Lucy Rodriguez

9.0

Great taste! — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Earlier this week, a rep for Crown Point wines hosted a tasting to show off a few of their newer releases. New to me, they are out of Santa Barbara and have the duo of Adam Henkel (former assistant winemaker at Harlan for 8yrs) and Philippe Melka (who came on starting with the ‘15 vintage) making the wines.


This wine is their Estate Selection, which is 73% cab, 16% malbec and 11% merlot. I believe this was the first vintage for this wine. It sports a very soft profile and is made in a riper style. Aromatically it smells of baked boysenberry, fig and mixed berry pie with milk chocolate chips. The ABV is around 15.2% and it shows here. Extracted on the palate with chocolate covered dark fruits, baking spices, nutmeg and Andes mint. — 7 years ago

with Clare and Weston

Brad Henn

9.5

was a saver but so enjoyable. complex fruit with smooth tannins, hints of spice, balanced, slight vanilla. oh so good. — 8 years ago

with Alicia

Nicholas Lauf

9.4

Very black wine. One of the darkest I've seen. Very complex wine. Dark black currant, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, very bold cocoa/chocolate. Smells extremely hot, spicy, red fruit. Medium long finish and medium plus acid. The longer it's in the glass, the more flavors that come out. Really blown away. — 9 years ago

with Alyssa

Ryan Johnson

9.0

Not usually a white fan, but love this. Very drinkable, not too sweet, very nice chilled. Not gonna lie, drank a whole bottle in a sitting. — 9 years ago

Kelly McClintock

9.0

Absolutely delicious and yummy pairing to my stuffed Italian chicken breasts for dinner. — 10 years ago

Jim Trobaugh

9.3

She is just a good winemaker! — 10 years ago

Stacey Biggs

9.0

Smooth and light — 11 years ago

DAG

9.6

It was a real treat pouring the first vintage of Kayli Morgan for the winemaker, Philippe Melka. Tough vintage but this wine is exceptional. — 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

This is now called Plentitude 3 rather than Oenotheqe. Lush and fresh at once- a real treat. At The Relais & Chateau vertical of Dom Perignon with chef de cave Richard Geoffroy. — 12 years ago

with Cleora

Katherine Clark

9.5

Double smiley face. Awesome wine — 13 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.0

Smooth and balanced. Lack berry with some spice — 6 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.3

A stunner. Opened with that rustic cab smell. Not sure what lies beneath that initial nose. And then just pure explosive goodness in the glass. Black fruit, swirling with brown fruit in every sip. Lingering finish made for a wonderful moment or two. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another bottle, Wow! Laura Catena, 4th gen winemaker, grew up in Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Wines, named after her children - Luca, Dante & Nicola - background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott. Single-vineyard wine from land belonging to the Laborde family. Deep red with big ripe fruits & smoky oak. Palate plum & jammy blackberry, spice with nice earthy character. Tannins are a bit rustic, lingering ending with toasty oak & spice. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Tastes a lot like a Hendricks Cabernet juice that wasn’t made in 2008. Mmmm...wonder where that Hendricks juice went? On the nose; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark chocolate covered cherries, caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, anise, leather, older tobacco leaf, black licorice, spice, rubber toy (VA) with dark dry florals & old violets. The body is full. It’s lush, ruby, ripe & graceful on the palate. Tannins are 60% resolved. The tension, structure, length are still bold. The balance is perfect bass & terrible. Fruits are ripe & slightly baked. Dark currants/ cassis, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, black plum, blue fruits, strawberries pull up the rear, dark chocolate covered cherries, caramel, milk chocolate, mocha, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, anise, leather, older tobacco leaf, black licorice, spice that intensities in flavor & heat, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, moist soil, bay leaf, eucalyptus, rubber toy, slight tarry notes with dark dry florals & old violets. The acidity is round & dripping. The long, rich, ruby, ripe, elegant, well balanced finish lasts & lasts. It’s tastes a lot like Hendricks Cabernet without the spend. Drinking beautifully with 7-10 ahead. This 08 would likely finish higher in a blind tasting over many much higher priced cult Napa Cabernets. WOTN! Photos of, their tasting room in the center of the town of Yountville and the Winemaker for Hope & Grace and his private label “Hendricks”, Charles Hendricks. — 9 years ago

Sharmian

9.0

Floral, Honeysuckle, grassy hay note, fruit forest, spicy, balanced sweet and acidic, would be great with curry or spicy savoury Mexican style, — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker from a family with farming and winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot almost looks like a Cab) with aromas of ripe berries and spice notes. The palate shows rich black fruits, blackberries, plums and black cherries, vanilla spice, cedar and cacao. Rich soft tannins, firm acidity on lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Nice! — 10 years ago

Mike R

9.4

Some things l like - family, long weekends, friends and wine - Revana was started with H Barrett consulting - I buy her stuff - she seems to not be part of winery of late - but I have 09 and 10s that she was the winemaker consultant - now a new winemaker but still purchased 12 and 13s. I bet I got the history lesson wrong but what I was told but enough bs -decanted for 90 minutes - love the nose with cherries vanilla and other delights plus the lady of the home says right mix of pepper and sage (not sure I can go that far) - now the initial taste - dark fruits with some added black olives - really leaving great smiles here - I bet I open another since it is a holiday weekend — 10 years ago

James Hallett

9.4

From former Grange winemaker John Duval. Elegant Shiraz the screams terroir. If you haven't tried his wines do it now. Outstanding. — 11 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

As the winemaker stated during a recent #VivinoTasteParty, Musar is Musar. There is a compelling quality to these wines that make them special, Musar has a unique thumbprint. Incredible complexity on the nose, it unfurls slowly revealing layers of ripe plums, figs, cigar box, dried rose petal, spice and marvelous top notes of mint and dark chocolate powder. Medium-bodied, fine, velvety tannins lead into notes of red currant, leather, and rust. It crescendos with a finish of peppercorn, spice and tobacco. — 12 years ago

Eric L.

