Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.9

The 2013 Opus One is an absolute stunning release, and is certainly one of most impressive young wines I have ever tasted from this estate. This shows a darker, more forward profile from this warm vintage, and is clearly one to contemplate, as there are so many complexities and working parts to this compelling wine. This instantly impresses as it opens to intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum woven together with mocha, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and beautifully concenrated with deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, créme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, anise, sage and anise, which all resonate beautifully across the palate. This is already extreamly appealing, but try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another few years, as there is undoubtedly a long future ahead. Drink 2019-2035-99 — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Great future but the 08’s are too young & need a another 5-10 yrs. — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

this had to be the surprise of the night. The wind held up after all these years. OMG, they knew how to make wine in Napa way back playing! This gorgeous beast could've been mistaken for a first growth Bordeaux!!!!!!
What a spectacular rockstar it was. Badass in a glass to say the least! I loved it and he just happened to be Shawn Rose's birth year Wine!!
Great birth year bud!!!!! This really held its own I'm on the Titans that we drink this evening. It was my only bottle but I will be sourcing some more within the near future to say the least. The only thing better was our company this evening! Thank you for making a trip down from Texas! Your motto is go big or go home so I had to pull out all the stops this evening!!!!! @Shawn R @Christine Christine and I loved seeing you. We will definitely repay the favor!!!!! I'm sure your Texas barbecue will make for some great badass pairings! — 9 years ago

with Christine and Shawn

Chris Loretta

9.3

Killer zin! — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.8

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest. — 9 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! — 10 years ago

with Christine, Kirk and 1 other

Trevor Maskell

9.2

So juicy and deep. Such a pretty drinkable wine. Great acid and generous fruit. So good now but will keep for a good future — 10 years ago

Bob Boyle

9.3

Closed nose of bramble & cherry, prevalent tannins mute the cherry and red fruits in the body with long finish the speaks to the future that this wine will bring to the patient — 11 years ago

with David

Bob McDonald

9.4

One of Australia's best Pinots IMO. Voluminous ripe nose carrying over to an equally full palate of great length. Great concentration and future. A Pinot where 15 years cellaring like Bass Phillip, is not out of the question. 2007 vintage. 18. — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Prior to opening I noticed minor ullage with level being at high shoulder. Dense dark crimson - the colour would not lead you to believe it was 27 years old. Dusty dark berries with a whiff of leather (Barb). Strong aromas of cassis and also notes of coconut American Oak which I wasn’t expecting after all these years, but it is in balance with the fruit. On the palate there is power with molten tannins. Still with a good future into the 2030s. The previous vintage 1990 was Wine Spectators wine of the Year and largely put Grange on the map in the USA. Many good judges in Australia now prefer the 1991 to the 1990 and I am inclined to agree. I have 4 left from an original dozen and should have the next in about 2 to 3 years time. — 8 years ago

Larry Wood

9.4

Ok ok.... it’s been a while! Maybe this is a holiday affair! I cheat on France when I’m away, shush, she’ll never know. I’m 40,000 feet/11k in meters high on Virgin Atlantic Wi-fi (this is clearly the future). ‘The Storey’
I bought two within the last two weeks. Bought and opened on recommendation (local wine shop in the village). The looks - label old skool European, 15%+ dark and stormy. I drank both bottles at two diffident occasions and felt the same emotion (bit 80’s I know)...... skiing in Whistler, snowy night with Mrs W. Kids sleeping and a plate of plastic North American cheese. Don’t be angry, I loved it. There are wines to be drunk in winter and there are cold wines. This one at room/blood temperature (27c/80f) with 40mins breathing time and it just floored us. I want to point out this wine is not a quick drink. I bolt red like blueberry/cranberry/black currant juice but it just wouldn’t be rushed. Smooth and I mean smooth. Salty, Carmel and Brandy/almonds....... No other description will describe. It’s just like maple syrup in consistency. It snowed outside but it shon in the glass. Second date: New Year’s Eve, -13 outside. 4 other people I didn’t really know on an impromptu dinner. We ate, drank and talked (I talked rubbish but I’ll never see them again) then it came time for the cheese board. The wine was too cold when we arrived. It was too cold for starter and mains but 3hrs in, opened and primed it was sit you down amazing (again). A NYE to remember. Don’t take it from me, ask the nobodies I’ll never see again. I thought maybe I’d/we’d just had a moment the time before but it’s that good (it really was). Don’t take my word for it, try it alone or with strangers but make sure you drink it slooooooooowly — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

