Mark Flesher

9.4

Out of the 4 wines opened at The Bird, this one edged out the Numanthia 12 by a hair. Quite similar profiles IMO. This Walla Walla Syrah was quite enjoyable with dark black fruit on the front. Consistent with the 2015 I tasted a bit ago but IMO, this one had a bit more of a smoked beef flavor in the middle that the dark sweet and still youthful fruit gave way. Chose this as the "food" wine since most chose the Bird Burger (a grass fed beef burger)....it went rather well. Popular with the crowd of novices and winos, the smoky finish was very complementary. Maybe I might acquire a few of these WA Syrahs afterall to have for these purposes....(not a word, @Shay A .... 😆) — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Softer wine on the entry with good acidity on the finish. Classic merlot which first seemed a bit mushroom dense. But then the darker side of this wine showed in the front and middle. Became more brambly towards the finish. This paired well with the herbed cheese that Robert brought, and made this wine show more chocolate and cassis in the middle. Well made Just like their cabs! — 8 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Conrad Green

9.4

Sweetness, honey and a whiff of VA on the nose. Beautifully aged with a supple and tangy middle. Great purity, depth and length. — 9 years ago

with Brad, Howard and 3 others

Jonathan Wall

9.0

Carmelized toast. Great with middle eastern lamb tagine. And it elevated my olives. — 9 years ago

Erica Fox

9.0

Good wine! Not too sweet, not too dry. Pretty good. Not my favorite wine ever, but a nice, cheap and enjoyable wine! — 10 years ago

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

9.3

Sweet little half bottle. Lovely detailed nose from the beginning, but hard and metallic on the pallet out of the gate. Opened and softened considerably. Sweet tannins, nice plump middle. Red currant.. Was good in he glass for 2 hours. Pas mal for a 375. #bordeaux — 10 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.2

Stills needs a little time out of the bottle to relax. A little tight on the finish and has the middle drop out a little. Overall a delicious and smooth wine if slightly too tannic. 2. Spoke too soon. After 1 hr out of bottle this totally mellowed and is drinking more like a Dr Crane. Fantastic! — 11 years ago

Ryan Riley

9.3

Aroma is strawberries and cherries. Flavor is also strawberry and cherries but gives way to a black pepper spiciness in the middle as well as chocolate, oak, and a little smokiness. Solid tannins. it's a perfect every day wine like the best expression of a table wine — 11 years ago

DAL 9000

9.7

Small initial soft aroma of rick dark fruit. Dark red bubbles. Huge burst of rich dry tannins in the middle than fades beautifully. Coats your mouth with velvet smoothness of non sweet raspberries. — 12 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Gooseberry, bramble, violets, hint of sage. This is a full-bodied Merlot. However, the middle picks up a cola note but doesn't really go to a chocolate like the 2010 and 2012 had more of a tendency to do. This one really did not have a ton of acidity nor did it really have a ton of tannin to resolve. There was definitely enough tartrate in the bottle though! I really look for this one to continue aging quite nicely for another 10 to 15 years. But oh man, this one is drinking pretty darn nice right now. — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.7

The man, the myth, the legend (Mike Smith, with his wife) decided to throw us a bone and grace our dinner. How cool is that?
This wine is so complete. A meal on its own. Black as the night in the glass. Nose displays maple syrup and a hint of balsam. Huge mouthfeel, with a teeth-staining extraction. So plush and sweet. Still very primary, more bottle age will take this to an even better place. Anne-Marie (my wife) in the middle. From magnum. — 8 years ago

with Mike, Anne-marie and 7 others

Elle Scorcho

9.0

2) Much more impressed the second time around. It’s like I’m drinking an entirely different wine from the first check-in. Aroma of blackberry, currant, tar, & some smoke. Lush, stewed raspberry on the palate. Med-plus acidity. Sweater middle with a lightly tart, lingering, fruity finish.

