Mark Flesher

9.2

Deep, dark extracted fruit. The nose on this one is initially black licorice, a hint of truffle, dark fruit and chocolate. As this wine opened up, it started to develop a LOT of dark, deep blackberry and mulberry. The middle of this wine is dark, deep, black cherry notes start to develop but also an herb note. This is a thick and dense wine. Finishes still with quite a bit of stiff tannin and some acidity. I think that this wine is still developing in bottle, and if you've got one of these, please rest assured that it is just now starting to get to peak, but probably won't be there with a 2-hour decant until closer to 2020. This basically means that my 2012 and 2013 needs to hang out for about 5-6 years before they are anywhere close to ready. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Keith

Lisa Evans

9.8

Wow, this wine takes me back to wine tasting at Arista. While it is still so young, the smells and flavors that you experience while drinking it, take you right back.... lovely!! — 9 years ago

with Rob

Barbie Fiallo

9.5

Our New Year's Eve dinner bottle. Fabulous! Decanted for an hour or so. Saving the rest for aging. Yummm. @Benoit Touquette does it again!!! — 9 years ago

with Jonathan

Mike R

9.3

First time with this wine - me likely - big bold beautiful - decanted for one hour - this does have a jimmy Durante nose on it - a real intoxicating one - drink the rest in another hour - i have to remember to breath as @Jody Scharf reminds me and remember the band Durant Durant as they say "Relax relax" - nice night for wine and smiles - love to 😁😬😬 — 9 years ago

Tom Swanson

8.9

Drinking very well, the other bottle is going to rest for a few years! — 10 years ago

with Melissa

Jesse Dang

9.3

Found this bottle tucked away and misplaced due to a move a year ago and was pretty anxious about how the bottle may have been stored over the past 12 months. Fears were put to rest soon after opening. Glorious fruit and a little dirt for good measure - so glad I found this gem. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Almost the anniversary of my first Delectable entry when sitting outdoors at a wonderful restaurant in Gigondas under a tree drinking the 2008 vintage of this wine with all the family. This is 70% Grenache with the rest made up of Cinsault Syrah and Mourvèdre. The further south the higher usage of Mouvedre until Bandol right on the Mediterranean coast where it can be 90 to 100 % because of its higher tolerance to hot conditions. Chateau de Beaucastel where I visited a year ago uses all 13 permitted varieties with the highest being Mourvèdre at 30 %. They have increased this % over the years because of warmer conditions at vintage lessening the Grenache % so alcohol levels do not get out of control. Love this very savoury style of wine. 18. — 11 years ago

Peter Tongren

9.2

Very very good. Not too fruity. I like this a lot. — 12 years ago

Chris Schmid

9.7

A classic. Leather, vanilla, cured meat, raspberry, cherry etc. you know the rest. — 13 years ago

edward Simpson

9.4

Purchased after a visite, Sept 2017, was excellent then and for a first excellent when sampled back home, lovely berries, soft tannins, almost note of graphite, of the terroir, lovely 4th Growth, so happy with the visit and purchase...will lay the rest down... — 9 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

2002 Cariad. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. Dark purple in color with a little brickiness on the rim. Opulent and sexy old world bouquet of graphite, smoke, Blackberry liqueur and expresso roast. Yet another one of those wines that I could swirl and contemplate into the evening. On the palate, dark berry, sage, cedary tobacco leaf and loamy earth flavors, along with Asian spices, duck sauce and exotic herbs and spices. Rich and intense with silky tannins. Beautiful structure. Intense. Complex. Elegant. Ethereal is the word I'm searching for. Endless finish. Just sensational. I stopped buying California Cabernet as I was simply priced out of the market. I had to choose, and I went with my main man Manfred and never have looked back. But whenever I taste one of these gems from my favorite Cabernet producer, @anncolgin and @colgincellars, I'm reminded of how compelling a truly great California Cabernet can be. — 9 years ago

Levi Glenn

9.1

Had all the Beaucastel character, but just wasn't firing. Maybe in just a bit of a closed/weird phase. Time to let the rest, well, rest. — 9 years ago

Juan Del Pueblo

8.9

$66. @ Perla Rest La Concha — 10 years ago

Andrew S

9.3

Red fruits, floor, light blossoms, and grapefruit/citrus rind. Lots of energy. Looking forward to letting it rest a while, will be fun to see how things become more integrated. — 10 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.6

An absolutely fantastic offerring from Juan and company at Realm. Their merlot-driven cuvee with the rest cab franc, cabernet, and petite verdot, this wine boasts increbile fruit and depth of flavor. Sweet, ripe tannins and a long finish that both suggest many years of life, this is easily the best version of The Tempest that I've ever had (and I've tried every vintage of this wine). Just terrific. — 10 years ago

with Vanessa

Kevin Reyes

10

The last vintage of Verset. Rest in Peace — 11 years ago

MH

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.4

Honoring a legend tonight. Rest in peace Joe Phelps. Biased review. #josephphelps #insignia — 11 years ago

with Joseph

Kevin O'Connor

9.0

Love this vineyard and really like this wine. Going to let the rest of my bottles rest for a few months before trying again. — 13 years ago

with Megan

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

1990 wild herbs fresh earth very complex array on the nose still some fruit menthol camphor smooth and silky texture some tannins still here lovely freshness. Most excellent 55 cab cf mr the rest 1998 a greatrightbank so Palmer jas a lot of merlot more than Antofagasta the classified growths similar nose fresh herbsandrhat month camphor smooth and another all and earthy soft tannins finish 40excellent +. 2010 currant and red cherry fruit with sweet tobacco spice a gravelly mineral note big and chewy with an earthy musty note but lots of everything structured and fresh finish 50+ most excellent+ — 13 years ago

Rakesh Tondon

9.4

Love the nose on this. This is like a burgundy — 9 years ago

SV

9.3

Honeysuckle, beeswax, chamomile and lemon curd nose. The acid hits first and then evolves into underripe peach, and pith, and aromatic citrus like yuzu or pomelo. A wine that makes you want to stick your nose in the glass and rest your forehead on the rim to enjoy. — 9 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.5

Winner of the night!! Hands down!! Had it an hour in the decanter (should go longer), and it just opened up nicely, as you can tell by the empty glass. Phillipe Melka is at his best with Brand. I need to hide the rest of these from myself for another 6 years. Balanced, beautiful color and a great finish. — 9 years ago

Brian Nickerson

9.0

Too young. Need to let the rest rest — 9 years ago

David Annis

9.3

Cork disintegrated, but otherwise no concerns. Very restrained with more fruit showing as it took on air. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the bottles age. — 10 years ago

S.B

9.1

Epitome of elegance. Fine tannins, toasty oak plus generous sum of fruitiness. Rest assured this will keep evolving. — 10 years ago

Casey Stringer

9.6

2013 Bard. I just couldn't wait. Now that I got that out of me I will let the rest sleep. — 10 years ago

Travis Stetzel

9.4

'Tis the Season! Glad this one had some time to rest. Great with Prime Rib at our Winery Xmas Party. In 1998, I was 13. — 10 years ago

Julia Eklund

9.0

Don't know anything about this wine but I did think it was an elegant sonoma Pinot — 11 years ago

Peter Wasserman

Importer Le Serbet/Becky Wasserman Selections

9.7

With Josh Jensen one of the pioneers! — 12 years ago

Simon Stuart

9.8

Stunning! Aprox £35 rest. 9/10 — 13 years ago