The first of two wines enjoyed at Vaucluse. This is a baby. Dark purple, and totally primary with tons of blackberries, cherries and some tar. Delicious now but surely, like so many Rhônes from 2015, one for the future. — 9 years ago

with Cara

Bob Bryden

Founder The Lake Sommelier, LLC, Author Wine Talk

9.3

Still a super wine but this one a little young to fully shine. Acidity and tannins front and center now but the future is bright. Needs another 2-3 years to mature. — 9 years ago

with Gregory and Tom

Richard Steinberg

9.4

This is still a wee babe but has a great future. Huge wine. Needs bottle age. It you will be rewarded. Score will also go up with time if you can keep your hands off of this one. — 10 years ago

with John and Mike

Berg

9.3

Unicorn Wednesday! Ethereal, soft, beautiful, bing cherry, sweet flowers, marzipan?, mild fall leaves, smooth very fine tannins but they grip, good acidic backbone, everything in harmony, nothing unbalanced. First try of the '13s, can't wait to see where these go in the future...thanks @Noah Raizman — 10 years ago

Marty Winters

9.3

So much to say, but yet so much more to tell. Hold onto this one for future study. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

More fruit driven and powerful than the Bindi Original. Ripe fleshy cherry notes. Silky mouthfeel. Through the waves of fruit there is also a reasonable level of tannin and acid which will carry it into the future. A class act. — 10 years ago

James McFadyen

Wine Consultant and Allocation Specialist at Spec's

9.3

Taut, vivacious, charmingly guarded, smokey notes to red fruit. Great
Young, bouncy, but belies power and long future totally primary. 2010 — 11 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.1

The biggest wine in the lineup. Sweet blueberry with baking spices. But so big and so much tannin that I felt like my tongue was ripped out. Needs years but there’s a lot here. — 8 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.0

Californian Mourvèdre. Merry red cherry with white bread in the finish — 8 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

Full and round- still quite a good drink. Very strong after 39 years with many more in future. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Slightly dusty corky note which hung around longer than it should have. Also on the nose Herbs and Mint rule the roost with berry fruit in the background. Cabernet makes its presence felt in this Cab Shiraz blend with its structure and a touch of austerity. Restrained fruit and an elegant style still with a good future. — 9 years ago

Matt Sanders

9.1

Opened it too early. Lots of promise for the future bottles I have. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Quality Sangiovese grapes which have been sadly overoaked to appeal to newbie Western Palates. After 30 minutes notes of earth and dried cherry came through. Many years to go with a good future when hopefully the oak will diminish. Personally I like the Old school approach from Biondi Santi where old oak and other procedures are usedresulting in wines which will age 50+ years. I tried a 2010 vintage of this wine from magnum in Italy 18 months ago which was also overoaked. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Still a baby but such a great future! — 10 years ago

Cody Short

9.9

I've had this several times but it's been a few years and this has really evolved beautifully. Still a fairly big wine but it wears it's weight with such grace. Wonderful notes of tobacco, graphite, leather and forest floor. This will last for many, many years and may actually improve over the near future but absolutely no shame in drinking now with some air. A truly memorable wine that made the evening incredibly special. — 10 years ago

with Holli

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

8.9

Well... This is nice... But you should be ashamed of yourself! Great site, a shitload of money and you bottle this? Early maturing vintage too. Just skip it unless you collect for future verticals. — 10 years ago

Dario Tolone

9.5

great. all it needs. will bi great in future. — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.4

Together with 2010, this infant shows great promise for the future, thanks to its sincere structure and polished fruit flavors. Usually, not my favourite producer but here they hit the jackpot. — 11 years ago

Maciek Gontarz

9.6

Icon. Future of serious Vinho Verde, even more serious Alvarinho. Amazing wine! — 12 years ago