Greg Koslosky

9.6

Bordeaux of the vintage candidate power elegance depth and refinement . Cassis black berry minerals tobacco spice shoe polish wow ! — 6 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.3

A seriously mysterious wine - idiosyncratically traditional, traditionally idiosyncratic. Secondary and tertiary aromas shine, but there’s still plenty of fruit - apricot, nectarine. Smoke, Stone. Wow. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Updating notes from 29 weeks ago.

On the nose, macerated & baked; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum, strawberries with raspberries painting the background. Mocha, vanilla, dark chocolate, fruit liqueur notes, dark rich soil, limestone minerals, fresh & decayed red florals with bright fresh field of blue & red floral florals with violets.

The palate is elegant, rich and full. The tannins nicely softened & resolved. 60-65% resolved. There is nice; soften structure, very good balance with excellent length. The fruits are; ruby ripe blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, blue fruit mix, black raspberries, plum, creamy raspberries and hint of strawberries. The red florals & violets really shine through on the palate as well. Sweet tarry notes, dark fruit liqueur, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, some black licorice, limestone minerals, iron, tarry notes, smoke, used leather, cigar with ash, touch of dry stems, pinch of herbaceousness, dark spices, dry clay, loamy dry top soil, dry crushed rock powder, just hint of white pepper, blue & dark red florals, lavender with violets, good round acidity and a long, elegant, balanced finish that lasts minutes.

Better with a good meat sauce pasta than pizza. Slightly overpowered our pizza tonight. But, still delicious.

Photos of; the backside of Valdicava, one of their vineyards and Valdicava winery owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese.

Brunello’s take years to come around and why Italians hold them extra year(s) over other varietals/regions in bottle. It’s ten years before good Brunello producers wines are truly enjoyable; which is why I still have so many in hibernation. Drink through 2025. — 7 years ago

with Christina and James

Bill Bender

9.2

Dazzling mountain fruit aromatics of pencil lead, cinnamon and cedar shavings. Very dense and tannic but sweet blackberry fruit and chocolate covered expresso beans shine through. I absolutely love these wines but I highly recommend you give them 10+ years in the bottle so they can strut. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Blue fruits shine with dark cassis and dark chocolate. Finishes with dark and mid red fruits. — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Will come around at the moment too young and closed. Chalky rose pedals shine through. — 9 years ago

Michael Mallon

9.0

This was a winner. Black cherries and red fruit shine forth once the tannins have had a chance to mellow out. Chocolate, herbs and earth throughout. Well structured. — 9 years ago

Flavio Menezes

9.2

Earthy and still a bit tannic, a darker side of Lalande. I think it will shine in another 5-10 years. — 10 years ago

Colin Yates

Wine Buyer Macadoodles Fine Wine & Spirits

9.4

The second domestic Super Tuscan I tried this week. The first being David Arthur's Meritaggio. Hands down this is the choice. Also, typically my favorite release from Long Shadows each year. Sangiovese blend with Cabernet and Syrah. Dark, smokey with rich fruit and fine tannins. I'd let this one cellar a bit longer to catch its peak. Look at 2017 and beyond to allow it to really shine. — 10 years ago

with Derek

Chantal Leyden

9.8

I'm usually not a fan of white but this was amazing. Notes of citrus, melons and a hint of honeysuckle — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Much darker fruits than the Proprietary and not as floral. Dark, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, bake rhubarb, cherries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, caramel, dark chocolate, medium spice, anise, light graphite, tobacco leaf, herbaceous notes, a little mint, dark red and bright light red florals.

The body is beautiful, round and just full. It’s beautiful. The length, structure and balance are knitting together nicely. The florals sing and shine on the palate. Dark, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, baked rhubarb, cherries, cranberries & pomegranate. Vanilla, light cinnamon & clove, caramel, dark chocolate, medium spice, anise, light graphite, tobacco leaf, herbaceous notes, a little mint, dark red, and bright light red florals. Their 2016 vintage all possess amazing acidity. The finish on Cabernet is better earlier than the Proprietary. It’s seamless, elegant, ripe, floral, balanced fruit & earth and persistent.

One producer note, Owners - Ed and Deb Fitts are in the process of transferring ownership of the winery to Jim Bean and Christine O'Sullivan. Jim and Christine have been grape growers in the Napa Valley for many years. They also both held senior leadership positions at Apple as well. At this point and time, it is believed that Winemaker Philippe Melka will continue to make their wines.