9.9

Generously brought to lunch by winemaker Mike Smith. — 13 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.5

As a Krug man, I can say this vintage DP rocks! Complex and layered notes of brioche, yeasty bread, flowers, and fresh apples. The list goes on. Trust me - the 2008 DP is to die for! Best I’ve had from DP for a very long time. Also, the final vintage of the current Chef de Cave. 2008 vintage on Jan 1, 2020 — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Cheval des Andes tasting with their technical manager who is also an assistant winemaker. Tasted ‘05, ‘07, ‘14 and ‘15. Very cool story behind this winery (and its affiliation with Chateau Cheval Blanc).

This contained the largest percentage of Malbec they’ve ever used at 83%, rounded out by petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Decidedly darker and more dense on the mid palate than the ‘15. The texture was more plush and this seems to be open for business now...not sure it has the structure to hold as long as the ‘15. More plum, added black currant and licorice. — 7 years ago

with Dan

Rodney Rosser

9.5

Serving this stunner from Pam Walden by the glass at #shagbarkrva this weekend!! — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.3

Leviathan is the creation of husband and wife team Andy Erickson and Annie Favia-Erickson. They also collaborate on their Favia label, each bringing a resume boasting serious cult winery experience. Andy has spent time as winemaker at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Dancing Hares and Arietta, with prior work at Harlan and Staglin, while Annie got her start with John Kongsgaard and Cathy Corison, before spending more than a decade as a viticulturist with David Abreu. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Jon Bonné said about the Ericksons, “Together they could probably create a 98-point wine in their sleep.” Their 2012 Leviathan is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, and 14% Syrah all coming from Northern California, and mostly from Napa. There’s no dispute that this is rich and extracted, but there’s an underlying savoriness that balances out this fruit bomb. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, mocha, cigar box, crème de cassis, and sweet tannins that carry with them that savory herbaceousness. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose, stewed fruits of; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Mocha, chocolate, mixed berry cola, sweet spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, loamy mineral soils and dry dark florals. The mouthfeel is less concentrated than other vintages of Corison but that's indicative of the 10 Napa vintage generally. The tannins are nicely resolved with another 5-8 years before they are completely resolve. The fruits are; dark cherries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, blackberries with strawberries that dance around the rest of the fruit. There's nice barrel toast, vanilla, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, touch of wood shavings, liqueur notes, caramel, mocha chocolate, mix berry cola, loamy soils, dry crushed rocks, bramble, dry stems with nice soft round acidity. The finish is a little lean but tasty. Good balance of fruit and earth with long, rich elegance. Cathy slightly overachieved the 10 vintage as a whole. Photos of; her estate building, Cathy in her vineyard, grapes coming in at night (better to harvest when the fruit is cooler) and her estate vineyard in all it's glory. Producer notes and history...Cathy Corison grew up in Riverside, California. She studied biology at Pomona College and was on their men's diving team, because the school didn't have a women's team. In 1972, she had to take an extracurricular class. She signed up for a trampoline class, but changed her mind upon seeing a sign-up sheet for a wine tasting class. This class was the catalyst that sparked her interest in winemaking. After graduation in 1975, she moved to Napa Valley in California. She received her Master's degree in Enology from University of California, Davis. Upon moving to Napa, she started working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and at a wine shop. During this time, she was getting her Master's degree at the University of California, Davis. She was told by her professor that she would not get a job in Napa Valley because of being a woman. However, if she wasn't the first Napa Valley female Winemaker, she was certainly one of the first. She tried to get a job at Freemark Abbey and was denied because they believed she could not work in the cellar. She almost took a job at Christian Brothers in the enology lab. However, she decided not to take the job and in 1978 she became an intern at Freemark Abbey and eventually became their Winemaker. She joined Chappellet in 1983 and was their Winemaker for nearly ten years. She founded Corison Winery, in 1987. The winery is located in St. Helena, California in a barn built by her husband, William Martin. Corison makes Cabernet and Gewürztraminer. They produce about 3,500 cases a year depending on the vintage. The winery makes a Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos is an estate wine that is made from organic grapes. The vineyard is dry farmed. The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Cabernet comes from Rutherford. The Gewürztraminer is called Corazón and comes from the Anderson Valley. — 9 years ago

Anthony George

10

Wine maker says Hi!/Only prosecco I buy/Give this one a try 🍾 — 11 years ago

with Derek and Kaitlin

Peter Scudamore-Smith MW

9.8

Nice to drink a d'Yquem at the top of its game; this 75 was; superb, peachy actually in harmony with the botrytis aromatics which have subsided back to semillon honey; dried nut delicious, not overly coloured; just perfect with double cream brie; produced by locals when d'Yquem winemaker came to town with 13 and 05 to show; wow, #sauternes #bordeaux #botrytis #sémillon #sauvignon #dyquem #classy — 11 years ago

Mike Lundberg

9.3

2011 vintage. — 12 years ago

Chris Kanand

9.5

First time I've seen the winemaker put his phone # on the label — 13 years ago