Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — 2 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep opaque core, thin ruby rim. Deep slightly spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , charcoal embers , grafite . On the palate this is quite intense but has good freshness , and ripe but firm , quite dry tannins . Creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , crushed rocks , quite saline and fresh in style , oyster shell and sea breeze hints . Well balanced alcohol and good length grafite , saline tinged finish . This is actually quite enjoyable , though obviously way too young , fresh and detailed with cool fresh dark fruit and grafite nuance. Better in 10 years and will last well a further 10-15 maybe more . Really enjoyed the style and balance of this . — 8 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

A little more advanced than previous bottles... Yellow floral notes, some tangy lime, rocks. Great balance. Very pure — 5 years ago

with Bex

Shay A

9.4

Standout bottle from Reynvaan at almost 13yrs. I’ve really enjoyed their syrahs with 10+yrs on them.

95 Syrah/ 5 viognier (co-ferment). Essentially Reynvaan’s version of Cayuse’s Cailloux (both co-fermenting a splash of Viognier).

Lots of experience with these but this bottle just had a little bit “more” of everything. Consumed from bottle over the course of a couple hours before corking and consuming the second half the next day. Immediate “Rocks district” funk aromatically (not quite Cayuse-level funk, but close)…green herbal crunch, olive, dark florals. The mid-palate and finish are the stars…so much complexity in flavor (smoked meat, peppered rhubarb and blackberries, stems) wrapped in a beautifully elegant profile. Oak has faded away and acidity carries it beautifully. Whereas Cayuse wines stay sanguine, savory and herbal all the way through, this has a lifted, perfumed and balanced (fruit and herbs) finish that is eerily reminiscent of Guigal’s La Turque. Best Reynvaan I’ve had.

I really liked this on day one but loved it on day two (score reflecting day two). This is at the pinnacle of its window, so don’t miss it. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I’ve had better Napa Cabernets, but not many. From magnum.

This is elegance refined.

Black currants, black berries, black raspberries, both plums into pudding, black cherries, strawberries, raspberry hues, mid berry cola/licorice, mocha powder, dark chocolate brownies, layered baking spices, soft spices w/ a bit of a punch, caramel, anise to black licorice, dry tobacco & used leather, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry herbs, touch of eucalyptus, dark withering to candied flowers, grand, round acidity, lush, round, balanced, knitted, elegant, smartly polished finish that last minutes and falls on malt ball, softened earth & spice.

Minus a point for a hint of bandaid on the nose that didn’t affect the palate. — 7 months ago

Joe Dunn

9.0

Black fruit. Inky. Spice. Gentle tannins. Though k vintners. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

A milestone birthday requires some fun wines! 1st bottle to polish off is a 2008 Marcassin chard with Hog Island oysters, butter poached lobster, and shrimp.

Double decant for fine cloudy sediment. An irresistible medium gold color.. On the nose: nectarines, pineapple, vanilla toast, lemon, and crushed rocks. Taste: so gooood after 12 years. A slightly creamy wine with carmalized pear, wet stones, lemon peel, and a mineral peach long finish with good acidity. — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I’ve had a number of PC 96’s over time, none quite this good. The fill line & cork perfect. Very little sediment. Some bottle neck tannin burn. For me, Pontet Canet didn’t really hit its consistent, quality stride until 2005. Doesn’t mean they didn’t make a few beauties before then. Pontet Canet is proof that the 1855 Bordeaux Classification needs to be redone. Unlikely it will in my lifetime.

This 96 maybe just short of its precipice. Stylistically a little better than 94.

The nose reminds me of everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola. Sweet forest floor w/ leaves, sweet mushrooms, sweet led pencil shavings, steeped tea w/ hints of fruit, charcoal, dry tobacco/leather, some dry herbs, withering dark, red flowers, red roses with violets.

The palate is also everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola/red vines. Everything I understood the first time standing in the estate vineyard of Pichon Baron. Tasting limestone, dry river stone, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, dry stems. In fact, I’ve tasted vineyards soils everywhere I have been in every world wine region. Basically, everywhere in the wine world that has reliance. Many multiple times. Sweet graphite, steeped tea w/ hints of dark fruit, understated, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanillin, dark cocoa, dark exotic spices, some anise to black licorice, charcoal, dry tobacco with ash/leather, some dry herbs-safe/bay leaf, limestone, dry river stone, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, dry topsoils, dry stems, withering/dry dark, red flowers, red roses with violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with an extremely well balanced/structured/tensioned, great length and an elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls nicely on dry earth and dark spices.

A very, very slow roll with my Ribcap. Definitely better with the steak than on its own.

This bottle tells me this 96 has plenty of good drinking ahead, another 8-10 yrs+.

ABV is 13%. Disappointing it ever changed. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Nose of blueberries, black plums, black currants, coffee, licorice, spices, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth and herbs.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cherries, blood notes, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, barnyard, light vegetables, light tar and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Syrah from the Rocks District in Walla Walla Valley. In your face kind of wine. Rich, extracted and complex. Nicely balanced and elegant. Interesting stuff.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after a couple of hours of airtime.

This 6 year old Syrah is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves.

A great sipping wine that also paired nicely with a big piece of steak.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$350. — 9 months ago

Steve Medbery

9.6

Rock star of a wine! Floral, peppery, bacon on the nose, BlackBerry, smoked meat, olive on the palate. Complex wine with a long mineral finish. Love the 13.5 Alc. Could easily mistake for Hermitage or Core Rotie — 6 years ago