Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2008 Cheval Blanc is one of the go-to wines of the vintage. Now at 15 years old, it has retained the energy and focus it displayed from the outset: black fruit, crushed stone, wilted violet petals and touches of forest floor cohere wonderfully in the glass. The Cabernet here is more expressive. The palate has a slight chewiness on the entry, but it "relaxes" in the glass. It shows off its delicate lattice of tannins and perhaps a bit more backbone than I have observed on previous bottles. It's very intense on the finish where, as before, the Cabernet Franc takes charge. Superb. Keep it another three to four years if you can. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Old Vine is where their line up starts to get more interesting.

The Old Vine is thicker, richer & more brooding. The fruits are more; ruby, lush and dark. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark plum, dark cherries and strawberries overlay the top. Nicely layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, soft clove and vanilla, crushed rocks, alluvial limestone & volcanics, graphite, tobacco, used leather, dark spices, saddle-wood, cocoa, mocha, caramel with fresh & withering red, dark & purple florals. Excellent acidity and a nicely balanced, knitted & elegant finish. — 6 years ago

Nick Rugen

9.1

Surprised by the vibrancy of this 38 year old. — 7 years ago

Naboth van den Broek

9.0

Time to drink up but still very pleasant old style Bordeaux. Black fruit and some cherries, tobacco, leather, barnyard. All there. — 7 years ago

Ron Holliday

9.3

A 20 year old slice of barnyard heaven — 9 years ago

Miranda Rake

9.2

crazy delicious for a hot summer night. Herbaceous and crisp and savory and light and summery. ❤️ — 10 years ago

Matthew Phillips

9.3

Fantastic zingy start, lovely balance, but then fails a bit to deliver at the end. Would have been great with a bigger fruit finish. — 11 years ago

Mike Blom

8.9

~10gm/liter residual sugar but has zingy acidity to balance. Floral, aromatic and fun. Nice lingering honeysuckle notes. — 11 years ago

Miranda Rake

8.9

Christmas with dad 👍 — 11 years ago

Justin Barbour

9.3

#ThanksgivingWine#ThanksgivingWine#ThanksgivingWine #Wine #Thanks @GambleFamilyVineyards — 11 years ago

with Ariana

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

From 80-100 year old vines. Olives and game. Feral. Awesome nose, spice and herbals, minerals and lovely depth, somewhat vegetal that needs to age out. Big and sappy and pure. Lovely tannins and ripeness and crazy depth and purity. Long finish. Young but wonderful and deep. Excellent. 9.5 with air the nose is more harmonious, so good. Juicy, linear and lean. Very precise and skinny. — 3 years ago

Lars Kirstein

9.4

40 years old but still in a very good shape, typical green pepper nose, medium body but stays for more than 30 seconds — 4 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Great for a fish place — 7 years ago

with TwiLea

Jeff Proctor

9.3

Scott R’s favorite — 7 years ago

Anthony Auger

9.2

Blackberry, vanilla and star anise on the nose. Boysenberry and raisin upfront, with lots of heat that builds up. Strawberry, sweet tobacco and a little pepper on the finish. Love this wine and it's been great trying different years! — 9 years ago

Brett Banfield

9.4

Very nice balance. Old world nose but not over powering. Nice fruit... Still has a few more years. — 10 years ago

with Bobbi

Adam Bailey

9.5

Really excellent. Smooth and smoky, with little of the Zin hotness. Fills your sinuses in a great way. — 11 years ago

speedy duncan

9.2

Briary goodness with country style ribs cole slaw and pintos — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.9

My 4th bottle, the best and my last, this absolutely killed it and is why I love Napa Valley Cabernet, especially #Spottswoode. 12 years old this easily has another 10 to go but is in a beautiful place right now. Open or decant for 30 minutes, though I did not decant. A deep resold color, not a sign of brick as one would expect. Shows the importance of provenance (bought from winery). A complex set or aromas and flavors of creme d'cassis, currants, sweet and sour cherries, sweet cedar, and graphite. Palate wise the textures are all in alignment, with medium to full body, ample acidity and medium grain slightly chewy tannins that may be it's only flaw. #2002 — 11 years ago

Thomas Droumenq

8.9

This delectable taste of a fine old Bordeaux, a bit musty, tannins still very present, some complexity but most surprisingly so much length. Perfect with the veal chops in oregano and rosemary sauce. — 12 years ago

Maggie Harrison

9.3

1967. barely any browsing on edges. had to be impeccably stored. complex. cooked, dried red fruits, old dried leather, musky. still grippy - acid medium. wow. what a treat. — 3 years ago

David Koenen

9.2

Roasted paprika, salmiac, drying tannins, figs, broth, cigar, sweet rhubarb, stewed pears, juniper. Printing, ink. Clay, blackberries. An old gentleman. — 4 years ago

Greg Smith

9.7

Love this. Rated it before but had to rate again as different vintage. So much of what a Lodi Zin should be. I wish it was available in Canada as it becomes ridiculously expensive when a trip to Lodi is added to the bottle cost. LOL. But seriously my favourite wine. Hands down! — 6 years ago

Daniel Shupp

9.6

Super delicious strong zin, buy — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.2

Tawny reddish brown color. Cloudy at first but clears up with time in the glass. Beautiful old wine nose. Notes of cherries, cassis, menthol, saddle leather. Great richness in the mouth. Finish is short at first but expands a bit with time in the decanter. Really nice showing. The nose is the memorable thing here. — 9 years ago

Joon Huh

9.6

Wow strong distinct grape taste at the beginning almost feel like eating fresh grape that is shockingly sweet but not sugary sweet. Aftertaste is lacking but great wine. — 10 years ago

Mike Blom

9.2

The 9,5 alc level has zero impact on the body. Still full and enjoyable with crisp green apple. — 11 years ago

TJ Maxwell

9.2

One of the most feminine and delicate Zins I've ever encountered — 11 years ago

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.3

Velvety and generous wine, a nice and expressive Shiraz, matured for 12 months in old oak vats, a successful wine easy to find, easy to keep for years and good value — 11 years ago

Marshall Parrish

9.3

Opened up exactly at the right time. Dark fruit, traditional old world earth, and smooth. If you have it, drink now. — 11 years ago

with Daidra