Kurt Schuster

8.9

Everybody seems to have glowing opinions of this, but mine was just a good wine and all the complexity in depth that I’m hearing about here I just didn’t get. A very good balance of strong flavors drank it across three days, dark pepper, and tobacco notes and ripe fruit and I will say without any overwhelming attendance. The structure was just incredible. Very good wine, maybe I’m just different than the other reviewers.  — 2 months ago

Jamie Lauder

9.2

2022 vintage.
Painted Rock has always been one of the best producers in British Columbia.
Aromas of deep black fruit black flowers and perfumed.
Rich and juicy. Black berries, spicy raspberries and so smooth on the finish. — 6 months ago

Karla Farjo

9.3

Light bodied. Delicious with notes of licorice, but not overwhelming. — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Open, expressive showing a perfumed nose of dark fruits, meat, graphite, olive, licorice, spice box, crushed rock & violet — 8 months ago

Eric W Brown

9.1

Black cherry, licorice. Young lots of stuffing to last a while — 4 years ago

Luke Kilcup

9.7

Apparently the 2017 is the best vintage. But the 2014 kicks you in the mouth and then finishes smooth. Bold red fruit with manageable tannins. Best second bottle of wine in awhile! — 5 years ago

Veronica Sweeney

9.0

A long time Turkey day favorite, that seemed to lose status as a Thankgiving staple has returned with triumph to our table. Velvet and rich, dark garnet. Flavors of blackberries and lingonberry. Loved the sturdy burst of flavor in my mouth. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

The best Cabernet Franc on the table. Although it really did not have much competition. This was the ONLY Cabernet Franc on the table! This one had lots of black cherry, graphite, cocoa, cola, and pie space to the front and middle. The finish still showed moderate astringency with a fair amount of oak, yet this was probably just about as approachable as I have ever seen a bottle of this Cabernet Franc. I would say this one is probably one to two years away from a pop and pour! — 7 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Roberto Carli

9.2

It leads with black olives, then a touch of brett but pleasant, purple flowers, and a good amount of stony minerality. Very quintessential Syrah. A little bit of bacon fat and smoke. On the palate the body is light. Tannins are moderate and fine and it brightens up the profile with good acidity even though the finish is not very long. It's very clear what they're trying to do and they're achieving it here. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with splashes of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec all SLD estate fruit, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with tobacco and herb spice. Fine smooth tannins, approachable, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and herb mineral character. Nice! — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Chimney Rock – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022
Stags Leap District AVA – Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the iconic Stags Leap District, Napa Valley. Aged in 100% French oak (predominantly free run), this wine embodies the district’s reputation for power wrapped in finesse. Though young, the 2022 already shows approachability while promising years of graceful aging.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, cassis, and plum, with graphite and tobacco leaf. Subtle oak spice, vanilla, and cedar weave in seamlessly.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, structured yet supple. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity deliver balance and a long, elegant finish. Shows classic “Stags Leap silk”, power with polish.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled ribeye, rosemary lamb chops, or a truffle-mushroom risotto. Also an excellent companion to hard cheeses like aged Gouda.

Verdict
A beautiful expression of Stags Leap Cabernet: powerful, polished, and already enjoyable young. With cellar potential, it will gain even more depth over the next decade.

Did You Know?
The Stags Leap District is famed for producing some of the world’s most elegant Cabernets, balancing Napa’s ripeness with an almost Bordeaux-like finesse. The phrase “iron fist in a velvet glove” is often used to describe its signature style. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

A very pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish rim.

Very aromatic nose with blue and black fruits, tobacco, light oak, and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, cooked cherries, Indian spices, oak, light vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, light earth, black tea and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Bordeaux blend from Sonoma County is drinking beautifully now. Elegant and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and spicy.

Feels like a Californian Merlot. Showing a nice mouthfeel with good structure. A very nice surprise.

I had the 2016 vintage 6 years ago, and this time it is drinking much better.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next year or two. I held it back for 5 years, and I'm glad I opened it now.

A great sipping wine. Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30 (current vintage). — 2 years ago

Michael B

9.3

Absolutely stunning Merlot! Big juicy dark fruits dominated by dark cherries, blueberries and hints of raspberries. Followed by long lasting slightly acidic medium tannin that is well balanced. — 6 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Absolutely delicious other than a developing clove note throwing me off a little. Nose and palate were phenomenal right out of the bottle. — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

On paper they say 08 wasn’t a good vintage but hey I love it. Old vine Reynard is excellent in 2008 showing all the Allemand sigs with dark fruit, olive tapenade and a liquid rock minerality. 08 is particularly Bordeaux like and not at all thin—that magical Reynard vineyard really ups the concentration of any vintage. Always a thrill to drink Allemand, my favorite Syrah. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Pale lemon in color.

Strong nose and medium in body with medium acidity, and a touch of RS on the palate.

Showing lemons, green and red apples, grapefruits, herbs, spices, light earth, light gooseberries and white pepper.

Nice finish with grapefruits and limes.

This is a very tasty Sauvignon Blanc based blend from California. Crisp and refreshing. Tangy and easy drinking. Nicely balanced with nice complexity.

Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Sémillon and 9% Viognier.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$28. — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Great vintage for this wine! Showing lots of black cherry, red berry fruit, spice, crushed rock, mineral, earth & violet — 9 months ago

Kendra Larsen

9.3

Delish bottle of chimney rock. — 5 years ago

with Jon and Matt

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Big notes of caramel and vanilla on the nose. Blackberry, black currant and black cherry fruit flavors with notes of sweet spices and earth. Dark purple color. Full bodied and loaded with fruit. Plush and round with a touch of sweetness on the long finish. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Joseph Phelps Party. Starting off with the 89 Insignia from 6L.

Notes of stewed fruits; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries & strawberries. Cola liqueur, steeped tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals.

The palate shows similar stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, rhubarb, cherries, strawberries. Cola liqueur, steep tea, limestone minerals, well softened and layered baking spices, menthol, dry herbs, dry top soil, dry rock powder, old to & leather underbrush with withering & fresh bright red & dark florals. Beautiful acidity and a well balanced finish that persists with some dark spice heat.

Photos of, the Phelps party and food spread. — 7 years ago