Carl Fischer

9.2

Man this took forever to open up, but when it did, it was pretty darn good. I put this in the decanter for 6 hours - at first check after an hour I was worried as it was pretty closed. On hour three it started showing signs of life but still wasn't there. I think it could still improve with more time in the cellar or decanter. Deep ruby red in color, the glass explodes with fruit, oak and tea aromas. On the palate the tannins are strong and even after 6 plus hours still overpowered the fruit for a bit. Dark red and blue fruits hit you on the palate followed by some vanilla and spices. This is medium bodied with some acidity. This should be held or decanted longer than 6 hours. While this is good, the 10 and 12 vintages are much better than this IMO. — 7 years ago

Jon Liechty

9.0

Always a great bottle but man the 2014 is tight. This is one to sit on. — 8 years ago

Josh Orr

8.9

So smoky and meaty. It is a dark roasted glass of mountain man Syrah. — 8 years ago

with Morgan

Rafael Landestoy

9.3

I love everything that @Mike Smith makes and this was no different. Very well priced cab for the quality. Now that you're making 100 pt wines keep it that way my man! Congrats. — 8 years ago

with Janet, Jorge and 1 other

Rob Mayes

8.9

Nice! Drinks like an Italian meets old 1990-something Howell mountain or BV cab. — 9 years ago

Joseph Mrak

9.3

Nice Howell man example. Well balanced. Not a heavy cab. — 9 years ago

Fred Dex

Master Sommelier

9.1

Always a fun wine! Zin meets Pinot! Juicy raspberries, mountain herbs, supple texture! take a trip to the Istrian Sea! @Rx Wine Lab — 9 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.2

Togni is the man! — 9 years ago

Greg Giere

9.0

Oh man- this wine is in a nice place right now. Super elegant, lengthy finish. Good job Tim! — 10 years ago

Gilles de Chambure

Master Sommelier & Educator

9.9

didier dagueneau the wild man from Pouilly purchased 1/2 ha of abandoned vnyd in sancerre so steep no one wanted to farm it hence the name the Damned mountain — 11 years ago

David L

9.4

13' Arkenstone SB . I'm a lucky man. -at Trevini Ristorante — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.5

While this bears some resemblance to the fine Cabernets to the north, it is distinctly Paso Robles mountain fruit. What really makes this great, though, is its unique unions of influence and contrast. Rutherford dust meets Paso limestone, Central Coast kirsch meets North Coast cassis, and Adelaida District black raspberry meets Napa Valley blackcurrant.

This should be a prerequisite for tasting Daou's entry level Cabernet. This gives that so much context... I now realize how much that wine is simply a derivative of this. The herbaceous savory component that's notable in both is stitched much cleaner in the Reserve, and dovetails seamlessly with the dark chocolate and espresso element. This is certainly due to the extra weight and polish. Needs two hours to really harmonize, but I didn't decant. A beautiful expression of mountain Cabernet. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.4

My first "mountain" Craig wine and man is it a winner. The cork looked a little sketchy coming out but the wine is in perfect shape. Leather wrapped cherries on the nose, bramble, rich dark fruits and a little chocolate. Medium full bodied. Killer! — 8 years ago

A. R.

9.3

Oh man. Cool wine. It's almost Savoie-like in its mountain berry purity on the nose and in the mouth, but has some great grippy tannins and acid to let you know it's here. Really one of the most interesting wines (and wineries) from Sonoma. Get some while you can. Yum. — 8 years ago

V M

9.9

This is outrageous. I am blown away. Cab franc, merlot dominated with some cab sav and malbec. It is so silk smooth and beautiful as the tannins have aged gorgeously. Old world meets new world Bordeaux. Enticing nose of mountain berries and Cassis. The palate is so smooth yet full of life with similar notes as well as dark cherry pie burnt burnt ember and a finish that goes on and on and on. Really spectacular. Wow — 8 years ago

Rod "Mauby" Newman

10

Fresh mountain river meets tart berries. Big wine, nice balanced & long finish. — 9 years ago

Dina Mande

9.2

A delicious '05 for the night before my birthday. My man spoils me. — 9 years ago

with Jason

Christanna Honer

9.9

I imagine this as the aromas of the Beast's castle room in Beauty and the Beast...a bit of animal stink, with forlorn fallen rose petals.

Disney movies aside, man this has some fuuunk--big on the detritus notes--tart raspberry-rhubarb and gentian on the palate. As deft and well-crafted as a good Burg. — 10 years ago

Gilles de Chambure

Master Sommelier & Educator

9.7

elegant abd very bordeaux meets burgundy and rhine — 10 years ago

Mike Swinford

9.2

At the new Pizza Man! Better than the original! Waiting forever and loving it. Huge wine bar which makes waiting A-OK! — 11 years ago

Daniel Taub

9.3

With the MAN himself. Crowd pleaser. With years to go. @James Leahy @Rob Sternthal — 7 years ago

with Rob

Martin G Rivard

9.6

Ron Haber is the Man!
I love this stuff!! — 7 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

The Grand Vin of @RdV Vineyards is more Cabernet based so there is more structure and a linear sense to the wine's style of finesse meets power personality. Darker cassis and cherry, savory roast beef, shades of graphite and spice brood in a more subtle nose but unfurls more on the palate. While very good now this should be excellent in 4-6 years time and likely go 12-15 years, which gets a higher score for that potential. Probably the best wine made on the entirety of the east coast of the USA. — 8 years ago

Richard Martin

9.4

Drinking it with the man himself. — 8 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.4

A significant debate...coconut, black licorice, roasted marshmallows meets a cab. — 8 years ago

Kirk Sutherland

9.3

Brilliant. Crisp mountain minerality meets ripe red berries. Super balanced and focused. A very grown up Jura. — 9 years ago

Justin Hart

9.2

It takes awhile to open up, but man the high alcohol, high fruit character, it is a punch in the mouth (in a good way). I suppose what it could use is a little more pepper and earth... But honestly it is there, but it has to be reached through a good hour of airing out. — 9 years ago

Wes Bailey

9.2

Tannins still not calmed, but man is it interesting. Great fruit, cigar, spice. Needs to lay down for at least a year or two more. Thank god for Coravin — 9 years ago

ropajos

10

Bday gift from my brotha from another motha. A gem. Perfect fruit. Cali meets Europe. — 10 years ago

Christina Turley

Sales & Marketing Turley Wine Cellars

9.5

Mountain man wine, not for the faint of heart or palate. — 10 years ago

with Turley