Scott Cowan

9.0

Total Rhône Ranger: 56% Syrah, 16% Mourvèdre, 13% Petite Syrah, 11% Grenache, with 2%, each, smoothing things all together, of Viognier(!) and … Alicante Bouschet. I bet the Alicante was added for color more than for flavor, though also to smooth the tiny ping of pepper notes I assume follow the teensy bit of Viognier. All in all a delightful crowd pleaser. Inoffensive to sensitive palates and yet bold+complexly layered just enough to please those who want some drama in the bowl (present 🤚 ).

Pairs well with… just about everything: mild chicken to game and lamb… also all cheeses from mildest to most piquant — it’s that kind of utility player wine!
For this reason, I give it the full 9.0 instead of the 8.9 I’d planned on mid-dinner last night. I had been straddling that fence between best of a strong platoon player who’d see 80 games a season, some starting and some pinch hitting/fielding, vs an everyday starter who could cover the infield as passably as the outfield and bat just about anywhere in the lineup, 1-8, save the super power 3 and 4 spots — though a few sips hit the spot sweet just right to serve as barely clearing the fence home runs during a brief period that this wine lingered at just-right aeration time.

Darker red pour with flecks of bear black and hues of orange highlight… Bing cherry skin color center to lighter Rainer cherry reds near glass sides. No tears to speak of from alcohol and this wine does not feel as if it’s high in alcohol at all, but the label reads 15.2%. I wonder if someone transposed those last two numbers which straddle the decimal.

Zero cherry flavors — just those colors. The mix of velvety raspberry, very mild dried laurel leaves, under-roasted coffee, and mild chocolate all muddle together more than layer over one another, as I prefer, but they do so in a way that forms a comfy soft blanket of flavors and those tiny peeps of black pepper do make that blanket more interesting. Medium finish says good-bye with a soft wave to the smell of cardboard-surrounding a delicious dark chocolate bar…if that smell could be distilled into a thick liquid that coats the top of the throat before evaporating away slowly.

This 2018 seems to be nearing peak of flavors and has the potential to drink pretty well until 2023; probably not much pizazz will be left to extend its contract after that. I’d be glad to drink this again anytime. A good wine for Justin S. and/or David M.
— 4 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.5

I am definitely putting out on the fence the Rockford flag🤣🤣
This is so nice
Still extraordinary fragrant fruit decorated with liquorice
Super long
Young
It doesn’t leave your palate
Key points: focused intensity in the nose and persistence that never ends 🙏🙏🙏 — 7 years ago

with Mauro

Kate Clason

10

This is what you want to be drinking at the end of April. Not too meaty, great berry fruit. A little bit of funk but funk off. Tastes like fruit leather. If you’re on the fence of white or red. Also choose rose. — 8 years ago

Craig Williams

9.0

I'm on the fence so to speak on Brut Nature Champagnes. This was good but remained a touch tart/sour. I think this style depends on not only maturity @ harvest but completion of malo-lactic fermentation. — 8 years ago

Maxwell Burns

Hospitality Kenwood Vineyards, Winemaker GARA

9.0

On the fence. Obviously opened to early. The acidity is unreal. — 9 years ago

Sean McCann

9.1

A savory Chardonnay with a slightly sweet initial taste, and strong savory finish reminiscent of smoked meat. Definitely a bifurcation flavor profile, though I found it quite enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Beautiful garnet color in the glass. Light nodes of dark fruit, rose petals and spices on the nose. Elegant tastes of blueberries, dark cherries, cinnamon and a little star anise on the finish. A very nicely structured wine with sleek tannins and just the right acidity. The Cabernet grapes for this wine come from a great area of Oakville as they stared at Screaming Eagle's grapes growing just across the fence line. One of my favorite small, family owned wineries in Napa. — 10 years ago

with Lisa

Ron from VA

9.2

Well, the 2016 has turned the page / it seems to be paradigm shift from the previous vintages (tighter, restrained, minimal oak). The ‘16 is quite voluminous with warm caramel brioche and baked lemon liquor. While golden and opulent, this is not a gentle and elegant food wine. Thus I am on the fence whether I want another bottle… I probably will get one because it’s still available and look for a better food pair. Day two, allowed for some beautiful sipping, though ;) edit: I will get another bottle…very nice sipper on day 2…mouthfeel is glorious! — 5 years ago

Joshua Fisher

9.3

To live in the valley is to have a winemaker as your neighbor who gifts you wine from his personal cellar and in times of great need, hand it over the fence to you! Thank you Todd Graff !
— 6 years ago

