Jason Chiu

9.2

Enjoyed with a Cantonese beef stew, dad's recipe. Decanted 3 hours before dinner and it still held tight graphite, cedar, and black fruit notes. A touch closed up or young right now, will revisit my next bottle in 5 to 10 years — 2 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

Okay this wine was amazingly delicious but was undoubtedly quite young in this present moment.

There is so much more potential to unveil over time.

It has concentrated plum, fig, red currant, pomegranate, boysenberry notes next to licorice, meat, earth, peat, clove notes. Tannins and acidity are firm.

With time, we anticipate edges will be soften and complexity will be deepen with more tertiary notes and we cannot wait to revisit this wine down the road again. — 4 months ago

with Deked1

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Light straw , very young looking . Constant very fine perlage . Quite closed at first then crushed rocks , lemon peel , ginger , white flowers , brioche . On the palate good richness and intensity , lemon , orange rind , buttered bread , touch of roast nuts . Very fine mineral tinged , intense finish . This needs time and will improve over the next 10 years or so and last well a further 5-10 . A good follow up to the 2014 , this shows more backward and will take even longer to reach its peak. Perhaps a little less detailed and precise than the very mineral 2014 but that might just be a question of needing more time in bottle. — 8 months ago

Keith Browning

9.5

So floral on opening and just exploded with subtle flavors over the next hour. — 3 years ago

Martin Mazner

9.0

Lovely smooth cab. Mellow, full bodied wine just made for a perfect medium rare filet. I’d bet it has a bit of merlot blended in. Would love to taste it with 5 years of aging but probably give in and drink it with my next hunk of red meat. Very enjoyable! — 3 years ago

with Jeremy

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, blended then aged for 24 months in 50% new and 50% once-used American oak. Deep Ruby color with aromas of black fruit, licorice and minty floral notes. The palate beautifully displays rich ripe blackberry and black cherry, a hint of sweetness, vivid acidity and the right touch of toasty vanilla oak, still youthful in development. The wine has nicely integrated tannins, still holds some grip on a long finish which should give way to let this wine age for the next decade+. Excellent, Tasting Sample! — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.6

Off the scales elegant, refined and beautifully lifted. Roses and dark cherry with stems on the nose led a seamless and perfectly integrated Orni verging on Burgundy. Restrained power and overt femininity. So lovely from magnum. Drink over next 5 years. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

No formal notes . Medium deep garnet ruby . Quite closed at first more mineral , but with some earthy, smoky notes . A bit rounder on the palate , earthy , with some cassis, red pepper , truffle notes , tobacco. Good acidity and quite gritty tannins still . Showing really well , bit more linear and strict, but enough substance and good tobacco, mineral tinged length. Drink now with a decant and over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Pale lemon in color.

Light nose of citrus fruits, minerals and light yeast.

Medium-bodied with high acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, green apples, brioche, earth, light yeast, minerals, spices and herbs.

Long finish with limes and herbs.

This is a very tasty Champagne, albeit still young. Elegant and rich with nice complexity. Crisp and refreshing.

Didn't love it right out of the bottle, and needed 45 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

I've had a few different vintages of this Champagne, and always enjoyed it.

Needs 5 years to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

A blend of 51% Chardonnay and 49% Pinot Noir. Aged for 8 years on its lees.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$275. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 6 months ago

Doug Powers

9.0

Found a box of this the other day in the cellar, the original Jaboulet box was damaged and so I’d moved it to a non-Jaboulet box 7-8 years ago. Further, this was the only bottle showing any real ullage (about 1.5”), so opened it first (I do have more, and will report when I open the next bottle).

Color is medium-dark ruby, some bacon fat and meaty aromas, lovely fruit still, structured has softened, long finish, but I’m sure a pristine bottle will show even better!! — 9 months ago

with Jim

Scott Petrus

9.3

This baby was given 3 hours in crystal. In classic ridge style the big Cali bomber came off with unexpected elegance. Red berry and supple tannins this wine would be great to watch evolve over the next 10 years. — 4 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

A baby, tasting this next to the 90 is mind blowing. — 6 years ago

Paul Mason

9.2

Really good given its age. Amazing with roasted Chicken. Drink in the next year. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark inky in color with a reddish rim.

Very pretty nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, Indian spices, cola and light black tea.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, light vanilla, dark coffee, Indian spices, light cola licorice and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious 9 year old Merlot from Columbia Valley. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.

Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tangy. The high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Medium lemon colour . Lovely lemon, buttered pastry nose , still so fresh and lively . Mineral with a honeysuckle note , touch of blanched almond . On the palate quite rich and complex , with high acidity and mineral , honied , brioche notes , still quite fresh though with lots of creamy lemon hints. Long mineral tinged finish . Lovely now and over the next 5-10 years . — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , quite wide garnet rim, clear and bright . Cassis , blackberry , sous bois , mint , cedar , grafite , good clarity and surprisingly fruit driven still . Good volume on the palate , dark fruits , mint , good acidity and still quite gritty tannins. Saline and grafite tinged finish . Good length . Drinking very well now and over the next 5 years . For 2002 this is showing very well, classic and surprisingly elegant, a really nice surprise! — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, cooked black cherries, blackberries, figs, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, coffee, tobacco, licorice and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux touch. Fruity and rich, yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, but it definitely needs longer than that.

What a great mouthfeel. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Still young and would be better in 5 to 10 years. Could be a 97+ point wine in 10 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$500. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Having had the coveted 2005 vintage just a few months ago, ‘04 is far more open and rewarding today. So seductive and captivating. Smoked meats, black fruits, balsamic glaze and hints of roasted sage leaves and tobacco. The tannins are integrated beautifully and the finish shows wonderful finesse, elegance and length. Gorgeous now but will continue to improve over the next 8-10 years. — 5 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

Excellent Napa blend that’s not a typical fruit bomb of cab and merlot. The Malbec really shows through. Very nice acidity and probably has a decade or more of time. Excellent cedar, spice, plum, and a hint of raspberry jam. — 6 years ago