Jay Kline

9.3

As a wine professional, there are few greater pleasures than a bottle that surprises. All too often, our prejudices influence the experience which is why it’s so important to taste wines in double-blind fashion, and often. This bottle of 2005 Terlato Family Vineyards, “Cardinal’s Peak” blew me away. I don’t know anything about the wine making or fruit source but what was in the glass was simply beautiful.

Poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and then enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2005 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe, but also some dried black and red fruits: blackberries, black cherry, black plum, raspberry, pipe tobacco, the purple Now and Laters®️, oiled leather, purple flowers, dark chocolate, coffee, dried forest floor, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly satisfying. A somewhat, no scratch that, remarkable wine. End stop. Drinking so well right now and absolutely in its prime. Don’t think twice to drink now to enjoy at its very best, but this will continue to drink well through 2030 if you must. 13.8% ABV. — 10 months ago

Randy Nielsen

9.3

Gift from Erik and Brenna. Really good — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 6 years ago

Lauren Cadell

10

Deep, dark red, cherry, vanilla and warm briar fruit aromas. Full and silky with spunky tannin kick on the mid palate. Juicy and jammy with a mild sweetness. Good with any meal.
Jacoby’s — 7 years ago

Cindy Lackey

9.7

Very good cab. Perfect balance for my taste. Will buy again. — 7 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

pleasantly surprisingly delicious 😋 — 2 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.4

Utterly Fantastic — 3 years ago

Nishith Jobanputra

9.2

Amazing. Decanted 1 hour. — 5 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

Full jammy spicy
Happy And Healthy New Year to you all! — 6 years ago

Nate Lane

9.0

Smooth and jammy. A consistently tasty product. Not a hint of metallic. Tried again after 15 years and was definitely impressed. — 7 years ago

with Karalyn

Jake Hajer

9.1

Good cab franc blend. A couple years will make this sing. Stewed cranberries, dry tannins, medium body. — 7 years ago

Richard Knapp

9.3

Wonderful Cab. Enjoying it with a great friend. — 7 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.3

Medium bodied, Dark berries, orange peal, violet, roasted coffee beans, forest floor. If you like your cabs very smooth with not much tannins left, this is at its peak. Personally I wouldn’t mind a bit more tannins structure. Drink now. — 3 years ago

Carter Pelham

9.2

Structured with pure black fruit. Will improve over the next 10+ years. — 4 years ago

with Linh

Simone M

9.1

Nice and buttery, not anything super special — 5 years ago

Mike Hartz

9.2

Delicious, blend of the kitchen sink, but full bodied and full of flavor, delicious — 7 years ago

Jusden Aumand

9.5

Heidi doing what she does best! — 7 years ago

Tim Dowling

9.5

Beautiful wine soft and a true Sangiovese flavor ruby color — 7 years ago

Brian Thompson

Sales & Marketing Krupp Brothers Winery, Stagecoach Vineyard

9.0

Frangrant and fruit-driven with aromas of cherry, blueberry and sage. Subtle herbaceous notes on the palate. — 7 years ago

Jason Li

9.3

At its peak. Floral! — 8 years ago