Tom Garland

9.5

Early valentine's dinner (oysters are done)... now reverse seared rib cap steaks.

1 hour decant (decent chunky sediment). A grand dark burnt crimson color with decent bricking. On the nose: Bingo!!! That delicate aged sweet perfumed cab nose burst from the glass with dark berries, creme brulee, mint, sweet tobacco, stewed meat. Taste: velvety smooth, full body wine with earth, dark berries, sandlewood, cocoa and a spiced cassis medium plus finish. Holding up great, but don't wait to try!! Its what you want in an aged Napa cab. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.

This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.

Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.

Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests. — 4 years ago

Ryan Guy

9.1

Open for an hour... rainier cherry, rhubarb, graphite, camomile tea, worn leather, and violets. Power meets finesse on the palate. Underripe cherry and fresh cranberry fruit are abruptly hit with dry, crunchy tannins with a string sense of minerality. Medium plus weight. Solid finish. Drink now with a decant or hold a few more years. Paired with the PGA Tour Championship. — 6 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Last of the four year vertical we are trying out for #WAWineMonth. We had the 05, 07, 08 and 09.

Just through the appearance you can tell this is the youngest of the lot with a deep ruby red core. Fruitiest too on the nose with dark red berries and followed up with some graphite, light damp leaves, cocoa and cinnamon. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. A touch more oomph than the 2008. Layered palate with dark cherries, dark cocoa and cassis. Dry and long finish. Drink till 2023.

This particular bottling is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (90+) — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Fourth of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.

Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Dark fruits with a touch of acetone or whiskey on the nose. Some cigars and dark cocoa as well. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and medium bodied. A touch lighter than expected. Extracted dark fruits and bitter dark cocoa on the palate. A little unbalanced with a medium plus finish. This is still a baby and needs time to settle. Drink till 2029. — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Joe Weinberger

9.1

Needs a bit more bottle age but you can tell this is gonna be electric in a few years. — 8 years ago

Erik Von Rueden

10

Great full body red. Goes great with Pork Tingas!! — 8 years ago

with Laura

James Barlow

9.5

Smoked meat, graphite, pencil shavings, well aged milk chocolate. Med plus acid — 9 years ago

Helen M Gaydos

9.4

Earthy, developed nose with black currants and cedar notes. Medium plus bodied, balanced in structure with a good finish. — 9 years ago

with Mark

Katie

9.3

Great for the price! — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.2

04 was an uneven growing season, maybe a little underrated since stuck between 03 & 05...good en primeur pricing for the 04s...Got this for around $150.

1.5 hour decant (decent chunky sediment). A captivating dark crimson color with a slight bricking. On the nose: sweet red fruit, cassis, floral, cedar, smoked meat, and mint. Taste: fresh, nice acidity, good structure, med to full body wine with blackberry, dried herbs, spice box, pencil lead, with a plum vanilla medium plus finish and a little tannic kick at the end.....few more bottles in the cellar to follow over the next few years. Cheers! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Wulf Losee

9.8

This is a sneaky little wine. Mint and leather on the nose, but not in high degree. Dried cherries on the front, but not enough of those flavors to make it fruit forward. A light to medium tannic structure that is neither puckery nor velvety. Ending with lingering soft high notes. At first I wasn’t really paying attention to its unpretentiousness, but then I realized that every landmark in my mouth was pleased and smiling. It’s like one of those subtle Grand Cru Bordeauxs that, once every decade or so, give us something brilliant and memorable. Well, after that spiel, I should probably give it a 10.0, but I’ve never tasted a 10.0 — so I’m giving it a 9.8. I can’t think that I’ve given anything more than 9.6. So take it from me that this is a pretty fooking great wine! — 5 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Dark ruby red. Rich and earthy with notes of dark berries, and some damp forest. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Dark palate as well with dark cocoa, cigar box and black berries. Long finish and drinking well with some air. Drink till 2027. — 6 years ago

with India and Sean

Jon Aker

9.0

A surprisingly nice Cabernet! Relatively light and lots of flavor. Oak and earth flavors with a bit of spice — 7 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

8.9

Cherry and spice at the end. California. — 7 years ago

Ryan Lisee

9.5

Some light citrus on the nose. A very pleasant sipping wine on its own. It's a light bodied sweet wine with a touch of minerality. — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2004 vintage. Lunch with Gerard Basset at Hotel TerraVina. 1 hour decant. Dark ruby hue. Wonderful nose of leather, sweet spices, roasted meats, mulberry and blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice. Although developing still very fresh and youthful despite the obvious complexity of aromas. On the palette, the tannins hit you hard - grippy; high acidity that starts off quite searing but with air becomes rounder and attractive. Medium plus body and full concentration. Long finish. Gerard loved it and so did I! — 9 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

Wonderful...!, but... — 9 years ago

Peter Park

9.6

Strawberry at first, after an hour of decanting gave way to more of a pepper spice. Very good. — 11 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.1

Fresh red fruits, greenery, medium body (slightly less perhaps). Medium plus acidity and medium plus tannins sets this wine up to improve greatly with time. For now,

91+ points — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

A brilliant old Sauternes in good condition. Aromas of barley sugar and a paraffin note. M plus intensity on the palate with great length. Thanks for bringing Jim Hunter. — 4 years ago

Diana Eng

9.6

Wild strawberries, tart red cherries, raspberries and pomegranates enveloped by fully bloomed red roses and violets. Some iron and red clay, cinnamon and nutmeg, black tea. Med plus acid, med tannin, med plus finish. So expressive. — 5 years ago

with EatSommThings

Nick W

9.3

Real sleeper of a wine — 5 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Deep garnet red with a touch of ruby. Layered nose with cherries, a bit earthy, cedar and dark gravel. Medium tannins (7/10) and medium plus bodied. Power on the palate with dried cherries, forest floor, mushrooms and minerality. Long finish. Drink till 2030. — 6 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

A bit hazy, cloudy and dark ruby red. Thick baking cocoa on the nose with a touch porty, tight black cherries, and raspberries. Strong acidity with medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Seemed a bit disjointed even with a 2 hour decant. Layered palate with plums, cedar, a bit of animal notes like leather, leaves, a touch earthy and dark cherries too. Long finish. Might be going through a dumb phase and need some time. Drink till 2023. — 7 years ago

with India

Narun P

9.0

Fresh, minty, caramel, oak, black currant, cassis, blackberry, blueberry, graphite, pencil sharpener. Medium plus acidity, smooth but substantial tannin. Dry and medium plus body. Required at least an hour of decanting,, preferably 2, to drink now. Has enough stuffing for long haul. Great bottle from a great vintage. — 7 years ago

Joe Schenk

9.0

Light and fruity. Opened with appetizers - very good "first course". — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2001 vintage. Quite fresh and youthful despite the age. Honey and nuts, apricots and cream. On the palate, medium plus acidity and medium alcohol, medium body. Great depth to this wine. Still has a good decade ahead of it. No oxidation whatsoever on this bottle. A truly great example of hermitage Blanc. — 9 years ago

Levi London

9.6

Strong nose of pineapple and tangerine. Outstanding palette of honey, grilled lemon, grapefruit candy and sweet floral notes. Very long finish that hangs on the back of the tongue. Outstanding wine. — 11 years ago

Cassie Ryding

9.5

Great price for a good quality Pinot Grigio! — 11 years ago