Jay Kline

9.3

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 8 months ago

Cameron Hoppas

9.6

Delicious and elegant. This wine was remarkable. I tasted it blind and had trouble placing it because it's structure and aromatic complexity didn't match with my fruit driven expectation of gamay. I've been drinking discount bojo. This was phenom. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 5 years ago

E & K G

9.3

‘96 and ‘99 side by side. A real treat from a good friend. Similar fruit and flavor profile though the ‘99 had a bit more weight and structure. Both were a pleasure with dinner. — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Another old friend. Such grip, structure, & black fruited- like no Fleurie I know of. So young & pops out of the glass. Dresner book. — 7 years ago

Paul Morrill

9.2

Tastes young and aggressive sixteen years out, like a teenager looking for a good time. Color's great, solid structure. — 9 years ago

with Mads and Kristin

Michael Meagher MS

Chairman/Founder Boston Sommelier Society, Beverage Director Cafe Escadrille

9.5

From a 3 liter, about 10 years after "PD" suggested it was to be at its best. (This was a gift from my 21st birthday and the cork was beginning to show seepage so time to drink!). Seriously good stuff. The boozy side of Zin has settled, the structure and savory notes of the Petite Sirah and Mataro are emerging. Looking forward to this with grilled meat, lobster and whatever else we can cook up outside. @ridgevineyards #legend — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.6

1989 vintage. A near perfect bottle with loads of ripe dark fruit flavors and classic Rutherford dust additions. Sweet tannins still providing structure and grip, and it's American oak treatment nicely integrated. Long, satisfying finish, where fruit, acidity and minerality comes in waves. Very, very impressive and behaving 10 years younger than it actually is. — 10 years ago

Tom Gutting

9.5

Absolutely superb. Youthful color. Lively. Complex. Great fruit. Structure remains. Will go 10-15 more years. — 11 years ago

Jerry Hindes CS, CSW

9.5

Such a classic! Well balanced classic body and structure for Alexander Valley. Open for 6+ hours the tannins have really softened and the fruit, earth and wood have opened up to integrate nicely on the palate. Can't go wrong with this producer unless there's a dismal vintage due to weather. — 11 years ago

Shay A

9.3

(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).

My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy. — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dark scarlet color with translucent light reddish rims. Old wine nose. Notes of black and red fruit, gravel, barnyard floor, old leather and some old desk wood. Fruit is a bit faded but this has plenty of life with decent acidity and a nice structure. Got better with air and opened up nicely. Better than the last bottle of this lot, despite being a more ragged looking bottle. — 4 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.1

A surprisingly nice mouthful, with nice oak to support the structure of the fruit. The vintage lacks the power of many Palmers albeit the wine is a very nice complement to any meal. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

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

romo

9.4

Still a big boy w room to run. Powerful structure w balance. — 8 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.0

Black fruits, cedar box, liquorice, cigar box, menthol. Huge structure, chewy tannin, slightly green on the palate, 30s finish. Need more time. 2012 vintage — 9 years ago

John Blazon

Master Sommelier & Educator Spire Collection

9.6

Graceful and polished Margaux, structure was beautifully balanced. An incredible treat. — 10 years ago

Danny Owens

9.4

Had this with braised short ribs didn't know which one was better..this has all of the structure and weight with still lively fruit flavors. Balance and harmony at the dinner table. — 10 years ago

James Fox

9.2

Nose of bright fruit Settles into soft well balanced almost elegant Structure is impressive! — 11 years ago

Eddy Mendez

10

Pretty darn good showing with tons of dark cab goodness and and nice structure early on but as it warmed from cellar temperature and opened the richness of the fruit started to outweigh the acidity and tannin structure. I guess it's a matter of what you want from a Cabernet. The 'Old World' Brother In Law and the rest of his loyal crew who value smoothness over all else thought it was "like buttah". I had to side with the spacewrangler. While this wine was not over the top or over extracted it left me wanting more structure. — 13 years ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

Seems almost a shame to rate this as it was just too young. There is a massive structure here with wild tannins than need at least a few more years for this wine to start fulfilling its potential. One for the back of your cellar to forget about — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Always and forever one of my absolute favorite wines. 07 Reynard from the master showed just as well as the bottle I had in February. It’s deep, powerful and has a searing intensity. It’s layered with dark fruit, campfire smoke, olive tapenade, violets and a crushed rock minerality. There is superb concentration along with a firm tannic structure that is beginning to soften. It’s exceptionally well balanced and detailed with a palate saturating texture and a harmonious finish that goes on and on. An outstanding Reynard. — 4 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.3

Dark berries that are the perfect balance between tart and sweet, structure that expands on the pallet as you swallow — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 6 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.4

Pleasant berry flavors (blackberry primarily but other dark berries present), well structure but not too sharp. I touch young but good nonetheless. — 7 years ago

with Matt

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

From magnum and paired well with three different Tri-tip steaks sources and marinades.

On the nose, sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets.

The palate is med and beautiful. The length, structure, tension and balance are at its peak harmony from magnum. Sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, pomegranate, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb, burnt orange, with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry river stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, limestone minerals, dry stems, more presence, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets and blue flowers. The acidity is waterfall perfect. The rich, ripe, fresh fruit, well balanced finish is simply beauty on steroids.

Photos of, Lopez de Heredia, Vat fermenters that are still in use and somewhere between 100-200 years of age (they repair them as needed to keep them tight), their cooperage and Maria José López de Heredia who now runs the family business. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

From magnum with low shoulder fill. Appropriately branded cork came out intact. Dark reddish purple, opaque. Reddish orange rims. Heavy nose of leather saddle, blackberries, cranberries, dark unsweetened chocolate, walnuts, and some old wine funk. Fruit forward in the mouth and very rich. Structure, acidity and fruit all still perfectly balanced. With air it improved over 6 hours, and new notes like menthol and quarry stone in the nose were noted. This wine is probably not going to get better, but should be fine in the near term to hopefully show like this big boy did tonite. — 10 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.7

Still great acid. Beautiful structure. — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.4

An elegant Valdicava expression with great purity, lingering acidity, wonderful structure and an expansive, already enjoyable finish. — 11 years ago

Ron Warrington

9.6

Grahite. Very good lots of structure. — 12 years ago