Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

93 that leans into 94 and will see another point or two with 10 years in bottle.

Sofia and I used to go to their futures luncheon for many years. This vineyard consistently yields fruit that makes one of their best Cabernet’s.

It’s lush as it enters and falls onto dry, meaty tannins. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries & purple fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, limestone & volcanic minerals, moist clay, dry tobacco, new, raw leather, still very woody, mixed mid & dark berry cola, plenty of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark spices with some heat, some dry herbs, dark melted, chocolate, cocoa powder, caramel notes, bright, fresh & candied florals that are dark, red, blue and framed in violets & lavender, ver nice round acidity with a highly structured, tensioned, well balanced and polished finish that lasts 90 seconds but still lands squarely on wood. — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Tropical fruit mixed with such harmony. Absolutely delicious. Very good to Superior vintage. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 7 years ago

Fergielyn Hagadorn-Aranzazu

9.8

Dry start and finish. Alcohol "burn" is non existent after aeration. Earthy flavors mixed into the blackberry and ripe cherry palate. Leather on the nose. A bit of a meaty and tobacco aroma. Chocolatey on the finish with pleasant tannins. Excellent Old World wine!! — 9 years ago

Paul Weil

9.0

Smooth and creamy, this is a rich, chocolate red blend. The flavors are restrained and subtle, and the medium body is pleasant on the palate. There is a hint of fresh blueberries and some cherries in the finish. — 9 years ago

Renee fini

9.4

Julio delivers once again! Bring me some toast for this jam! Oh yes! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

1998 not the best Napa vintage. This defies that a bit. If I rounded up, would make 9.4. From their original winemaker, not TRB as in latter vintages. This is a little the other side of its peak but really delicious. On the first few sips, a touch a tomato w/ leaf. There is even the faintest of bandaid-v/a on the nose.

But the nose reveals slightly, liqueured, stewed fruits of blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, and creamy raspberries. Limestone, dry brush, mixed dark berry cola, black licorice, dark, rich earth, mid dark, spices, clove, some ruby, lush, fresh & withering dark, red and purple florals.

Slightly, liqueured, stewed fruits of blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries & blueberries on the long open/finish. Limestone, moist, volcanic clays, dry brush, mixed dark berry cola, black licorice, warm, salted, caramel, dark fruit tea, dark, rich earth, some fresh tobacco, sandalwood, light, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark spices, clove, vanillin, ruby, lush, fresh & withering dark, red and purple florals framed in violets, round acidity and a well structured, tensioned, balanced, well polished finish that lasts two-minutes. — 3 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.1

Decanted and really opened up in little more than half an hour. 54 years and still has vitality. There’s still some fruit but it is mixed with subtle acidity and soft tannins. A delight to drink and share with friends. Our friend was given the wine and wanted to share it. We all were quite happy.👍🍷🍷 — 5 years ago

with Joe

JJ Lumia

9.2

The wine by @Hall Wines; the dog by Sullivan, named after @Sullivan Vineyards.
Big, chewy, and unctuous. Slightly different notes than last tasting. Blackberry jam mixed with mocha, vanilla-laced oak, and licorice flavors. A bit more fruit-forward than last vintages, this packs a punch. Such a steal - Costco usually has it and it’s only $40. — 8 years ago

Stephen Pierron

9.0

Mocha, cinnamon, mixed ripe berries, smoke, and dried raisins. A little too sweet for my liking, but definitely a crowd pleaser type of wine. — 8 years ago

Eric

9.6

Dig it. All the trademark Buccella traits like plush candied oak with a Rhone skeleton of wild game and pepper. Cool neon purple too. Looks like they got a new winemaker in -15? Fingers crossed. — 9 years ago

Krista MacDonald

9.1

My go to Merlot — 9 years ago

Maria James

9.0

I paired this wine with a vegetarian lasagna I made. The nose reveals essence of berries and chocolate. The wine is silky and has a long finish. — 9 years ago

with Cordon

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2020 vintage. General manager Laure Canu states that Cantemerle has never followed trends and will always be a wine of elegance, never showy. And that is exactly what it is. After 15 minutes in the glass, it displays bright cassis fruit, mixed with flowers and cedar wood. Medium-bodied, fresh, and elegant, with more complexity and more refined tannins, compared to the 2018. Very good length too.This is the finest Cantemerle I have ever tasted. Incredible value too. Abv. 13,5 %. — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2009 Lynch-Bages is very well defined on the nose, yet powerful with ample fruit to spare: blackberry, wild strawberry, cranberry mixed with cedar and a light mint touch. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and lightly spiced with superb focus. It exerts a gentle grip from start to finish, then delivers an engaging, spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent. Tasted at the Lynch Bages vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Grabbed another bottle, keeps getting better with age. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Fruit from vineyards in warm Oak Knoll and cool-climate Carneros with just a touch of Roussanne. Pleasant aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. Fresh flavors of peach, apple and lemon zest, well balanced, vivid acidity with nice mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with mineral notes. wow! — 7 years ago

Ryan Keith

8.9

Lot to like about this wine. Very crowd pleasing in style. — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Rich and oaky, there’s a lot of black fruit and gravel in the nose. In the mouth, it’s dark and ripe, very intense but not super heavy. Needs steaks, and, fortunately, that’s what we’re having! — 8 years ago

with Angelo

Neville Weston

9.7

Super concentration of Blackcurrant that lasts for a lifetime mixed with a silky smooth texture.... — 9 years ago

with Marta

Peter Gaston

9.3

Mixed with duck consommé. — 9 years ago