Rich And Bold

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight.
— 4 months ago

Dave liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2021

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110.
— 5 months ago

Dave, Jay and 14 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy.
— 6 months ago

Rob, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2018

Hum
9.2

Rich cassis and tobacco … vanilla frosting … everything well integrated… faint graphite ? Touch of bell pepper. — 8 months ago

Tyler and Ira liked this

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Bold and solid structure. Blackberry. Forest and density. — 2 years ago

Billy, Tom and 2 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Somm David T
9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines.
— 6 years ago

Eric, Daniel and 31 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

I could of got you 2 Austin Hope for that price🤷🏼‍♂️
P A

P A

@David T David good post Cheers 🍷
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Paul T- Huntington Beach How very nice of you. @P A Thank you! Cheers! 🍷

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 4 months ago

Andrew, Juan and 4 others liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

Deep ruby color and great nose. Velvety on palate with rich dark fruits. Soft tannins and a lasting finish. Good blend of Zin, Cab, Petite Syrah, and Syrah. — 5 months ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1998

Drinking well. Big, bold and tannic. — 6 months ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Dark and briny. Gnarly fruit with dried herbs and intense meaty fruit. Mineral and deep. Rich and long. Great — 6 months ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Jay, Jeroen and 17 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Jan A
9.5

Really looked forward to this one, but a little bit too rich to warrant higher score. Missing the acidity/tension a bit.
Edit: and it was served too warm..
— 7 months ago

Stef, Roman and 19 others liked this

Emmolo Winery

Napa Valley Merlot

Full bodied soft tannins and rich with dark fruit and a light spice finish. Paired beautifully with beef ( steak and short ribs). Will look for this again!!! — 9 months ago

Andrew Rich

Prelude Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2017

2017 is fab. Great QPR. Intense with backbone. Give it a few more years. it doesn’t get much better at this price-point. — 6 years ago

David liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Rich, balanced Cab with long deep finish. Wish I could have had it with a nice grilled filet. — 4 months ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Spicy nose. Nice and bold. Black cherry and baking spice. Wonderful! — 5 months ago

Max Phillips
with Max

Faust

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Rich dark fruit, blackberry/raspberry tone with no tannins. Full bodied. Expensive, but worth the price. A special occasion wine — 5 months ago

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

So velvety and rich! This vintage is #3 wine spectator / cab / full body!! — 6 months ago

Dave liked this
Dave

Dave

Excellent

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

This was rich with black fruits, mocha, graphite, cedar, leather, under brush & tobacco — 7 months ago

Ira, Aravind and 11 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2021

Great zin blend I first had at House of Prime Rib in SF. Spicy, aromatic and rich paired really well with roast lamb. — 9 months ago

Ira, Neil and 7 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever.
— 3 years ago

Jan, Shay and 6 others liked this