Nathan Renfro

9.3

Medium ruby. Tannins softened with just a bite on the edge, grippy yet soft. Black and red fruit, nicely balanced. Earthy. Medium to full bodied. Medium finish. Nice mouthfeel. — 2 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

Super well made Dry Creek Cabernet. Second best wine of the night. Great focus and intensity of fruit and oak. No real sign of age in the nose or color. Very aromatic and long finish. Slightly rough on the finish but it complimented the steak perfectly. Excellent juice 🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Garry Siskos

9.3

OMG delicious! It was suggested this would be great for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll definitely buy a few bottles. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Our favorite Figgins blend. 2011. A tough year but Chris Figgins turned it into a gem. Minerally. Full body, rich mid palette with a sweet edge, evolving into a dry, grippy finish with with minerals edging the experience. Perfect with aged Gouda cheese. — 6 years ago

with Tammy and Chris

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Barrel taste of the 2016 Insignia.

The nose shows bright red floral fruits. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, violets, red and dark florals.

The wine is still extremely fresh. The body medium full. Tannins are round & slight tarry. The fruits are very ripe and bright. Ripe; dark cherries, blackberries, creamed black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and a touch of pomegranate. Vanillin, light cinnamon, dark rich soils, dark chocolate bar, soft understated volcanic minerals, limestone, violets, red and dark florals. The acidity is fresh and waterfallish. The fruit is beautiful. The wine has a long way to go in barrel but, it shows great promise. The finish is already well polished with great structure, length and balance.

Photos of; their Napa Estate vines, logo woven into the carpet, futures offering area and long shot of their visitor center building and terrace. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

My 28th/29th/30th & 31st bottles of the beautiful 04 & @ £40 & they are still superb value for a stunning old world Rioja 👍 & keep getting better & better 😁

🍷 Garnet w/ brick edge

👃 Old world Seduction of soft smokey oak, leather, plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, red berry & fig jam w/ a balsamic prune tone

👄 Med body of silky creamy red cherry/berry driven earthy & oaky mashed fruits with cocoa, fig & thick balsamic

🎯 Long soft smooth oaky rich cherry fruit linger with earthy cocoa & balsamic
— 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

Made an impromptu stop at Stonestreet the last time we were in Napa/Sonoma. Had a little unexpected time between tastings. Man it was sure HOT when we were there in September. I remember the estate was in great condition. Beautiful scenery and some of the views from eastern Healdsburg and Geyserville are hard to beat. It was about 95 degrees AT THE WINERY in the middle of a Napa heat wave. This wine hit the spot. A nice, crisp, lighter bodied wine with a crisp side to it, yet didn't feel as though your tongue was burning. Edges on this one were rounded even from the start. More of a lemon curd, but also some lime and honeysuckle. Middle had good weight, a little silkier than I had anticipated. The finish is lighter, mostly lemon and lime. Not a powerhouse, but was really nice on that 95 degree September "summer" day in Healdsburg, and pretty darn good tonight. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Located on the terrace of alluvial gravel bordering the river. The "Village de La Lagune" was a tenant farm in its place and gradually transformed into a wine-growing estate. Dark purple with red fruits spice, cedar and flinty aromas. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavors with cedar, cacao, tobacco and leather notes. Fine sweet tannins, well balanced on long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy mineral notes. Nice! — 4 years ago

Andrew

8.9

Crisp, apples — 4 years ago

Joseph Dodge

9.0

Happy 21st Anniversary bottle at the lovely Ranch House in Ojai, CA. Could use another year or 2 in the bottle . A little tannic still, notes if cherries, pomegranate and dill. Great mouth feel and even finish — 6 years ago

with Diana

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Such a contrast to 2016! 2014 was warmer and with 2 more years of bottle age, the wine is more fruit forward, more opulent and more balanced against the brooding, spicy character of Gibbston. Fabulous! — 6 years ago

with Rocket

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

Chris England

9.5

😍 @ £31 this Musar is top & I’ve reviewed a few times 👍 personally i find it the best of many vintages I’ve had & not as funky as others 😉

🏵 495 points

🍇 Cab S, Cinsault & Carignan

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey oaky spiced leather infused cherry choc gateaux, red potpourri, prune compote, red berry jam, barnyard, mushroom risotto & herbs - gorgeous in a Zalto Burg 😎

