Bernie Tenenbaum

9.1

Be patient. It opens tight and then blooms! — 5 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.3

As I said with the ‘14, I know this is way too young. But I have a couple as thank you gifts, so I got one for me too and wanted to try. It’s terrific. But my advice? Cellar it and forget about it for at least 5 years. Lush blackberry and fig fruit. Brambly and woody, with wet earth and a LONG loamy finish. This is super taut. Be patient. But if you just can’t resist, it needs to see serious time in the decanter. One of my go-to Bordeaux’s thanks to Big Steve and a sleeper. A WS Top 100 this year. — 5 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.2

Coravin. Powerful and concentrated. Will open, decant and be patient next time. Always a great bargain. — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.1

Almost sent this one back...popped the cork and threw it in a glass and so the nose was very dirty socks and old mushrooms. Luckily the best waitress ever told me to give it a minute in the decanter. She was right and the musk blew off and it was a great Knights Valley wine! Tannins were pronounced, color was deep garnet and the notes were blackberry and espresso with a medium finish. Will have to be more patient next time. — 7 years ago

Colin Alleyne

9.4

I really liked the wine considering I'm not a big white wine drinker. The citrus fruity flavor is delightful. Hits of grapefruit and lemon twist. Not dry at all. — 8 years ago

Paul Jeszenszky

9.3

Violets and meat on the noise. Great light palate with plenty of punch. Minerals, earth, dark fruit, meat juice and good acidity. Med+ finish. Still young but plenty tasty now. Next bottle in 10 years if the can stay patient... — 8 years ago

Bill Ward

9.5

Minty black fruit, fab backbone (rating is for those patient enough to sit on it). — 9 years ago

Claire Weinkauf

9.1

Should have been decanted 2 hours in advance, do it if you can. If not just be patient, after the effervescence is gone this is a gorgeous wine. A wild beast loaded with aromatics subtile and not so much. — 9 years ago

Ross Hensley

9.8

Gift from patient. Excellent choice. Nice fruit for a 12 year old California Cab — 9 years ago

Bernard Rethore

Owner, Fion Wines

9.1

Back in 2006, I had the good fortune to invest in a box of the Neal vineyard designated bottlings pre-release. They have been sleeping in my cellar ever since. Last night, Tony the Fish, who is a frequent contributor to these pages, arrived with a bottle of the 2010 Neal cab sav. It was a solid effort and Mrs Fish quite enjoyed it. As we finished the bottle I remembered I had some of the 2003 vineyard designated wines in the back of the cellar and figured it was time to check in on them. We started with the Second Chance from Atlas Peak. Generally I am a mountain fruit guy, and like the volcanic soil that yields low yielding structured wines. There was plenty of stuffing left after 11 years, and a nice contrast to the 2010 cab sav blend. We then moved to Chafen. Another mountain- Howell this time, slightly lower elevation vineyard. This wine was bigger than the Second Chance with mouthfuls of ripe cassis, berry fruit and coffee- almost a cocoa powder character to it. The final wine of the night - and best of show - was the Howell Mountain Estate. Dark rich tannins with intense velvety chocolate cake flavors. This was a fun night going from the 2010 blend to the all 2003 single vineyard designates. Most of us aren't patient enough or buy them as a group so you can taste them altogether at once. Everyone should do this from to time. It reminds me at least of how different climate and soil can be in the same year. It's even better with friends. Thank you Mr Fish for the inspiration. — 9 years ago

with Susan

"Odedi"

9.2

A very enjoyable Zinfandel from Sonoma County, California.

Showing dark berries with earth, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, graphite, dark coffee, tobacco and beef jerky.

A long tangy finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries.

This still has 5 to 10 years in it.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show tannins. Wasn't that great right out of the bottle, so be patient.

