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. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This bottle had been opened the night before. The 2021 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe black and red fruits: mixed brambles, purple flowers, olives, black pepper, stony earth and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and peppery. True to the vintage, this is a cooler expression of Chave’s Saint Joseph and I really dig it. Drink now through 2041. — 4 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.8

Exceptional wine - deep ruby color with a huge bouquet of violet, plum, black pepper, black cherry, licorice, vanilla, clove, prune and dried rose petal. Velvet tannins, the alcohol is well balanced with the fruit and full-bodied texture. Still in its infancy but already delicious, this wine has a stunning future — 5 months ago

Emma

9.0

I like it! — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 8 months ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Love this wine and producer. Boysenberry, crushed rocks, fennel, pepper and great acid. — 3 years ago

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. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 65% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 14% Petite Sirah & 5% Mataro. Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, oak and spicy and scents. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with pepper, cacao, espresso, floral and smoky oak. Well balanced, fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, smoke and dried spice. Will age. — 5 months ago

Jerese twitty

9.4

You have to let it breathe because it starts off too jammy. Give it some air for a more dynamic taste. Fruit forward, warm blanket. No outstanding flavor notes like pepper — 5 months ago

with Sean

Ron Siegel

9.2

This was showing well that was all about dark fruits, meat, spice, olive, pepper & violet. — 8 months ago

Jason Gelman

9.0

heavy pencil shavings and cigar smoke on the nose. black olive and green bell pepper too. color is definitely what you’d expect in a 20 year old wine. palate is consistent with nose, very bordeaux-lite. heavy cigar box. a lot of olive and herb tapenade character. some black pepper on the finish too. very savory overall. — 2 years 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. — 4 months ago

with Nellie

Matthew Goldenberg

9.1

My first experience with a bdx with this type of age. It had a note of green pepper on the nose and had a lot of life left. — 4 months ago

Michelle Rockwell

8.9

Pale ruby, black currant, plum, peppercorn. Medium- tannins with a sweet finish. An easy drinking wine. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

No formal notes . Deeper ruby , medium wide ruby , garnet rim . Nice dark fruits , garrigue , black pepper. In the mouth nicely balanced acidity dark fruits , black pepper and herbal touches . Quite mineral and balanced on the medium length finish , fine slightly grippy tannins . Elegant and refined. Drinking well now though absolutely no rush , prime drinking over the next 5-10 years perhaps . — 5 months ago

Mike Evans

9.1

Red raspberry fruit and white pepper, good but lacking in complexity compared to the Juge and Jamet tasted with it. — 7 months ago

Ed Chin

9.1

A day 2 tasting. Slightly stewed fruit that reminded me for just a moment of some liquor and white pepper. — 10 months ago

K L

9.1

Very good but somehow not as great as I remembered. Maybe what we drank before tainted it. Maybe it went a little long in bottle. — a year ago

with Matt

Lauren Young

8.9

Pepper on the nose; fruit is subtle compared to the Blasi and more complex. Still feels young — 3 years ago