Pat Taylor

9.7

Decanted for three hours and immediately described as “universally appealing”, this is not only the WOTN but my WOTY. Utterly perfect, except perhaps enjoyed ever-so-slightly too soon. Remarkable winemaking. Concentrated flavour profile of cherry, strawberry, chocolate, violets, and very minimal earthy tones. Still on the upswing and not fully mature, despite the pleasure it was. Medium plus body, medium acidity. Extremely long. Possibly the best wine I’ve tasted to date. Can’t wait to try a “good” year. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One day wine sale today at all Northern California Whole Foods locations. 20% off all wine. 30% off any six bottles or more. Can’t find this any other place for $59. Knock em down! If you live in another part of the country, you just have to ask the wine department person when they do theirs. Tell the wine person to add you to his email reminder list for pre-order or just the sale date reminder. I believe they do it three times a year. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.1

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣0️⃣

🗞 Rubic Cube, PacMan, Modem, 1Gb 29Kg
🎵 Another Brick in the Wall, Another One Bites the Dust
🎥 Empire Strikes Back, 9 to 5, Stir Crazy, Airplane
🗣 Who Shot JR, Here's Johnny!
🌍 4.39B

The fruit’s just hanging in there on this £144 Ducru

🍷 Ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Herby driven dusty musty cellar w/ cherry, blackcurrant, date & prune in a light charred smokey sooty oak

👄 Med body of faded black & red fruits w/ a cocoa & liquorice tone

🎯 Med mixed berry fruit tickle w/ liquorice & mocha — 7 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.6

Wow one of the best 90 dom's I have had to date! — 8 years ago

Norman Gennaro

8.9

It's representative but just not my favorite. May grow on me. Let's see. Definitely has some punch and not a wallflower. — 8 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.3

Date night with @Diana L This is the perfect foil to oysters and halibut crudo. Apricot, white flowers, grapefruit and grassy notes all playing off some great acidity and mineral notes. — 8 years ago

with Diana

Chris England

9.2

Fab 27yr Old Rioja @ £62 drinking like a Burgundy & perfect in a Zalto Burg glass

🏵 92 points

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brown hue

👃 Leather & balsamic infused mulched spiced cherry w/ soft smoked oak, sherry, wet earth, cocoa, red berry, herbs & gooey date jam

👄 Med smooth, touch tart, red cherry & berry bathed in balsamic w/ a mocha touch

🎯 Med+ touch dry oaky driven red cherry & berry fruits w/ an earthy balsamic caramel figgy linger — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Deep and dark purplish ruby red. Layered nose with notes of vanilla bean, anise, cinnamon, cassis, blackberries and more baking spices. A little dark cocoa with some air. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full body potential. A little spicy on the palate with lots of red and black fruits. Notes of cinnamon and sweet spices too. Long and lingering finish. Still just a baby that will improve with a few months, even years in the bottle.
Drink till 2030. (91+)


Release date is February 3rd. This is Flora Springs Flagship Cabernet-based blend, made up of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot. The fruit used in this bottling is exclusively from their family's estate vineyards in Rutherford (82%) and Oakville (18%). The 2015 vintage is aged for 18 months in 85% French and 15% American oak barrels. 5,400 cases produced.

Sample provided by Estate, Release party is this weekend. Retail price is $80.00. — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Tasted ‘13 & ‘14 together. Wine bears the vineyard named to honor the Red-shouldered Hawks and other birds of prey that play a vital role in sustainable farming practices. Bright yellow with aromas of tropical fruits and sweet floral scents. Aged for 14 months, 75% in new French oak and 25% in stainless. On the palate sweet melon, pineapple and peach flavors and citrus notes, subtle yet complex and well balanced. Lingering finish, savory, ending with mineral tones and toasty oak. Consistent. Outstanding! — 7 years ago

leon egozi

9.4

This is their new release cab. 👍👍👍 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Bargain top year Faustino 1 @ £26 which is hard to beat on QPR & delivers old world Rioja nasal naughtiness 😍

🍷 Opaque deep red w/ brown edge

👃 Smokey rich oak baked dark cherry & vanilla cream pie w/ date parfait

👄 Chewy ripe plump smooth cherry jam in a medium body w/ a cocoa & liquorice kick

🎯 Med+ dark oaky cocoa fruit liquorice ole — 8 years ago

Matthew Beninati

9.4

Fruit forward and Barnyard at precisely the same time. Aglianico does NOT get enough play! This is an Italian version of Cali cab. Beautiful wine. — 9 years ago

Dimitri Nikoletsos

10

Probably the best sake I've had to date. Very floral and smooth. — 9 years ago

Rick Zywotko

9.3

Back with more recent tasting of the 09 Carhartt. Only getting better, and aging gracefully. Bordeaux in style, 22 months in French oak, well balanced with earth tones, black fruit, and a 30 second finish. UP from last rating! — 7 years ago

with Michael and Mike

Chris England

9.5

😍 @ £31 this Musar is top & I’ve reviewed a few times 👍 personally i find it the best of many vintages I’ve had & not as funky as others 😉

🏵 495 points

🍇 Cab S, Cinsault & Carignan

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey oaky spiced leather infused cherry choc gateaux, red potpourri, prune compote, red berry jam, barnyard, mushroom risotto & herbs - gorgeous in a Zalto Burg 😎

👄 Med balanced body of earthy smooth red cherry in mocha, date & prune sauce w/ strawberry & redcurrant tones

🎯 Med+ earthy red berry/cherry gateaux💥 — 7 years ago

Bubbleigh

9.3

Long balanced play of flavor. Warm black currant compote & candied fig. Hint of roasted parsnips dusted with mild Himalayan salt. — 7 years ago

Mike Smith

Owner/Winemaker Myriad Cellars

9.4

Disgorgement date July 23rd 15 — 7 years ago

Paul Weil

8.9

Another above-the-fold headline scoop from "Superman's Pal"! This is a dense, jammy blend with slimy smooth body. The rich dark cherry, red raspberry, and black currant flavors balance nicely. It works well as an after-dinner digestive wine. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 8 years ago

M

9.2

Dried cherry, fig, date--an elegant mouthful; earthy and silky. Very impressive. — 9 years ago