Paul J

9.4

1hr+ decant and needed every bit. Dark red color with purple rims. Dark cherries, stewed fruit, and graphite on the nose. Well balanced wine that is chewy with a lovely, gritty texture. Medium finish. Much better than my bottle in London. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Mark Flesher

9.3

Nice, aged Cabernet. Debated opening this one. This started more on the plum and raisin side and a little muted. 15 minutes later? Fig and mushroom with basil and oregano, but not a whole lot of fruit. 30 minutes after that? Dirty black cherry, plums, seemed to find itself after a 31 year sleep. Rather substantial weight in the middle. Finishes with a gritty note. Tannins are definitely dropping here and this one is showing all it has. Good time to drink now! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Shay and 1 other

Andreas Frei

8.9

Gritty tannins and bitter but enjoyable. — 8 years ago

with Charlotte

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Blueberries leap out of glass with black licorice, violets, dark currants, loamy soils, vanilla & caramel. Dry, sticky, meaty, chewy M+ tannins, dark currants, dark chocolate, mocha powder, vanilla, caramel, blackberries, black cherries, blueberries, black raspberries, bright violets, grippy, gritty volcanic minerals, a good level of spices, warm, semi-sweet dark, soils, solid acidity with a ripe, round, lush, juicy fruit finish. Barrel tasted the 2016 vintage at the Nickel & Nickel. Photos of Sofia relaxing in the cellar and attendees enjoying lunch. — 9 years ago

Sue Mohle

9.0

Beautifully floral with the gritty tannins — 9 years ago

Bill Bender

8.9

Gritty tapenade and bouillon infused roasted meat. Resolved tannins and somewhat dormant mouth feel. — 9 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.0

Delicious. Gritty berries. Perfect pork chop partner. — 10 years ago

Devin Bray

9.1

Dried roses, graveland potpourri on the nose, nicely tannic and gritty on the tongue with a mixture of baked cherry and some dark fruit. Kirsch on the finish with just a little subdued dry stones. No tar. Some oak. Elegant, refined, and ready to drink. — 10 years ago

Dan Thomas

9.1

Vibrant and full of energy. Gritty tannins. Needs time to show its best. — 10 years ago

Jose Ramirez

9.0

Perfecto para una noche fría, buen cuerpo. — 11 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.3

fully opaque violet, magenta rim, prominent tears; plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, coffee, leather, and cedar; dense, concentrated, juicy dark fruit, good length; full bodied, medium acidity, gritty tannins, no heat despite 15.3% ABV; made from blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Petit Verdot sourced from two estate vineyards with 59% of fruit from Les Pavots vineyard in Knights Valley in Sonoma County and 41% of fruit from Au Paradis vineyard in Oakville, aged 18% in French oak; a very nice fruit forward, early drinking second wine; $110 — 5 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Drinks like aged Rioja with a slightly more meaty palate. Gritty tannin with mature notes of licorice and leather. Cool wine. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Boom💥...there it is! Might as well be my 3,500 post. Not many better ways to kick off a Friday night. Cheers! 🥂

Love the leaner, ripe & slightly sour fruits of, strawberries, cherries, white peach, tangerine, watermelon near the rhine, black cherries, powdery razor sharp chalkiness, gritty grey volcanic minerals, sea shell/spray, baguette crust, pink rose petals, beautiful acidity and rich, round reductive, long beautiful finish.

Photos of, the House of Billecart, cellar with the bottles A-framed racked and ready to be riddled, cellar-hand crushing grapes and the best time to be in wine country, harvest. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

Inky purple with gritty tannins, spirited fresh silky fruit. A substantial brooding wine with miles and miles left in the tank but so damn good right now. The ‘08s and ‘09s from the North CA Coast that I felt were impenetrable fruit bombs the last few years are really blooming now. Drink up but decant. — 8 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Classic Grezeaux aromas. Tobacco, tea leaf, cigar, dead leaves, blackberry fruit, elegant and ripe, amazing tannins, a bit gritty as it always and so fresh. — 9 years ago

Vann R

9.1

Left it in the decanter over night. Got smoother, with more refined tannin an acidity, but slightly more gritty. This won't be a knock out in a 5 more years, but it'll be closer. — 9 years ago

John Blazon

Master Sommelier & Educator Spire Collection

9.0

Beautiful balance, finesse - love the gritty terroir Bret ish background. — 10 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Grape wood, yellow oak leaves, baked apple, dried blackberry, jasmine incense smoke, pine bark, cran -black cherry fragrances, elegant mouthfeel, aggressive tannin initially, though balanced between fruit and oak, red currant, cranberry, stone-licking, dusty and dry. Twigs and berries on the stiff fruit and cedar wood finish. I like this immensely, but certainly not for everyone. This is cave tools made of flint for gritty combat, not fruit bombs dropped by mad scientists in the hopes of sugaring the masses to death. Hirsute cave ladies, the moon is full, I think you know it's time for bone rattling, plaintive ululating and the coming of Boognish. — 10 years ago

Glen Hayley

8.9

2012 - More fruit on the nose than I expected by lovely linear drive and gritty texture. — 11 years ago

Ehren Jordan

Owner/Winemaker Failla Wines

9.6

Gritty and perfect — 12 years ago

Eric

9.2

Very typical mountain fruit texture; gritty in a good way. Dark fruit profile. Blue fruit. Blue. — 5 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

Youthful, bright, long, maybe a touch gritty, and green in the best kind of way. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Few wines fit perfectly into my wheelhouse. This is one of a few. I picked this up at Seavey last weekend. 1997 is such a historic Napa vintage and this wine lives up to every inch of it. It’s a wine that you want to slowly sip all night.

On the nose; very, ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, cherry liqueur notes, some black licorice, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dry crushed rock powder, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, very soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers.

The body is gloriously soft, round and beyond elegant. Still has plenty of soft, round, slightly tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit its sweet spot with another 7-10 years of really good drinking left. It’s harmony on the palate. Ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, notes of caramel, cherry liqueur notes, steeped fruit tea, some black licorice, just a hint of herbaceous, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dusty tannins, dry crushed rock powder, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, chewy soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers. The acidity is about as perfect as I’ve had. The finish is nothing short of astounding. It’s long, elegant, ripe, well balanced and doesn’t end. One of the more exceptional wines I’ve had in some time.

Photos of, Seavey Winery & tasting room, the stairs the lead up to Williams office and show that late 18th century architecture, Williams desk in his old office and their Estate vines with the hillside painting the background. — 7 years ago

Ben Jones

9.1

Rich, fruity, very good! — 9 years ago

Mike Evans

9.0

Showing a little oxidation on the nose, but much younger on the palate with a little leather, ripe plum, and slightly gritty tannin. — 9 years ago

with Eric

LM Segal

9.3

Brooding and intense. Ripe black cherry and sweet plum, powerful gritty tannins with a tinge of iron. Amazing purity for something so big. Got better every minute it lasted in my glass...too few. Will get way better. — 9 years ago

with Joe and Melissa

Monica Lewis

9.2

Ligbt bodied bit powerful in aroma. Cherries, Rosemary, gritty tannins but in a good way. Great for the price — 10 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.0

Current release -- obviously a baby yet enjoyable nonetheless. Trademark toasted cedar closet nose. Dark and red berries. Somewhat gritty tannins. Medium finish. — 10 years ago

Gerry Baker

9.0

Anise wrapped in dark fruit, tannin a little gritty — 11 years ago

Justin Pierce

10

I grabbed this in my mad dash through Kroger. In short, I would do it again. — 12 years ago