Henry Fuseler

9.1

12/25/2023. Christmas dinner rib roast and roasted vegetables. This wine paired so well. Bold, full of color and sits well on the palate. — 6 months ago

Michael Herzig

9.5

The most harmonious, well rounded I’ve had. Served in magnum for Thanksgiving 2023 — 7 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Another excellent purchase from the Benchmark Bin Sale. I love these 15-20 year Heitz Napa Cabernets…97 the rule, not the exception. It had perfect storage and is at its peak and will hold for another 1-2 years and diminish over the following 3-5 years.

The nose is floral dark cherry kirsch. Both plums, blackberries, black raspberries, pomegranate, strawberry liqueur notes, steeped tea, red & dark cola/licorice, dark rich earth, sharp, dry herbs, black pepper, dry twig with dark & red fresh & slightly withering florals.

The palate is ripe fruits well balanced with earth. Perfect evolution & integration. Soft, elegant w/ nothing bitty. Dark currents with ripe, leaner, juicy, slightly liqueured; blackberries, black raspberries, late spring dark cherries, both plums, orange rune, raspberries & poached strawberries. Heavy Asian & Indian, dark spices, black licorice/cola, pure anise, steeped, black tea, touch of black olive, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dry tobacco, dry Provence herbs, barrel shavings, dry pipe tobacco/ash, some lead pencil, leathery, moist, grey, volcanic clay, crumbled limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry brush, grilled meats-Châteauneuf-du-Pape characteristics w/ ragging, withering florals that are dark, red, purple, rainfall acidity with excellent; structure, tension, balance, polished finish that does not end. Wire to wire consistency. Lucky to enjoy a well stored bottle of 97 with this age. — 8 months ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Elegant and polished. Drinking well. Hint of chocolate and black fruit. Lovely. — 3 years ago

with David

Mauricio Machado

9.0

Very well balanced, great acidity. Perfect with a Lechazo. — 8 years ago

Clark Beaty

9.0

Second bottle of 78 I've had this year. The fruit is still present but soft, this wine has surprisingly held up beautifully and is drinking very well. — 8 years ago

Joe Cornwall

9.9

Well past it's prime but carefully stored. Notes of cherry tobacco, forest floor, blackberries and clay. Really quite amazing. — 6 months ago

Bill Mowry

9.2

Red and black fruits with a hint of black liquorish. Well balanced and very smooth finish. — 7 months ago

with Lou, Amelia and 3 others

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot, aged in French oak for about 18 months, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, sweet spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco spice, toasty oak and floral notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and mineral character, Nice, should age well. — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.

Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!

Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years. — 4 years ago

with James and Christina

Nico J. Snyman

9.2

Still showing some ripeness of fruit, but these wines age so well, there is a little stewed fruit that is quite indicative of place, higher ABV than right bank also. — 8 years ago

Rachid Djilali

9.7

This is one of the best one I have never had to drink....stored very well and show amazing after 45 minutes — 10 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and cedar notes, blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and oak. Fine grainy tight tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar and earthy floral mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy! — 6 months ago

John Fiehrer

9.6

Amazing and holding up so well, got all the right things going on! — 7 months ago

Stephen F Laga MD

9.5

1994 vintage well cellared in my personal collection. A classic Mouton Rothschild. Featured with steak. Family gathering with son and daughter in law. Perfect timing — 8 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Way too early. I have a few 375mL bottles and was curious to learn how a wine like this might be even though it was well before it’s suggested drinking window. The bones and structure are evident and this should grow into a monster. It was still a very pleasant wine it was just holding back the whole time. Unfocused fruit and a bit too sweet but I think this score will be significantly higher for round 2. — 9 months ago

Matthew Doty

9.0

A lovely blend. Nice tannins, light black pepper, full bodied, nice finish — 3 years ago

Michael Patrone

9.2

Well balanced tannins. Decent amount of alcohol. Mild complexity. — 6 years ago

Nate Redner

9.5

Just hitting its stride. Much more well integrated than I last tasted two years ago. — 8 years ago

with Mike