Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.1

Very Beaujolais-like. Lots of juicy pomegranate, blueberry, cranberry, and a bit of grape. Rose and violet potpourri, vintage lipstick, crushed oyster shell minerality. Bright, lifted, and very pretty with subtle chalky tannins. (This review is for the 2019 Iruai Shasta-Cascade) — 5 years ago

Yasuyuki Tauchi

9.4

Everyone could say it must be Burgundy! It’s a footprint of california-made wine that a faint oak vanillas. Cherry, cranberry, very elegant aromas and flavors. — 6 years ago

Lye Hock Tan

9.0

Opened on 28th Sept 2018. Moroon brown. Heavy body. Heavy nose with deep wood and oak with a tinge of berries. Very mellow in scent. Not exciting but vintage nose. Acidic to palate with some sweet note. Heavy tannin. Long finishing. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Seven Stones was the wine of this market visit to Napa. For me, it is the very definition of why I drink wine. Great fruit that is not overworked and is the Webster’s Dictionary of elegance, even at this young age.

On the nose; beautiful dark & medium red cassis. Ruby in style with amazing florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries & blue fruit mix. The red florals are so engaging, They possessed me for quite sometime before getting to tasting the wine. Soft baking spices with understated vanilla.

The body was medium full. Tannins unbelievably soft, silky and elegant for such a young wine. The fruits picked at the perfect ripeness. Such elegance! Creamy and ruby fruits of; cherries, dark cherries, creamy raspberries and wafting blue fruits. Soft spices, dry crushed rock powder, delicate volcanic minerals, touch herbaceous, whiff of black olive, dry soils, beautiful red roses and violets. The structure firm yet delicate as was the tension. The length and balance in perfect harmony. The long, polished finish simply amazing. Especially, in a wine this young.

Photos of; the property with the seven stones from Yosemite that are held together by gravity and weight 100,000 pounds, and two other artworks from the owners amazing art collection and the view from their terrace. — 7 years ago

Andrew Lam

9.3

The lingering nose of oak and berry when my glass was empty was amazing. — 9 years ago

Booger

9.7

I love this wine. They now have a sparkling traminette I will have to try. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

2002 is such a beautiful vintage IMHO. In many ways, I think even better than 07. We’ll see in five years from now as I lack a time machine.

I’ve said this a couple of times over my nearly 4,200 Delectable notes. There is no amount of decanting a young wine that can reproduce the beauty, elegance, florals, integration, balance and finish as long bottle age. If you are buying expensive Cabernets and drinking them young, you are simply short changing yourself out of your deep investment.

This largely under known Napa producer is a shining example of that tonight. Proof in the pudding so to speak.

The nose reveals, sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, understated blueberries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, incense, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets.

The body is; round, rich & luxurious. The tannins still have baby teeth and show chewy tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit their peak. It’s not going to improve, it will simply show you descending changes which, can be quite enjoyable but, not necessarily for the ones that appreciate wines young. Interesting, none the less, for the ones that enjoy all sides/aspects of wine evolution. Sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, mulberries, boysenberries, more blue fruits than the nose, cherries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices with just the right amount of heat, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth, fresh tobacco, suede style leather, saddle-wood with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets. The ABV on this wine is really nice given today’s hotter wines. Climate change, it’s a bitch. The round acidy is as good as it gets. The long, excellent, elegant, rich, ripe, ruby, gorgeous, sexy, floral, perfectly balanced finish falls into persistent heaven.

This is a gorgeous example of what Napa Valley is capable of in grand vintages, if you have good storage & can show patience.

Photos of; an arial view of Jones Family Winery, patio tasting area, beautiful Jones Family Cabernet fruit and their amazing vineyards. — 5 years ago

Matt Mason

9.4

C straw; N citrus, white peach; T lemon grapefruit up front, white peach on the end. — 8 years ago

Randmaster Flash

8.9

Bright with lots of cherry; easy to drink — 8 years ago

Kathy Schmedding

9.2

Great Chardonnay! Delicious with shrimp scampi. Great find by Schmed in Santa Barbara! — 8 years ago

Daragh Hoey

9.6

Profoundly challenges my view of Oregon Chardonnay. Restrained in so many ways. But full of electricity. — 9 years ago

Elizabeth Dz

10

Bold, paired excellent with steak. — 10 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Golden straw color. Aromas of lemon, grapefruit and lychee. Creamy mouthfeel, flavors of lemon and a mineral finish. — 6 years ago

Davenport Edwards

9.1

Just fine — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Chardonnay pairing with Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta,
Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano.

Green apple, juicy pineapple flesh, green melon, cream, butter, light honey notes, some lime candy, rich, waxy and well polished. One of a handful of CA Chardonnay’s I enjoy because of their light wood influence. At steal at $36 member price.

Not the best pair I’ve had but, it worked ok.

Photos of, their terrace view, Saffron Fettucine with Saffron Cream, Pancetta, Summer Corn, Parsley and Pecorino Romano, the rotating ball waterfall and hand blown glass that decorated their cellar halls.
— 7 years ago

Michelle Tracy

9.0

At first I thought this was too mild. But after it was open about 30 minutes, the fruity flavors really came out. — 7 years ago

JBo

8.9

Splashy wet and smooth grapefruit. Needs to breathe. — 8 years ago

with Lizzie88

Kari DeMarco

8.9

Randomly tried it but I like it! — 8 years ago

Narun P

8.9

Beautiful bloody and transparent shade of red. The aroma reminds me of dry prune or dry ripe/resinated black grape. On the palate, the wine is easy drinking, medium astringency, with balanced red cherry, earthy quality, and spices. Went surprisingly well with our sushi omakase! — 9 years ago

M & R

9.2

Half way between sweet and dry. Definitely has a little alcohol kick. — 9 years ago