Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This bottle is a different source than my previous post. This is loaded w/ mulberries, gooseberries and liquid violets. Experience tells me, this bottle didn’t have quite the storage of my last.

This has a dark core of currents, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherry liqueur, both plums, mulberries, gooseberries & raspberries, mid to dark berry cola, dark chocolate cake with fudge, anise to black licorice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon stick, and vanillin, dark spice, oak barrel shavings, cigar box, used leather, lead pencil shavings, moist clays, dry soils, limestone, dry crushed, rocks, dark, withering flowers, violets, and lavender, nice acidity, a well balanced, nicely toned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on spice and dry earth.

It still has another 5-7 years of road ahead. I just don’t think 2012’s have the longevity of 2013 and 2014 etc..

A Charles Hendricks made wine. — 11 days ago

Will Stanley

9.1

This needs more time to knit together, but does show promise, even if I feel a shade less impressed than the first time trying a couple of years back. It’s initially very herbaceous, with tomato leaf and green pepper, eventually giving way to a svelte personality with plush oak and sweet fruit. Not perfect now, but should be great in four years’ time. — 2 years ago

FabianG

8.9

#wineaccess — 3 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Showing beautifully. Powerful but elegant. Deep dark fruit but still with a firm charge of tannin giving freshness and lift. Still so alive. — 3 years ago

Paul K

9.2

Friendsgiving. Just opened. Giving time — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 4 years ago

Winton Sweum

9.6

Yellow straw with a green tinge; nose is very giving of ripe orchard fruit, white flowers, oranges, almond and limestone; palate is ripe and zesty, nicely grippy, sapid, and even a little Burgundian while finishing with saline minerality. At L’Angolo Divino wine bar, Rome. — 6 months ago

Dave

9.0

This wine has the kitchen sink in it. Dark fruit is hiding under the prominent leather, herbs, mint, tobacco, and earth. It's a fine sipper for jazz nights by the fireplace. Made my teeth red.
Listening to Bill Evans — 10 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.3

Hauntingly dark, the 2019 Pinot Noir Basalt Block captivates with its dusty violet and lavender tones before giving way to crushed blackberries. This is sleek and racy in style with tart wild berries and saline minerals underscored by a core of tantalizing acidity. It finishes structured, tense and long, leaving a licorice tinge and remnants of red currant. (Eric Guido, Vinous, January 2024)
— 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Along with the majestic 2010 one of my favorite Stella vintages. So giving right off the bat, never any heat, just so fresh and clean. Amazing expression of Sangiovese. — 3 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

Opened long before it will actually show its true depth this is still a stunning bundle of black fruit. The oak and cedar overwhelm the bouquet at first, then cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and plum emerge. The palate is rich and creamy with very ripe tannins giving a hint of the longevity this wine possesses. Mint, cigar box and forest floor are beginning to show but many more notes will emerge with time. Lovely wine, classic Napa black fruit. Cabernet with just a dollop of Petite Verdot (5%) and Malbec (2%) for complexity. — 4 years ago

Jan A

9.3

Solid core, somewhat muted scent and typical cab flavors giving damp earth, cassis and nutmeg like bitters. I don't see the 96RP rating here but nevertheless a well made wine. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.

It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 5 years ago

Doug Griffin

9.0

Not sure, I think it’s a bit maderized. However still giving some grippy tannins, rich cherry, vanilla and wood…375 ml. Kind of played out — 9 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

When the weather gets colder sometimes I drink Bordeaux. Probably one of the best vintages for the Château along with ‘82, and it’s in a great spot. Classic mature Paulliac with terrific complexity, an alluring sweetness and long, balanced finish with fully resolved, silky tannins. Fully open and giving. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

From the cellar - a little too cold on this cold night. More spice than the usual white and black pepper. Dried meat. See previous Delectable notes. An incredible Show Record:- Good Wine Guides Best Shiraz and Wine of the Year in 2011 - 98 points from Nick Stock. Giving more on the 2nd night. Incredible length of flavour - goes on and on. This has always been one of my favourite Australian Red Wines and I have tried to buy it on a regular basis but it has become very expensive (over $200) - no doubt because of its impeccable quality. Northern Rhone in style. Only 400 cases made. — 2 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Beautiful blend from Paso. Balanced and elegant. 60% Syrah, — 4 years ago

Iwan

9.4

This is third or fourth vintage or this wine that I’ve tried and it keeps getting better. The passion project or top-Israeli winemaker Ido Lewinsohn, this is a blend of 90% Syrah and 0% Petite Syrah. I would like to say Northern Rhône (maybe St Joseph! In style, but actually this is as close as it gets to giving a sense of place for an Israeli wine. Plum, garrigue and some baking spice, maybe cardamom. Vibrant acidity. This will get better with age. Really excellent stuff. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.2

Straight shooting Napa Cabernet. Fruit forward and good acidity. Medium finish. Pleasant. Eric Benoît. I drank this decanted over three days. Definitely recommend giving lots of airtime to settle down before drinking. — 5 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Exquisite! Dark earthy extracts with hints of blue berry and currant, minerally edge, tar. Smooth, round but present tannins giving it a lingering finish. — 5 years ago

with Tammy