1) Flat and flabby, especially for a Cab. Low tannin. Medium acidity. Notes of roasted raspberry & subtle leather. — 9 years ago

Keith Whitener WSET Diploma, CSW

9.3

Deep purple🎼hush, hush🎼ruby rim m+ acid m++tannin black fruits and cherries. Could've cellared for several years but no, not this time. Impatience is my middle name-or should be! — 9 years ago

Andrew S

9.9

An expanse of fruit, down the middle of Cabernet profile. A kiss of dust and leather on the nose to remind you it was harvested 26 years ago. Amazing fruit, cocoa, acid, balance. The finish is nearly two minutes. Just try not to smile. Happy Mother's Day! — 9 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

A touch of sweetness. Pretty. Great weight in the middle- a ripe vintage but good acidity. Lovely — 10 years ago

with Gregg

Rebecca Turner

9.8

Tasty and subtle. Not too sweet, not too dry. — 10 years ago

Sarah Taylor

9.0

Super sweet but delicious — 11 years ago

Justin Smith

9.5

Lovely upfront in the middle and at the end. Definitely in the drivers seat. So much complexity with a shot of dreaminess. — 11 years ago

Rob Moose

9.2

1986. Day 1 was charming out of the gate, then ultimately showed its oak and structure and a sort of pine quality. Preferred Haut-Batailley. Day 2 had sufficiently mellowed but still felt a little down the middle somehow. Cool side by side — 12 years ago

Thomas Hughes

10

Stuck in between banner vintages (2000 & 2005), 2003 is a great year to find "value" in Bordeaux. With the rise of the Far East's middle class, "Super Second" classified French reds sell for over $100 per bottle. (And 2 to 3 times that for the exceptional 2009 & 2010 vintages). So for my 2013 birthday, why not open a 10 year old Paulliac? 1st, this requires patience. After decanting, the glass needs time to develop. It's been 45 min and finally starting to exhibit it's elegance. Smooth, balanced, caressing ... You can almost taste the centuries of expertise. When I started getting into drinking wine, I was vain in thinking "French wines, can they be that good?" Yes, they are but not at any price! Don't just take out a mortgage to buy anything; research and try 2nd labels of vineyards. This wine is brilliant, but I still prefer Chateau Leoville Las Cases as my favorite 2003 Bordeaux. A very happy Cheers! — 13 years ago

with Heidi

Mark Flesher

9.4

Wonderful Merlot. Nose of wild berries and bittersweet chocolate. The entry of this wine is dark. Brambly and blackberry and baking chocolate. The middle has a chocolate covered almond character to it. Hint of herb. Finished with toasted oak and nice acidity. I am 100% sure I will not have the willpower to hold on to my other bottle of this. I can also appreciate the 95 this one scored as well. Nice, nice Columbia Valley Merlot! Rolland and merlot are an excellent combo! — 8 years ago

Michael B

8.9

Very similar to the Château Oliver. Major difference is that this wine opens up with more bold dark fruit which is quite velvety. Transitions to a delicious blend of peppers, varied spices and eucalyptus in the middle and end. Great depth and lasting taste that blended well with our Fois gras and cheeses. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.3

In honor of the release tomorrow, I wanted to educate myself as best I could with RM pinots. I had a glass of the Kanzler a few months back, but that’s it. I was able to get a few bottles and wanted to see if they were up my alley. So, I’m planning to follow this from pop and pour to the 3-hr decant mark and see how it changes.

At pop and pour, the nose was just a bit muted and I didn’t get much on the palate either, especially on the fruit spectrum. After an hour and 30mins, WOW! The nose burst forth with candied cherries, spices, and an underbrush note. Acidity is still pretty strong as expected. Fantastic weight on the palate. Cherry pie on the front and middle but the finish is a bit savory and herbal. Tannic and young, but great potential. — 8 years ago

Bethany S

9.1

My go to cab. — 9 years ago

Brenda C

9.6

Mmmmmm! Yummy! Had at a bar, not sure the vintage 🙁. But had a little, hmm? Strawberry maybe on the middle palate. Just that something extra to set it apart from just your typical cab. — 9 years ago

Cynthia Garcia

9.5

Caramelized butterscotch on the front, biscuit in the middle with a yeasty nutty finish. Very unique and special. — 10 years ago

Kelsey Lindsey

9.2

A tad mossy with a hint of oak. Feels like a velvet room within a cave on feathers. Definitely would recommend. — 10 years ago

Bo Yu

9.1

Beautiful. Strong tannins to the nose, yet the middle is light and smooth, finished with a balanced, less than velvety taste. A lot of tabacco, bold after it opens up. — 11 years ago

Nicolas Rezzouk

9.1

So enticing.... Herbs, tobacco, leather, savoury, meaty, cooked fruit, liqueur. Probably peaked a few years ago it goes superbly with h middle-eastern food. — 12 years ago

with Joanne

Juel Bell

9.7

Smooth with a hint of spice. Yum. — 13 years ago