A blend of 79% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignan. All from Dry Creek Valley. Aged for 13 months in American oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — 5 years ago

Chris Morrison

9.5

Was dying to open this. It was young, but amazing. Great things to come for the patient. — 6 years ago

with Jaclyn

Thomas Epps

9.2

Poured it into a decanter, then through an aerator into the glass... worked splendidly... sitting in the glass for ~1 h also would have worked, but I was not that patient. — 7 years ago

with Jeannie

Dutchbastard

9.2

It pays to be patient great wine — 7 years ago

James Pendergrass

9.3

I didn't approach this wine correctly. I was looking for immediate gratification and this wine was all about people with patience. The fruit, structure and balance of this wine revealed itself after 3/4 of it was gone. But what finally appeared was joy in a glass. My message/lesson to myself...be more patient in 2016. Cheers!!!!! — 8 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.4

Young guns eve......this one is a beast....a wild beast! Too young to really enjoy at the moment. Everything is there....be patient... — 9 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

Wow has the quality at BF gone from strength to strength! Three years of patient aging on the lees, high quality Meunier fruit and crisp back end snap... All for less than you would pay for Feuillate! — 9 years ago

with Cleora

Sarah C

9.0

Crunchy red cranberry, sandalwood, just ripe red cherry, zippy acidity and medium tannin. — 9 years ago

Brendan Perrett

9.1

Powerful, full bodied Aussie Shiraz but without being overripe or over extracted. High alcohol but balanced by lush fruit, grippy tannins and good acidity. Needs plenty of air but if you can be patient, give it at least 3 more years. Exceedingly good wine for its price point. — 9 years ago

Charles Schneider

9.0

Had to be very patient with this one. Guest thought it was "corked." I would write my MW dissertation on the number of amazing bottles of Bordeaux that are "wasted" because someone thought a vintage wine was corked. Give it time people!! Btw, the wine was gorgeous after being opened 4 hours. — 11 years ago

Brian P

9.4

A friend recommended. Always so difficult to sift through bad roses. Especially when you’re trying to pair with wood. Sure. On a hot day any Rose will do. But we really enjoyed this one in December. Rose petal. Strawberry. Watermelon. — 5 years ago

with Stephanie

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.1

Oddly dark. Big, plummy. Will reward patient cellaring. — 6 years ago

with William

Jonathan McCarthy

9.2

Aroma is low tide, sea stuff, salty sand. Super ripe drippy lemon, river stone, gorgeous at 7 years old. — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.4

American Sangiovese!
As I recall, Shafer tried something similar with Firebreak. I loved that (past tense as it is no longer produced), but this is better.
The nose is earthy, yet dominated with cloves and cinnamon.
On the palete, its tightly knit. The wine is precise and polished. Tannins are ripe and muscular. Lovely berries and black olives define the flavor profile. Finishes with sweet tobacco.
Because of its youth, this needs air. It's a beautiful example that should be left to stretch it legs for at least 2 - 3 more years. My rating does not suggest where the wine could go three years from now. Be patient. I expect great things going forward. @Martin G Rivard thank you so much. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Rick Sanghera

9.3

Great big cab! Decanted an hour, could have gone longer so will be more patient next time. Simply a fantastic California cab. — 8 years ago

with Seth

Charles Hudson

9.1

Be patient. Give this wine 10-15 minutes to settle down in the glass. Light fruit, mostly the dark dried stuff. Nice, subtle finish — 9 years ago

with Brandi

Spinning_spins

9.5

Musky, savory aromas. Cranberry, pomegranate, wet granite and an unending fruit and mineral finish. Acidity that frames food perfectly. Glad I got 3 bottles, because this beautiful wine should develop well. Hope I can be patient enough to leave it alone for a while. — 9 years ago

Bob Boyle

9.3

Closed nose of bramble & cherry, prevalent tannins mute the cherry and red fruits in the body with long finish the speaks to the future that this wine will bring to the patient — 9 years ago

with David

Cuvée Corner

10

Hello #Bordeaux In a word, stunning! It needs an hour in the decanter to fully develop and unwind. While drinking marvelously now, further aging will reward the patient! #drinkcru Classic #SaintEmilion — 10 years ago

Jeff Robillard

9.7

Need to be patient for the wine to fully breathe. — 11 years ago