Robert Henalt

9.2

Deep violet color. Moderate tannins currants. Delicious delicious — 7 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Liquid obsidian. Fine pepper and sparkler smoke encircle dense raspberry and sloe reductions with dried, black plum skins, a solid, semi-sweet bakers chocolate cake, madura cigar, flint and smoldering willow plaited sinewously! Medium heavy mouthfeel, green-pointed and obstructively tannic til open, but emerged rippling and pleasant with graphite, vine charcoal, powdered cadmium, raisined red currant and cassis. Rustic Power!! #tenutacavalierpepe #taurasi #Aglianico #Luogosano #SantAngeloallEsca #italianwines #docg — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Scott Soren

9.4

Wow. What's there to say. Silly some Syrah. Yummy. — 8 years ago

Kristin Cancellieri

9.0

Hot pepper vanilla and oak served at the right temp complimenting salted hangar steak. Yum — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.0

One of the single vineyard offerings from Pax Mahl's winery (before he and Joe Donlan parted ways), this syrah has evolved nicely over the past decade. Doesn't possess the depth of Griffin's Lair nor the intensity of Obsidian, but is still a nice example of the type of syrah one finds in the warmer parts of Russian River. Probably still has a few years of life left, but I suspect it's starting on its decline so I'd recommend drinking this sooner rather than later. — 8 years ago

with Vanessa

Anne Burke Baldridge

8.9

Great Cabernet. Flavorful with dry finish. — 9 years ago

J. Xiang

9.1

A flow of dark fruit run into nose. Decent tobacco. Heavy body on palate. Savory finish. — 10 years ago

Rich Reader

10

50/50 Zin & Petite Sirah head-pruned in obsidian-rich volcanic soil that glows in the moonlight explodes smoothly with lush roots. What's not to love? My hat goes off to the whole crew at Rock Wall for pulling the rabbit out ears first. — 10 years ago

Ray Isle

Executive Wine Editor Food & Wine Magazine

9.3

Any doubts about the potential of Lake County fruit, this ought to dispel them instantly. — 10 years ago

Michael Dix

9.2

First time having Richards. Big as can be with classic pax with tobacco and rose hips on the finish. Obsidian remains my fav but Richards is close — 12 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Paired with baked salmon doused in olive oil, parsley, and garlic. Wonderful balance and depth. Full bodied but not waxy, ripe fruit accompanied with refreshing acidity, and a long finish of mineral citrus. — 7 years ago

Marla Frederick

9.2

This is an excellent Sauvignon Blanc -- the colder it is served, the better! This reminds of a pristine, shallow, Adirondack stream running over pebbles, their sharp edges worn down into smooth obsidian. Minerality, acidity, and just an overall feeling of the peace that follows a rough "time" (i.e. "presidency"). Makes me think about the future, more optimistically than usual. — 8 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.9

Even up against the other two Sam Kaplan powerhouse wines (Nine Suns and Memento Mori), the Obsidian was my personal favorite. Maybe because it is his home field (Howell Mountain) advantage, having been there making wine with Ron and Susan Krausz for over 10 years. This Bordeaux blend spends 22 months in French Oak and another year in the bottle. Deep and brooding, complex and yet approachable, dense and balanced,...all the things I look for in a wine (and myself 😬). Robert Parker gave it a 98. While many of us don't always credit RP's scores, and as such, I am also going to have to disagree with him. I'm going for one of my all time high scores of 9.9. Again, personally to me, this wine is everything that I look for in a big Napa Cab expression. Sam Kaplan is doing great things up there in the hills! — 8 years ago

with Beth and Katherine

Nicole Brace

8.9

I like the thick heftiness on the tongue , the bit of prune and strong coffee on nose; also like that it's balanced by a dry, nimble, roasty, tingly finish. Man is that gone fast. — 9 years ago

Daron Watson

9.2

blinded it smelled like Rhone varietals from The Rocks Walla Walla ~ cool dark fruits quickly evolve into loads of crushed minerals, gravel, graphite & obsidian ~ needs air and/or time! — 9 years ago

Phillip De Vous

9.0

A well-crafted tasty Napa Cabernet at a nice price. Velvet tannins with nice dark fruit and black cherry with a touch of pepper. It has all the elements of a thoroughly enjoyable wine. — 10 years ago

Daniel Khasidy @dankay

9.0

Bacon. Sticks. Obsidian. Soul. Vintage 1999 — 10 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.3

Riper than the obsidian, very elegant, pure, suave but full tannin — 10 years ago

Daniel Khasidy @dankay

8.9

obsidian blade. at bar covell. thank you Matt Kaner — 10 years ago

Adam Levine

9.7

Honeymoon from waiheke — 12 years ago

Tim Maloney

9.2

Nice scent of plums. Garnet color so dark but not obsidian. Smooth, fruity taste and slightly spicy. Nice short finish. Very good wine. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose; lemon, grapefruit, light petro, wet wool, smokey notes, saline and white & yellow lilies. The body is creamy. Notes of; smoke, saline, lemon & lime juice inferior melon, mix of ripe & underripe pineapple, light honey notes, soft, silty volcanic minerals, dry top soil dust, big round acidity with a round fruity mineral driven finish. Pair with simple meats, veggies, curry and dry cheeses, green salad. Producer notes...the winery is located in the village of Olaszliska just north of the village of Tokaj near the banks of the famous Bodrog River. Samuel farms roughly 5 hectares in this area (Határi vineyard) and an additional couple of hectares on the slopes of Mt. Tokaj. The soils on Határi are volcanic based (tuffa, obsidian), broken up limestone and clay. Most of their plantings are 90% Furmint and 10 % Hárslevelű...some as old as 90 years. They are mostly organic as no herbicides or pesticides are used. Grapes are pressed in a pneumatic press and fermentation is in Hungarian oak barrels. No new oak is used. Photos of; Samuel Tinon, the descent into their ancient cellars and resting Tokaj cellar bottles. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

What a wine!!! Mayacamas fruit, at 2640 elevation. 275 case offering. Poured a purple color in the glass with a dense youthful blackberry pie nose. The entry shows youthful chalkiness. Dense and thick. Beautiful now, expressing rather early on the palate but probably more of my kind of wine in a couple of years when this wine integrates a bit more. Finishes with lighter black pepper (provoked with pot roast). Youthful oak barrel tannin. QUITE enjoyable. QPR is quite nice as I don't think this one was north of 50 bucks. — 8 years ago

Mindy

9.0

Very florally / herby. I tend to like more spice, and I think it would be better a bit older. — 8 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.5

Favorite Howell Mtn cab — 9 years ago

Lesli Hopkins

10

Really delicious wine. — 10 years ago

Ksandek Podbielski

9.1

Sweet licorice root, luxardo cherry and shattered obsidian — 10 years ago

Hanif Perry

9.0

Nice big red. — 10 years ago

Robert Mann

9.3

Lovely loft volcanic pumice obsidian silky power — 10 years ago

Paul-Matthew Zamsky

10

Beautiful full bodied red. Not dry and really fruity. Needs time to decant (at least 3/4 hours). Worth the wait! — 11 years ago