Jan de Weerd

9.0

We are into the 10 year old wines this weekend. And as we are heading to Walla Walla, we thought to give this wine a try after it was been in my cellar for more than 10 years. And…. hmm, a bit disappointed. Had expected much more complexity, layers of flavored and endless finish. Nope. Nice wine though, smooth, balanced, great vibrancy but, yeah, still single note and I don’t think there is more to discover with aging. — 12 hours ago

with Tammy

Tom Garland

9.4

From MAG

2 hour decant. A striking purplish dark garnet color. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves. Taste: creamy, polished, structured wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, bell pepper, leather, and a decent herbal/potting soil finish. Drinks surprisingly well with the decant at this age, and of course a few more years it will improve. YUM! — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Jay Kline

9.3

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was elegant & floral showing red & dark cherry, berry fruit, olive, pepper, soy, spice & violet — 16 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2013 vintage. Sweet fill and cork. Trashy label. Slightly less sed than expected. Big nose on the decant. Tasted after 1 hour open and 5 hours open. Medium heavy body. Roasted nuts, earth, plummy fruit and grilled beef nose and flavors. Finishing palate added a finely ground black pepper note. Consistent throughout and absolutely delicious. 05.23.25. — 24 days ago

Doug Scott

8.9

Nice medium, balanced Cab Franc. — 2 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Medium ruby in color; plums, blackberries, and dried herbs on the nose; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; tastes like plum sauce, strawberries, and white pepper with a long finish. Nellie likes it. I like it too. — 3 months ago

with Nellie

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was open & drinking well showing cherry, berry, plum fruit, game, pepper, olive with lots of mineral & spice — 23 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Dark and brooding. Tangy plum fruit, roses, blood and dried herbs, iodine. Very intense and serious. Blackcurrant and black pepper with plum and black cherry. Long and quality. — a month ago

with Bex, Major-General and 1 other

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — 2 months ago