Simon Gilligan

9.0

Interesting - grenache flavours but with a herbal/green infusion that you might like or not. I’m a bit on the fence. Savoury finish, not candied, fresh but back to back with the Yangarra old vine Grenache ($28 Yangarra vs $20 Cirillo street price), great prices, both quality but I’ll go the Yangarra. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I really enjoy pairing wine with food. One thing I like to do when I work events like these is to offer guests wine that has achieved its perfect bottle phase and this didn’t disappoint. So often you go to a restaurant or an event and all they offer are new releases or close enough. Wine needs time in bottle to shine. This one was at its peak and for many guests was the wine of the night. I’d have trouble disagreeing with that.

Wine was seamless and elegant. Ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark cherries, some blackberries, plum and soft florals blueberries on the edge of the glass. Great acidity and round long finish. This was better than some $100 plus bottles of Pinot’s I’ve had for a faction of the price. It walks the fence of CA Pinot & Burgundy nicely.

The dish paired perfectly with Hedy’s, Fresh Summer Beans, Pumpernickel Crouton, Yogurt Dressing, Chive, Preserved Lemon. The perfect age on the Cahill married beautifully with the dish and excellent on its own. The food did not overpower the dish, nor did the dish overpower the wine.

The 08 Cahill was a recent direct purchase from the winery through K&L Wine Merchants. It was like stealing, it was priced so inexpensively.

Walter Hansel made his fortune in the auto business; which allowed him to pursue his other passion in wine. He and his son’s first vintage was 1996. They are located near Kistler and Dehlinger in Sonoma. The Cahill is made from a blend of three clones; 114, 115 and Rochioli.

One interesting fun fact. Walter Hansel was among the first people to drive a car into the Yosemite Valley in the early 1900’s.

Hedy on FB @Plate&Bottle — 7 years ago

Justin Brilman

9.1

Can't argue the fruit isn't good. Shares a fence line with Screagle... — 9 years ago

LM Segal

9.3

There's no sitting on the fence for Occhipintis...such a distinctive, exotic expression like nothing else, least of all Nero d'Avola. Nose is tobacco and mushroom, earthy. Then comes dark cherry, black stewed fruit and pipe tobacco, at the same time so big and so light. Fine, light tannins. Like old CdP. Arianna Occhipinti is this cork dork's Rock Star! — 9 years ago

Big Bob Dillon aka G-Somm

9.0

Rich and over the top, I'm on fence with this one — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Day 1 was super duper primary and “okay” but not all that interesting. Day 2 was better. Day 3? Now it had my attention. Dark cherry, Fig Newton™️, and conditioned leather. Dry. Medium tannins. Medium-plus acid. Versatile. I was on the fence with this...but I’ve come around. I dig it, but it needs time (or significant air). — 5 years ago

Dawn E.

9.4

This is one of those wines that I said I was going to wait 10 yrs before opening...🤔 No real regrets! This wine has big bold dark berries, licorice Snaps, anise, vanilla, bay leaf, eucalyptus caramel, and maple syrup! Not picking up any acidity, tannins are very nicely integrated and presents with a very long finish. I am really on the fence between a 9.1 or a 9.2 rating! — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.2

I know now this needs more time to integrate, but it’s down-soft in the background, so difficult to see a balanced future. Warm plum and black berry-currant, cranberry stuffing, rich chocolate, sherry trifle, all loosely sprinkled with fine graphite. Steamy jungle flora notes merge with hemp stem and black cherry skins. Hard chocolate entry bringing dried blackberry and even drier black cherry stripped naked in a sauna of chamomile and phantom eucalyptus outlines describing a swarthy shadow through steam. A recent denizen of the cedar benches, puffing sweet tobaccos? There is subtle power at play despite the fruit-forward leanings. I was initially on the fence with this. This one is enigmatic with a nod to Napa in the 1970s. #Napa #Walton #cab #cabernet #cabsauv4life #cabsav #california #egelhoff #EgelhoffWalton #Bobegelhoff #egelhoffwines #StHelena #sthelenacab — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Michael Seely

9.0

2008. Delightful — 8 years ago

with Joe

Mike R

9.1

Ok first time tango with this beast - had some heat - let it breathe for 2 hours and opening up - not sure I am believer but two other times I had a higher version of their cab Shiraz I liked it - this time I am on the fence - give you this much - it can pack a fruit bomb punch - so got my Wednesday smiles going on — 8 years ago

Sam Stoppelmoor

9.0

Good start to the NYC trip — 9 years ago