J Mcconeg

9.5

This is still a pretty young wine at ten years in. We opened this and decanters for a few hours and it still displays a lot of youth. The big fruit flavored come out with a little swirling. Enjoy, but be patient if you can. — 9 years ago

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. — 10 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 — 10 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. — 10 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 — 10 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 — 11 years ago

Jeff Robillard

9.7

Need to be patient for the wine to fully breathe. — 12 years ago

Mike Leach

9.0

Nice change from the usual. Grass on the nose & apricots on the tongue. Not any citrus. Very enjoyable. — 9 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!!!!! — 9 years ago

Bill Ward

9.5

Minty black fruit, fab backbone (rating is for those patient enough to sit on it). — 10 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! — 10 years ago

with Cleora

Ross Hensley

9.8

Gift from patient. Excellent choice. Nice fruit for a 12 year old California Cab — 10 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. — 11 years ago

with Susan

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. — 9 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... — 10 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... — 10 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. — 10 years ago

Sarah C

9.0

Crunchy red cranberry, sandalwood, just ripe red cherry, zippy acidity and medium tannin. — 10 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. — 10 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. — 12 years ago