Bob McDonald

9.9

A rich crimson in colour with a little bricking developing - a tawny rim. Aromas of cassis, plum and dark chocolate on the nose. Smooth and silky with black currant - totally balanced with resolved tannins. The proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove - great density. See previous notes - I’ve never seen this for sale in Australia. Bought this from Vinfolio in San Francisco and was immediately impressed. A world class new world Cabernet - just gorgeous. 100 points from Robert Parker and also Jeb Dunnuck - tempted to do the same - I settled on 99. The best wine I’ve had this year. — 5 years ago

Adam Eagan

9.5

Huge fan of anything Booker or My favorite neighbor. This is in my proverbial wheel house. Big fruit, mocha, chocolate, and paso’s signature minerality. Love love love!!! — 7 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.5

Bright, clear ruby with a great nose of cassis, blackberry, violet and mint.
Beautiful length and finesse. Great impression of crushed fruit with hints of forest floor and cedar. The finish leaves a lasting impression of sweet red fruit and supported by a soft blanket of tannins. This is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove - just lovely — 7 years ago

Paul Masson

9.3

Strutting its stuff at seven years, with a darker, riper, more exotic expression of the proverbial cherry, tar, and roses. Full-bodied and high tannin - but they're plush and velvety. Tastefully modern and hedonistic. — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.0

This Italian Blanc de Blancs sparkler has bubbles for days. Well, at least for the good part of a minute. The pour produces a white, frothy head that looks like it won't dissipate, although it eventually does. The nose and palate both evoke crisp apples and the acidity is as fresh as the proverbial daisy. The toast note is more like a good piece of sandwich bread or boule.
It paired well with my wife’s delicious autumn vegetable soup and a crusty bread. — 9 years ago

Paul Schmidt

9.8

Opened with some funk, but began to show its stuff after 30 minutes. Beautiful cassis, smoked meat and pepper glided along a seamless finish. Powerful yet elegant. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. Two hours later, on the last sip, it was still evolving. Has the stuff for at least 20-30 more yrs. A real treat! — 10 years ago

with Ashley

Casey Tatham

9.2

No aggressive Nebbiolo tannins; satin-like smoothness; Delicate & complex; the proverbial peacock. I would have guessed a good Premier Cru Burgundy. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

From the excellent 1986 vintage. Still dense in colour - a deep Ruby. Cedar cigar box dusty some tobacco, mint, a touch of menthol and remnants of black currant. Medium weight with inner strength. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. In total balance finishing with soft pliant tannins. Always with these old wines there is the trade off between losing the exuberance of youthful fruit versus the complexity and softening tannins brought by extended cellaring and hoping you pop it at the best time. I have one of these wines left which I hope to share with my son, Hugh (born 1987) and his girlfriend if they can get home from New York for Christmas this year. — 6 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Deep and dark ruby garnet. Abundant nose of black cherry and pipe tobacco. Echoed on the palate with a stony mid-palate and a cigar box finish. Velvety tannins coat the mouth from entry to the medium long finish. Toro is probably best known (to those who know it) through really high-end wines that cost more and are less well-known than their fellow Tempranillo-based brothers from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Darker and fuller than either, Toro at more moderate price points (like this one) let the wineaux experience Spain (and Tempranillo) at a higher level without breaking the proverbial bank. A great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon (New or Old World) that’s ready for steaks, roasts, root vegetables, hearty casseroles, or any other “deep red” meal. Drink now through 2025. — 6 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.3

So good. Plum, boysenberry, blackberry, milk chocolate, iron, cedar, fine spices and herbs. — 8 years ago

Stuart Robinson

9.1

Yes, 2011. Reviews at release really knocked this. Delicate. Good release. Proverbial Cygnet. — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

This is actually Bonny Doon Vineyards Ciliegiolo rosato, not as depicted in the title. Can I get a better slug line from Delectable? (see lee eh JOE low) This wine is as dry as the proverbial bone but it smells a lot better. Grahm suggests sipping it “whilst quietly pondering the great wonder of it all.”
The wonder is why we haven't heard of this grape before. The nose offers strong cherry and an only slightly weaker herbal note. In the mouth, this wine drinks like a red, full and luscious with big fruit flavor, a very good acidity and more tannic structure than you probably have ever experienced in a rosé. All that is missing from this one is Grahm’s usually salinity. It’s a fruity - and completely wonderful - rosato. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.3

A proverbial glass of megaton, the silkiness and purity of its massive tannin/acid structure is something to behold in wonder. Extreme depth of black cherry fruit, married to a waterfall of roses and frames with orange, tar and dashes of cocoa on the nose; this is top drawer nebbiolo. Nowhere near ready, and not much complexity yet but it will acquire spades of it over the next 30 years. Find a special place in your cellar. 2008 vintage. — 10 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

The proverbial “5 Wood” to play when you need steady and precise. Wonderful 2 varietal waltz of fluid precision and Elegance. Not hyper-charged in tannin or acid, this super plush and refined winner was a perfect match for lamb sausage. Well grown Virginia Hamlet!! — 6 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

There is an herbal quality in this wine which stops just short of the proverbial cat pee made famous in some Sauvignon Blancs. The nose borders on it, but it smells, to me, more like a bushel basket of fresh green beans. It rather tastes like green beans, too, but there is enough grapefruit and lime on the palate to mask the flavor somewhat. A very savory wine with a long finish of citrus… and green beans. Nice acidity.
— 6 years ago

TJ Young

8.9

Full bodied and quiet. Exogenous tannins run rampant, stronger than the sheer cry of a howling babe. The Franciscan monks who were exiled from a city of cowards and yes-men poured their heart into these last few bottles. Quintessential, proverbial, haughty, contemptuous. — 7 years ago

with Cass

Bob McDonald

9.5

80% Nero d’Avola - not sure of the rest. Very high vine planting density of 9850 plants per acre. Deep crimson in colour. Earthy with oak notes. Oak Barriques used but in control. Rich and full bodied palate showing black currant notes with smooth supple tannins. The proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove. Very good and one of the 1001 Wines. — 8 years ago

Martin Mills

9.2

The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. Pure expression of Barolo with strength, depth, complexity. Iron, red fruit, menthol. Still youthful in colour, I expect it will have a long drinking window. Sourced in Piedmont — 9 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

Great vintage of this. Black currant, black cherry, smoke, spice and tannins. Delicious mountainy cab profile. Quite the beast. — 10 years ago

Nicholas Livingston

10

Nothing short of superlative, this 2009 Les Chétillons is everything Grand Cru Le Mesnil a la Côte des Blancs can be at its very best; quince paste, orange blossom water, Calisson d'Aix, marzipan, brioche and the trembling tension of Les Chétillons that brings us back again and again no matter how much a dilettante might want never to try the same thing twice. No this is the wine that makes a bachelor hang his bugle in that proverbial invisible baldric -settling into a lifetime with the best this world has to offer. I'd rate this 15 out of 10 for every year my little fox and I have shared together as of today but Delectable only goes to 10. "This wine goes to 15..." — 10 years ago

with Jill