Matt Sterr

9.3

Aged 6 Months minimum aged in bourbon barrel. Strong Bourbon note. Very soft and dry. — 6 years ago

with Kristi and Brady

David Lincoln

9.0

This wine is supposedly one of the top American wines of the last 25 years. Tannic as hell. Needs many hours of air before the fruit is revealed. Nose is lovely. Long finish. This needs six more years of bottle age minimum. So much potential. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Lemon. A Chenin Blanc blend with some Chardonnay, Palomino etc. A full bodied mouthful of flavour with minimum oak influence and medium + intensity on the palate. An unctuous almost syrupy wine with low acid. — 7 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Matt Sterr

9.0

50 year old vines minimum. 25 g sugar. Not cloying or too sweet. Pleasant. — 7 years ago

Les Huisman

9.0

Drank better than I expected, but still pretty damn young. 5 more years minimum for my tastes. — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.1

2005 vintage. Medium ruby hue. An hour after decanting: Mint, Earth and black cherry aromas, white pepper spice. Leathery notes. Black fruit dominant. Developing nicely. On the palate, medium plus acidity, medium tannins - ripe and grippy. Medium concentration and medium plus finish. Very enjoyable. Suggest 2 hour decanting at a minimum. Drink now until 2026. — 8 years ago

Freddy Foot

Sommelier Restaurant Gary Danko

8.9

Cellared by the estate for a minimum of 8 years before release! This one was a little developed — 9 years ago

William Schimmel

9.1

Preparing to turn 40. That, at least, is the excuse. Usual DP style. Very dry with long finish. Somewhat tight though. Probably needs 3-5 years minimum and score could go up. Paired perfectly with smoked oysters. — 9 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

I had a hate-hate relationship with Grenache for a long time (alcohol, lack of acid, lots of high-extraction style winemaking), but this is one of the wines that turned me around on the variety when @Caleb Ganzer served me a bottle a few years ago. Red fruited, meaty, peppery, with plenty of red flower perfume. This is clean, low-intervention winemaking, with only a little appealing pinch of VA. There's a slightly chubby texture, but trim acid keeps the wine moving forward. Somehow this wine would appeal to the Burgundy drinker, as well as the California Pinot drinker, and you know, people who like Grenache. A screaming deal at $25-ish. — 9 years ago

Nestor Tsioustas

9.3

Massive is an under-statement. This wine was a Puppy. Many more years of enjoyment left in this wine, I think a minimum of 20 years. Top class Grange and worth the money! 94+ points. — 9 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The is from Morlet Families inaugural vintage of 2006. I must say it’s beautiful with a fair amount more of life ahead. The nose reveals dark cassis and a good presence of cinnamon stick. Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, light clove & cinnamon, dark fresh florals and violets. The nose is intoxicating! The body is round, ripe and rich. The tannins nicely resolved. The structure, balance, tension and length are in an excellent spot. Mmmmm! Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, dry cranberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, a touch of bramble, light clove & cinnamon stick, dark rich soils, dry crushed rocks, a little leather, dark fresh florals & violets. The acidity is a waterfall on the palate. The finish is; spectacular elegance, richness, balance and lasts two minutes. One of the best CA Pinot’s we’ve had in a very long time. It deserves an amen & a hallelujah! I paid $65 for this amazing wine 9 years after it’s release (the 2015 released at $115); which brings me back around to a repetitive point of mine. Look for great wines on the secondary market and pay less than producers current release pricing. That is to say, it will aid in keeping you from drinking your new releases too young that are not nearly ready to enjoy! If you are not doing this, you are doing a disservice to your palate and your wine budget. Photos of; their old historical brick building they’ve converted into their winery, interior tasting area, Luc Morlet and their Estate vines. Producer notes and history...Winemaker Luc Morlet is a fifth-generation of a French winemaking family. Growing up in Avenay-Val d’Or, he spent all his spare time working on his family’s estate. His university studies of viticulture and winemaking were put into practice during years of work in vineyards and wineries in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the south of France. Luc left France in 1996 to join his wife Jodie in her native California. Starting in 2006, Luc Morlet began handcrafting Morlet vineyard designated wines and cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. As well as; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, a white Bordeaux-style blend and a Late Harvest Sémillon from Sonoma County. Luc is also the brother of Nicolas Morlet the Winemaker of Peter Michael fame. Luc is another producer I respect for his meticulous farming and low intervention winemaking techniques. While his roots are based out of France, he has adapted his skills well to the Napa Valley soils and climate. Morlet styles his wines in a harmonious and refined fashion. Their logo is based upon 19th century French artist Mathurin Moreau’s sculpture entitled, ‘L’Harmonie.’ In August 2010, Luc and and his wife Jodie purchased an estate, just north of the town of St. Helena. Since then, they have converted the historic stone building, built in 1880, into their family winery. The building was originally the Castner Winery that closed during Prohibition. Morlet is located St. Helena Appellation. The estate is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and is the exclusive fruit source for their ‘Morlet Estate’ label. The Morlet’s ‘Mon Chevalier’ vineyard is located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, overlooking the western slopes of Mount St. Helena. The vineyard benefits from their proximity to the mountain. Warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the red Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They recently planted the 20 acre ‘Cœur de Vallée’ vineyard. These Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines are located on the Oakville Bench, If one such exists. I read a quote from a grower who has been growing in Oakville for many years. He said, “the only bench in Oakville is the one in front of the Oakville Grocery Store.” While it may or may not be true, it’s certainly a funny quote. In addition to these family acres, they buy from farmers under long-term contracts in Fort Ross-Seaview, Russian River Valley, Bennett Valley, Dry Creek and Napa Valley. All of the Morlet’s wines are handcrafted using classical Burgundy and Bordeaux winemaking techniques and are matured in 100% French oak barrels. — 7 years ago