👄 Med balanced body of earthy smooth red cherry in mocha, date & prune sauce w/ strawberry & redcurrant tones

🎯 Med+ earthy red berry/cherry gateaux💥 — 7 years ago

Ian Staub

8.9

Super interesting white/orange blend. Nose is full of rose and other dried florals, orange blossom, jasmine tea and green unripe nectarine, with the fruit showing better on day 2. Due to 15 days of skin contact, palate is slightly tannic and as a result comes across strongly like a lemony black sun tea, with juicy acidity that lacks an edge. Round, somewhat drying finish. Tough pairing with an Asian salad day 1 and a veggie curry day 2 - this needs something like a simple fish preparation. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Just love this wine, just tried ‘18! Nice blend of grapes from the Bierzo Valley, the ‘18 has about 4% of perfectly ripe white grapes, 6% less than ‘17. Deep Ruby with loads of Berry fruits aromas adding some sweet floral spice and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry with a juicy mineral edge. Well balanced and integrated with fine smooth tannins, lively acidity and a long finish ending with oak and spicy notes. Tremendous value for such a complex wine. — 4 years ago

Mike Whitworth

9.8

Classic Napa...delicious — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The reason I fell in love with Bordeaux is because I had one of the greatest mentors one could have, Clyde Beffa Jr. - Owner of K&L Wine Merchants. I could never thank him enough or show enough gratitude for the kindness he has shown me. He has been going to Bordeaux multiple times a year for 40 plus years and shown me the greatness of well made Bordeaux’s enjoyed at the age of 25 years plus!

Many who open well made Bordeaux’s young will never know the absolute Heaven they bring to the palate and even more so with a great steak. You only rob yourself of perfection when you open them inside of 25 years. Sure you can check em at 10-15 years for longevity but, you need to have/save bottles for 25 years plus.

Also, an old Bordeaux at 95 is not nearly the same as a young 95. At this age, technical scores are simply not the same as young wine. The enjoyment is completely different.

The nose reveals; a slight touch of funk, dark, ripe, currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, strawberries on the edge of the glass, anise, cedar, graphite, used leather, just a whiff of green pepper, vanilla, caramel, mocha, dark Asian spice, incense, dark & mid berry cola, dark, rich earth, underbrush, limestone, dry stone, hint of sweet tarriness, light, dry herbaceousness, black tea, with dry, withering, fresh, dark, red, blue candied flowers and violets and lavender for days.

The body is round, soft and full. The 90 is the definition of elegant and floral. The structure, tension, length and balance are perfect with another 5-10 years of pleasure to give. It’s gorgeous and sexy. Dark, ripe, currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, some blueberries, strawberries on the long set, anise, cedar, graphite, soft, used leather, vanilla, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, salted, milk chocolate, dark Asian spice with just a touch of palate heat, a hint of green pepper, savory meats, incense, dark & mid berry cola, dark, rich earth, underbrush, limestone, dry crushed minerals, dry stone, hint of sweet tarriness, light, dry herbaceousness, black tea, with dry, withering, fresh, dark, red, blue candied flowers and violets and lavender for days. The acidity is perfect like a warm gentle rain shower. The finish is a “forget about it.” It’s; gorgeous, sexy, lush, ripe, just the right amount of earthiness, elegant, well balanced and will persist until you go to sleep.

13% ABV. I sure miss the 12–13% ABV of the 80 & early 90 Bordeaux’s.

Photos of; the majestic Chateau Cos d’Estournel and Estate vines, their barrel room with translucent floor to walk above, their library cellar that most would love to raid and their sitting salon.
— 6 years ago

Melinda Ruch

9.4

Awesome dry white wine, smooth finish w no bite aftertaste — 7 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Potent! Deep dark sweet plum/fig with a spicy edge. Smooth finish for a perfect landing. — 7 years ago

with Tammy

Chris England

9.2

Fab St J drinking great @ £79 just past it's peak so enjoy now 👍

🍷 Light blocking opaque ruby w/ brown edge

👃 Damp oaky musty dusty cellar filled with old squished blackcurrant & plum, liquorice, herbs (bouquet garni), aged wet earth, soggy leaves, tobacco smoke & bad boy leather w/ eucalyptus hint

👄 Med body of stewed slight sweet black fruit, liquorice & mocha all well integrated

🎯 Med dark aged fruit & mocha w/ a touch of cherry & herbaceousness — 8 years ago