Julie Cox

9.0

Always a go to with seafood and for a nice summer day. — 5 years ago

Nick Piccone

9.0

Super crushable Pinot with a great red fruit, and some sour / funk — 6 years ago

with Sarah

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 6 years ago

Ted Corvey

9.1

Third time I’ve had this, each time I’m almost staggered by the nose. Floral and light red and blue fruits pour out of the glass. This is an old world nod being a 85/15 blend of Syrah and Viognier, and although it hints towards brooding it remains delicate and vibrant on the palate. Really pretty wine. Everything from Day I have had has been great. — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Looks almost rose. Quite dark. Tiny bubbles, very gentle. Glorious nose of resolved pinkish fruit. On the palate a beautiful strawberry soft and precise mid palate with delicate acidity. Long and phenomenal. — 9 years ago

with Paul and Matt

Shay A

9.3

This was such a treat to enjoy. Excellent representation of the vintage and region. Lovely left bank style with very restrained mid-dark fruits, cassis, clove. — 10 years ago

with Weston

Martin Diehr

9.0

Unique / Bordeaux style wine. Needs time to open and despite the age, would improve with decanting this wine. Old world nose, well balanced on mid palate with forest notes and wild berries. Medium finish — 10 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.4

Crazy good paired with dipping into gamba al ajillo (emphasis added), at Napa's groovy/real Zuzu, catching a classic deeply dirty nose while still sporting sun-drenched fruit that initially reworks one's first blush front mouth with an iodine edge that morfs into red and black fruit edgy with acid/tannin slow dancing to the depths and begging for another pinch of broth soaked chewy freshly baked bread and the associated next swig of this sweet juice...rhythmically stellar by day or by night😎🌌👣🍷🌀🎼

PS hit Zuzu (friendly, delicious and real...

— 11 years ago

Joseph Moss

9.3

Gamay all day, every day! With some aging on it. Good to drink, still good to keep. — 12 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Visually, bricking has begun. The nose presented a hint of musty cardboard, at that point, my sphincter started twitching - had I left this too long?
Palate displays spice notes initially, followed by anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mature cherries are also in the foreground with moderate tannins. Finishes with leather, olives notes and moderate sweetness. This is perched on a plateau, and should be consumed now.
The story behind the label is a broken bottle of a 2003 Leoville Las Cases, which pissed it’s pants (so to speak) in my eurocave, back in the day... — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Spring! It’s one of our favorite points in the year. More; daylight, a little warmer in CA and everything starts to bloom which, means a long summer of gardening and being outdoors every day/night is not far off.

Since it was such a great day and basically most Californians are shut-Ins, the voluntary self quarantining was getting to me. I did the landscaping and got an afternoon of fresh air today. A breath of fresh air...ahhh! Wow, was it needed after Gavin’s Newsom’s estimate of 25.5 million Californians would be infected with Coronavirus over 8 weeks yesterday.

So, a good night to celebrate another day of being virus free with my 2nd favorite N/V Rosé Champagne.

All my numerous previous notes apply.

Stay safe everyone and remember the new terminology of the new decade...social distancing! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Photos of; Spring in our backyard & a Billecart Grand Cru Vineyard.

— 6 years ago

Steven Comfort

9.1

This was the last bottle from a case I bought in about 1997. Over the 29 years since the wine was made, the noteworthy tar and tobacco notes that Pontet Canet is known for softened to an ashy-ness that is a softer version of a Mouton Rothschild. Still plenty of life left in this outstanding vintage, but the wine won't improve much (if at all) from this point. I enjoyed this bottle with Lucas Comfort, a day after his 29th birthday (1990). — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

63/25/12 blend of Vermentino, Muscat and Malavasia Bianca, and yes, pet-nat. Still Applegate Valley AVA but no vineyard designation on this one. Pale yellow white, good foam on pour but light carbonation, bubbles disappear relatively quickly. Slight sulfite in nose, but not much else. In the mouth, creamy, slightly bubbly, lemon-lime flavor with a touch of Muscat, followed by a tangy largely lemon-lime finish. Easy to love, especially on a warm day. Fun and sure to prove popular. Not a wine to overthink, just drink... — 7 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.5

Great way to spend a snow day! — 9 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Magnum. It's a really delicious rosé, as good as it gets, and possibly the best (as the pundits claim). Just a little dear.

Pretty big rosé! Great nose and weighty mid-palate. Strawberry, watermelon, peach, orange zest, mineral, rose petals; and herbs and spice as it opens up. — 9 years ago

Marina Saitta

9.3

Can drink this allllll day long — 10 years ago

Jake Smith

9.3

Perfect after a long day of moving — 10 years ago

with marissa

Barb

9.7

Wow... So many flavors in this wine. It's quite a treat to your mouth. Smooth with a great mid taste and a long finish — 10 years ago

Nat Chitwood

9.8

At Alison Spa - Beautiful Stormy Day! Amazing Wine — 11 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.0

Nothing better than rose on a hot summers day! — 13 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Krug is always most welcome, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. This is edition 169. A bit more yeasty and slightly less acidic than previous versions, to my taste. But if you like the Krug style - which we do very much - it hits the spot per usual.

My wife used to work with Fritz Hatton, proprietor of Arietta wines and auctioneer for Zachys. Fritz always says to have a half bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge in case you need a “midnight snack”, and I have to agree with him! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A lot can happen in three weeks. Cheers 🥂 to that!

Top photos, April 11th. Bottom photos, May 1st.

Happy May Day all. Hope yours was as nice as ours.

Numerous notes still stand. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 7 years ago

Deni

9.0

Typical IPA. Nothing special. — 7 years ago

Deborah Parker Wong

10

Umami, tea leaves, leather, bright and focused mid palate of umeboshi plum, celery salt and sweet pipe tobacco. Looong and memorable. — 9 years ago

Nick Jouras

9.4

Christmas Day 3 Litre 12 years old and a lot left — 9 years ago

JKT

9.5

What a nose! Fruit but strongly tinged with spice and hints of cigar? Medium body with fruit and acid but latter lingers into finish which RC says should note be for Napa cab and sign of post prime by 5+ years. But still great to drink. Next day under agon the nose lost that spicy note but the palette holding very nicely. More rounded today. — 10 years ago

Eric Egan

9.4

I suspect this didn't get quite enough air. Not quite pop and pour but it was only open for 45 mins before we drank it (we were perhaps over-concerned about the mid shoulder level). Lovely (and lively) russet core with long legs as a ruby rim; nose of pencil shavings, cigar tubes (hint of metal with lots of tobacco), blackberry stalks, and lingering aromas of compté cheese rind and venerable (on-the-edge) rose petals; long and satisfying - persistent tannins and well integrated but still present acidity. From half bottle - need to give the next one more time!!! — 10 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

A blend of 60/40 Pinot noir and Chardonnay almost all grand cru but everything is mid slope and chalky soils a perfect balance between power and elegance minimum 25 years. A very creamy texture on the nose. A very long finish with a good amount of richness 80% biodynamic. The aim is to convert all has a bit of a nutty almond character. — 11 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.4

This really does need a good ol decant but has wonderful concentration, very deep, almost broody nose of intense blackcurrant and dark plum fruit as well as a strange but very attractive mix of blueberry & graphite, almost heading towards prune.
A very well balanced mid palate though seems to be somewhat lacking in acidic lift overall but the fruit seems well integrated with the tannins, slightly underripe black berry fruit and with some grip on the finish, food would benefit this wine at the moment but it would be interesting to see how this comes along. Feels like it would benefit from at least another 5 years in bottle. Decent length. — 12 years ago