Jordan Franceschini

9.4

A beauty. Will continue to develop nicely for another ten years minimum. — 8 years ago

Zachary Price

9.0

A total wine pick up. Vacqueyras is a French AOC in the southern Rhône region, established in 1990. Often receiving the unfortunate moniker of "a poor man's Châteauneuf-du-Pape", the wines are typically GSMs and can age nicely if produced correctly. This one is 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, (the AOC requires a minimum of 50% Grenache in the wine). While you can drink the wines young, they truly begin to shine after 3-4 years. This wine seems to be peaking now. ~$17 | #totalwine #vacqueyras #GSM

On the eyes: Dull deep brick brown, slightly cloudy, peaking to slightly orange at the rim. Med stain, med tears, no gas/floc.

On the nose: Black cherry, mulberry, vinous, nice oak character, hint of petrol and pepper.

On the tongue: med+ acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med body, a bit chewy in the mouth. Bright red cherry, stewed blackberry, a hint of mulling spices, touch of oak and tar. Nice finish. — 8 years ago

Tom Riley

9.1

If only more CA cabernets showed this sort of polished elegance and restraint. Youthful but eminently accessible. Savory, earthy notes dominate the red and black fruit, braced by subtle acids, a long clean finish, and a well integrated 13.8% abv. Drink now but good for five more years in the cellar, minimum. SAMPLE — 8 years ago

Taylor Smith

Sommelier, RN74

9.3

1988. Floral aromatics. Voluptuous fruit on the palate. Ripe red fruit. This wine is in great condition and could see another 7 years minimum in the cellar — 9 years ago

with David

David Townsend

9.1

This is a sensational wine. Clean bright fruit, minerality, terrific acidity, and minimal oak intervention. It showed way beyond expectation in a line up of sexy wines. A+ — 9 years ago

with Lisa

Josh Wibbenmeyer

10

Forgot to take a picture of the bottle after tasting. One of the best vintages in recent history for the Douro. This wine has tremendous power. This should age beautifully for decades. Not ready yet though. Wouldn't pull the cork on this for 20 years minimum. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

#bdx10 Showing the intensity and opulence this vintage has in spades. Showing the smoky charcoal the Graves is known for, this is tight but with tome opens up quite nicely. Nicely balanced, give it an hour minimum to decant. — 11 years ago

Sergio Licea

9.1

Blueberries, stewed cranberries, blood orange, roasted marshmallows, smoke, white pepper. Lively acid, silky-juicy texture, light bodied, fruity-floral finish. Complex minimal intervention glou glou. — 7 years ago

Justin Gilman CSW, CSS

9.3

Domestic #Chardonnay #wine striking a pose of #Chablis.

Minimal intervention to the extreme. Superior balance. Reminiscent of Chablis. Bright gold color. Tangy acid, sharp TA. Lasting finish. Opened 7/20/17 — 7 years ago

Paco Suro

9.0

In a great spot. Bright. Good fruit here! Let open for over an hour minimum. — 7 years ago

David L

9.4

05' Decant for 2 hours at a minimum. — 7 years ago

with James

Tom Kobylarz

9.9

Chateau Latour is my favorite 1st Growth, they demand patience and inspire not just hedonistic pleasure but also analytical thought.

Both amazing but need massive amounts of air or another 15-20 years minimum in the cellar. I get the feeling they both will hit a plateau once they blossom and slowly move towards full maturity for decades.

The nose on the 2005 rose with little agitation and shot from the hip to nose with ease. By far the most youthful and I tense nose of the evening.

The 2000 was not dissimilar in its progression, if a bit more refined from the extra few years in the glass. A cerebral wine that was also deeply pleasurable, it kept bringing me to what this wine will be like in 15-20 or more years. Easily a 50 years wine from a macro view.

Epic #latour 2000 and 2005 #pauillac — 8 years ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.4

Outstanding now and will still be for another 10 years minimum and likely another 10 years after that. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Bowen

8.9

Very young and light. But still an enjoyable fruit forward wine. Lots if berry aromas. Minimum flavors and tannins from the oak. Slightly acidic finish. — 8 years ago

Sumit Bhutani

9.2

Refined Chinon. Greeness at a minimum. — 9 years ago

Beau Hickman

9.2

2011 FIGGINS Estate Red -- really started to open up aromatically. Give an hour minimum decant. Great old world version of Walla Walla. — 9 years ago

Gerald Gabillet

9.2

Very elegant! Need to be decanted minimum 1 hour before. — 9 years ago

Joe Kava

9.0

Decant for minimum 1 hour and this young wine become very expressive and balanced. — 9 years ago

Hyoji Jang

9.6

Moon Minimal Intervention! Agree. — 11 years ago