Photos of; the winery and tasting room shot on a sunnier day than this visit, their immaculately clean barrel room, stainless steel tank room...transferring wine from tank to barrel for fermentation or from barrel to tank to be blended and their Estate vines on a beautiful Napa sunny day. — 6 years ago

Jake Thornburgh

9.2

Classic medium-full bodied Barolo. Well balanced and the tar/rose aromas really shine. Got this at Whole Foods. Will get it again — 7 years ago

Niki Sherman

9.0

Scot likes lots — 7 years ago

Eric Egan

9.3

Phenomenal level; slow-oxed for 3 hours and decanted for 30 mins. Deep hue with a hint of bricking but good shine and legs - still vibrant on the nose with clear Cab Franc notes; smokey, almost meaty (bilton-like) with hints of cocoa nibs, roasted peppers, and pipe tobacco. Ever so slightly numb on the palate - clearly well balanced but perhaps becoming slightly unknit. I suspect it will come back together for the long haul so drink now or from 2040:-) — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.3

Classic lunch bags and just a stellar treat in a crowded sea of Napa cab. My fave 5th growth by a long shot but Pontet Canet and Grand Puy Lacoste aren't far behind. The Lynch seems to shine for me regardless of vintage. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Creamed fruits, coffee grounds and dry floral nose. Ruby ripe dark fruits; blackberries, dark cherry, stewed plum, dry coffee grounds, tobacco leaf, softened leather, dry brown earth, crushed dry rocks, dry florals, nice acid and finish that will get there...it's just not today. There is great structure here with length and good balance but this needs another ten plus years to really shine. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

In tonight's WS tasting, we had the 06, 04 and 02. There are at least two things that are true. One, time is kind to the older vintages and/or the 02 vintage was special. Likely, both are true. One thing that is undeniable, WS grows and cellars amazing fruit. Seriously, consistent! The raspberry in their aged fruits really shine. Followed by bright; strawberries,cranberries, pomegranate, limestone chalk, mid minerality, black & red licorice, earth, sweet spice and flat out elegance that goes on and on. The quality amongst their single designated vineyards is marginable from their Sonoma coast blends. Also, how they price them. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 07 Lytton Springs is blackberry,boysenberry, blueberry, mulberry syrup over pancakes, an easy integrated array of spices with a whiff of white pepper in the forefront. Rich, jammy, juicy and syrupy. Really starting to shine but I'll hold the rest of my bottles another three years for it's perfection. — 10 years ago

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

9.3

Great work. Natty PS, done really well...a little marsanne to boot — 11 years ago

Richard Brand

9.0

Black currants, green apple, unripened apricots, red cabbage, with an earthy mineral finish. Very approachable! — 7 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.6

Absolutely brilliant wine. Dried cherries, spice, and pomegranate on the nose, the palate is utterly fantastic in terms of its balance. One of the best Brewer-Clifton wines we’ve ever had (and just confirms that these wines need to sit for a few years in the cellar in order for them to really shine). Awesome. — 7 years ago

with Vanessa

Mike R

9.8

If the Ancient Greek gods were around and drinking wine I bet this would be on their menu every night

100% estate grown and 100% CS varietal - three years in barrel - tobacco, tea and complex yet integrated tannins dusted in smoky clove scents. Intensely peppery, its youthful blackberry and cherry flavors shine through

Inky in color, the wine pops with black and blue fruit, smoke and vanilla aromatics. Fat, rich and fleshy, the wine is packed with it all including the kitchen sink

Decanted for three hours and served filet mignon with an amazing homemade BBQ hollandaise with grilled mushrooms NC sauce to celebrate the Wolfpack victory today - what a way to close out the evening - all full stomachs and world class smiles for all — 7 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

At first, cassis and cherry shine on the expressive and generous nose. But soon lovely notes of treebark, licorice, forestfloor and grilled bell-pepper add in.
Slightly slender and feminine on the mid-palate, this wine could use some more flesh and stuffing.
Wine definately scores on the nose! — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.1

Classic approachability always found in Raphet, young yes, but with some air it really starts to shine. — 8 years ago

Royce D

9.4

Light and dry with some minerality. An easy to drink white. Held up to Thanksgiving dinner but would really shine with lighter fare. — 9 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.3

Amazing aging potential on (some of) these older Newton Chardonnays.
Starting out a bit questionable (possibly reduced?) it really started to shine after 3+ hours. — 9 years ago

Ginevra

9.5

Rain or shine, this bottle makes me feel happy:-) — 10 years ago

Brianne Guist

8.9

Rich mouthfeel and ripe raspberry and cherry flavors. yum! — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This wine still needs another 5-10 years to fully shine. However, it was none the less great. Dark multi layered cassis, tobacco, light leather vanilla and just right amount of oak, tannins not fully resolved and made in that remarkable Martha Heitz style. — 11 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.1

Firm, masculine and structured, notes of tobacco, cassis, blackberry and earth shine through with effort. Full bodied and traditional in style — 11 years ago