! Lingering on the mid palette and finish. Actually pared surprising well with the Asian hazelnut salad Tammy made. — 7 years ago

with Tammy

Sean Grullon

9.5

Okay - fine. It’s a good, probably great wine. Overpriced? Yes. Opus is filled with pretentious douchbags? Double yes. But this is a well-made wine bridging a gap between Napa and Boudreaux. Dusty nose with menthol, earl grey tea, tobacco, flowers, cassis, and creamy dark fruits. It has a really nice velvety finish. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 8 years ago

Tim Parkhouse DWS, CWE

9.3

This made my Xmas eve on the floor! — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Likely the best Artemis Stag's Leap has ever made. Ripe blackberries, boysenberries, black plum, cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla toasted oak and caramel finish. It's not as fresh as we've had at the winery. Starting to close down in the bottle. This entry level Stag's Leap is better at this young stage than most of their 2011's. At $40, an extreme value. Can't wait to try it again in 8-10 years! — 11 years ago

Peter Giles

9.2

Beautifully made by nuns. More fruit in the 11 vintage than the '10. Apple pie, citrus and honey. Love this wine. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This wine still needs another 5-10 years to fully shine. However, it was none the less great. Dark multi layered cassis, tobacco, light leather vanilla and just right amount of oak, tannins not fully resolved and made in that remarkable Martha Heitz style. — 11 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.1

Yes! A great representation of what can become of gamay from a Cru village wine. The typical esters are there on the nose but the overall fruit and some darker tertiary flavours are present. A bit light on the palate despite the 14% but this is made up for by the long delicate spicy-flowery finish. — 5 years ago

Andrew Edson

9.1

Lucious Zinfandel made from vineyards across California averaging over 80 years old. Was ready to drink despite the young vintage. Delightful rose petals and pepper lingering on the finish. Highly recommend! — 6 years ago

Abbe Walker

9.2

Favorite of the night — 7 years ago

Keith Taylor

8.9

Wonderfully refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This Syrah is made in conjunction with Consultant, John Duval of Penfolds fame. John has also been making his Duval private label wines since he departed Penfolds back in Barossa. Gorgeous nose of sweet dark currants, dark moist soils, licorice, smoke, grilled meats, violets and fresh florals. The palate is rich, round, thick, sexy and elegant. Blackberries, liqueured, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, lots blue fruits, smoke, grilled meats, cinnamon, vanilla, rich scorched earth, loamy soils, touch of crushed dry rocks, liquid violets, dark fresh flowers and full, mellow acidity. The structure, length, tension and balance are drop dead gorgeous. The finish is thick, full and flat out mouthwatering and jaw dropping gorgeously sexy. Photos of the Long Shadows logo, one of their vineyards and beautiful tasting room. — 8 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.1

Beautifully made wine. Great earth tones. Will improve with years. Then 92 pts — 9 years ago

David L

9.4

07' Quintessa Magnum .Someone took the bottle home to make a cheese plate out of it? The 07 might be the best bottle they ever made. — 9 years ago

with Randall, Sean and 1 other

Brent S

8.9

An old friend I haven't visited in a while. The best way I can describe this is: a very well made fruit bomb. Overly sweet and ripe, but otherwise excellent. — 10 years ago

Alberto Chinali

9.3

Impressive Frappato... once given time to open up. At first it is very reduced with barnyard notes upfront. Given an hour time it transforms into an elegant refined wine. Very impressive and unique, so different from other wines made from this grape which are pleasant but unpretentious summer reds — 11 years ago

Daniel Hernandez-Brun

9.1

12.5% booze, about $30, sample. This is the wine that made me want to do what I do for a living. — 11 years ago

Peter C

9.4

Wow. Love these old Napa cabs. Made in the old world ways before You know who cannot be named’s influence. Aged so gracefully and a beautiful wine! Like drinking an old Bordeaux but just with a slight ripe fruit and sweetness to differentiate its Napa origin! — 6 years ago

Paul Woolls

9.5

Aliens made this wine. — 6 years ago

with George, Kirk and 3 others

Steven Gullo

9.5

At the time, this was made by Mike Grgich. The best aged Napa Cabernet I’ve ever tasted. — 7 years ago

Topaz Smith

9.6

Full bodied Cab. Beautifully made. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Feather is 100% Cabernet. This is made in coordination with Randy Dunn. On the nose, dark, lightly spiced currants. Black oil, loamy soils, black licorice and fresh floral bouquet. On the palate, the mouthfeel is thick & rich. There's a good presence of wood shaving. Rich, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, candied black plum, plum, black raspberries, loamy soils, dark rich moist earth, leather, tobacco, spice-box, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, black licorice, violets and fresh red florals. Acidity is round and mouthwatering. The structure is big. The tension perfect as is the balance of fruit and earth. This is definitely a Parker wine. It's so easy to drink young, yet will cellar 10-15 years nicely. Photos of the tasting rooms hand blown glass lighting...lit up. The Feather artwork and the famous Boushey vineyard in Yakima Valley — 8 years ago

Heath Higgins

9.6

One of the finest made wines in the world. Always a treat. — 9 years ago

with Mary and Catherine

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

Holidays like Labor Day are made for mags of Produttori. — 9 years ago

Adam Ching

9.7

Had a taste and it made my tongue numb... — 10 years ago

with Francesca

Bill Bender

9.2

Well made, great stuffing. Still a little tannic and tight. I'd hold or decant several hours. — 11 years ago

Steve Olson

9.9

A great wine stored in perfect conditions made for a great evening. — 11 years ago

Nate Stiles

9.3

This Pinot is a blend from three California counties. Tons of fruit and a bit of pepper made this an instant delight. — 13 years ago

with Drew