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. — 5 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Tonight to start the Fathers Day weekend off I have opened the 2013 Leviathan California Red Blend. 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 24% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. This is the 10th Anniversary wine from Andy Erickson the former winemaker of Screaming Eagle.

The nose is very expressive with notes of black cherry, blackberry jam, boysenberry, black currant, chocolate, pencil shavings, herbs and mint.

On the palate there is jammy dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, allspice, herbs, graphite and earth.

This is a full bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium + grippy chewy tannins that lead to a long fruit driven finish. Enjoy your Fathers Day weekend and do it safely. Nostrovia. 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

with Alyssa

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. — 7 years ago

Shawn R

9.2

Deep, dark nearly black in the glass. Many more years of aging potential. No signs of age. Exhibits green apple, cigar and wet granite on the nose. Light playful mouthfeel, tons of finesse. Terroir driving with little influence from the winemaker. Slight oak influence, blueberry, earth and the return of the granite. Did I mention you can taste the terroir?!? Acidity and tannins show perfect. Ends with a slight sweet long finish. — 8 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.7

Wow Blockbuster 2012 Napa Cab from a Great Lady winemaker . Loaded with black fruits that really express itself. We let it breathe a good hour. Showed beautifully against all the other cabs! I would give this a clear 97 Rating. A must sought after Cab, do not miss out here. CB — 8 years ago

with Karen and Kurt

Carmine Martignetti

9.8

Classic Napa beauty from worlds best winemaker. From magnum. — 9 years ago

with Beth

Edmond Bordelon

9.0

From the daughter of Pierre Seillan, maker of Verite and former Loire and longtime Bordeaux winemaker. The 2009 is a softer version of Hélène's father's powerful Sonoma Bordeaux blends. Ready to drink now instead of 15 years from now. — 9 years ago

Mike Lundberg

9.3

2011 vintage. — 10 years ago

Katherine Clark

9.5

Double smiley face. Awesome wine — 10 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A great vintage and stupidly good with Hedy’s Melted Racklette Confit Potatoes with smoked olive oil. What a pair!!!

If you enjoy this young, over chill and decant one hour. It needs it and it vastly improves.

Hedy is our good friend and is a chef who would earn 1-2 Michelin Stars should she choose to open a restaurant but, wishes not to do. Check out Hedy’s Pop Up Dinner business @plate&bottle on Facebook.

January 22nd notes apply. — 5 years ago

with James and Christina

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. — 6 years ago

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. — 7 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, — 7 years ago

John Riccardo

9.6

Opus One lunch today and tasted 06,07,08,11,13 and 14 with Winemaker — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.6

@David A Lentine @Ron R I feel as if my friends are in the Keys with me!
This awesome bottle was given to us by Mr. Lentine!! Decanted 30 minutes and it evolved in the glass incredibly well from there. Rich, deep & elegant. I LOVE the notes of pencil shavings & fruits shows itself thereafter. Winner, winner chicken dinner. This was awesomeness in a glass. Thank you so very much David!!! Celia is a genius winemaker!! — 8 years ago

with Christine and Gina

Stacey Biggs

9.0

Smooth and light — 8 years ago

Anthony George

10

Wine maker says Hi!/Only prosecco I buy/Give this one a try 🍾 — 8 years ago

with Derek and Kaitlin

Edmond Bordelon

9.6

Amazing wine right out of the gate! For being a young wine and winery, the expertise and experience of the winemaker shines through. Beautiful property and brilliant wine. While I couch not pass temptation, and drank this now, I am saving several bottles for a few years from now. — 9 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. — 9 years ago

Rodney Rosser

9.5

Serving this stunner from Pam Walden by the glass at #shagbarkrva this weekend!! — 5 years ago

Brad Henn

9.5

was a saver but so enjoyable. complex fruit with smooth tannins, hints of spice, balanced, slight vanilla. oh so good. — 6 years ago

with Alicia

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

On the nose; a bit of a brett bomb to start. Even after 11 years in the bottle, it needed a good 2 hour decant. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark & liqueured cherries. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount of baking spices, lilacs & liquid violets. The body is full, round & lush. Tannins perfectly resolved. They still have a little baby teeth. The structure, length, tension and balance are near perfect. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark liqueured cherries & strawberries haunting the palate here and there. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, a touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount & mix of baking spices, lilacs, liquid violets & red florals. The acidity is perfect and acts like a waterfall over the palate. The fruit floral, lightly spiced finish goes on and on and on. Standish does not have a U.S. importer as his wines are small productions and he has no issues selling nearly all of them down under. You can order from his mailing list but, the shipping costs from Australia are stupid. Look for bottles on the secondary markets. You’ll be glad you did. If you have or had reservations about Australian wine or Shiraz vs. Syrah, Dan’s wines will end those thoughts. We tasted with Dan at his winery in April. He is extremely knowledgeable and a very talented Winemaker. He made Torbreck for years before starting his own winery. Photos of; his Estate, Dan and his low yield vines. His yield was an extremely low half ton per acre on this vintage. — 7 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.5

Terrific vintage. Not the P2 which followed, but the Oenotheque, Chef de cave. Brioche with mineral and smoke. — 7 years ago

Kelly McClintock

9.0

Absolutely delicious and yummy pairing to my stuffed Italian chicken breasts for dinner. — 7 years ago

Matthew Beckman

9.0

This is all about power...concentrated, lots of oak, big and juicy. Smoked chocolate, dark fruit, and alcohol on finish. Heidi Barrett was the winemaker at the time. — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.7

A wine that I brought tonight and felt strongly about. Incredible pedigree, winemaker is from Araujo which is insane great! Beautiful 12 but I committed infanticide., should laid it down another few years but it did open up like a million bucks after a few hours. Truly opulent Napa wine which is well structured and loved by all tonight. A new rockstar on the block vs the the old rock stars that were drinking in full stride tonight. It's was awesome tonight but I can't wait for it to evolve a little and become STELLAR in the future. I highly recommend this wine. The preliminary rating is 96 to 98 and the 13 is even better if you can imagine that! — 8 years ago

with Christine, Kirk and 1 other

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. — 9 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.7

From magnum. This vintage, which was both late & hot, produced the most Chardonnay driven and lively wine of the older bottles, after it blew off its initial funk. Long, complex and serious! At The Relais & Chateau vertical of Dom Perignon with chef de cave Richard Geoffroy. — 9 years ago

with Cleora

Eddie Gilbert

10

'85 Lunch Box and a stellar array of dishes at Torc. Minerals, red fruits, mushrooms and love. Big ups to Chef O'Toole and his team! — 10 years ago