Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a dull purple/garnet color with a translucent core and significant rim variation, moving towards a rust color. The wine has medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, dried red and purple flowers, old leather bound books, tobacco, a touch of menthol, some earth, old wood and a sprinkle of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Super high quality but a touch thin.

Initial conclusions: Due to the observable characteristics of color, rim variation, sediment, smell and flavor, I think this wine has significant age; 30+ years. However, this is still very alive and showing more than enough markers to give an indication of place. Subsequently, this could be a Cabernet-based blend or a Tempranillo-based blend from the United States, France, or Spain. For me, I’m getting new French oak vibes instead of American so I’m eliminating Spain. I also think this leans more towards its fruit than its structure and since this comes across a little on the thin side, I’m going to say this comes from a tougher vintage. My final conclusion is this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the USA, Napa, 1981. Wow! This showed really well.

It never ceases to amaze me how analogous the 1981 vintage was in both Napa and Bordeaux. I find it equally amazing how well that vintage has held up; particularly when considering its poor reputation, mostly based on the prevailing thought at the time. From my perspective, well stored examples are not going to fall off of a cliff but I would drink now through 2031. — 9 months ago

Brian Gustafson

9.1

Pulled this from the cellar for an international guest. Still holding up well; much better than the 1983. — 7 years ago

Martin Chang

8.9

2016 Costco $19. Full body, doesn’t take much time to open up. Ok value. — 8 years ago

Robert Donald

9.0

This claret worked for me opened up nicely after decanting — 9 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

Sushi and Champagne is one of my favorite combinations. Indeed, almost all celebrations that @Cara Zimmerman and I enjoy together will include this duo. This was somewhat of a step up from our norm as Sushi Zo is a world apart from our usual delivery order of tuna and salmon rolls (with free edamame). Likewise this 1975 DP was rather more elevated than our weekly fizz.

Dark golden color with rich, brioche and mature elements. A touch too advanced but enormously attractive and retaining terrific purity and energy. Sushi and Champagne has rarely been such a treat. — 9 years ago

with Cara and Daniel

Pierre Arneaux

9.2

Wow. More flavor, much better than their regular cab. Silky, velvet, smooth. Chocolate. Rich fruit. Big, full flavor, lots of flavor. Not old world style for sure, not subtle. It's a big bomb. We would pay up to $75 for this so a bit overpriced to us.
— 10 years ago

Ryan Mitrovich

9.5

Opens up incredibly — 11 years ago

N M

9.2

Needed about 2.5 hours in decanter to open up. Could use more time in bottle. A classic big, bold, chewy California Cab. — 11 years ago

Joseph C Burke

9.1

Dark red, nose of cassis, BlackBerry & raspberry jam, hint of eucalyptus; black fruits, plums and cassis on palate, hint of licorice/iodine in the finish, les fruity now than in youth, drink up. — 11 years ago

Kevin Dale

9.5

Took about 90 minutes to open up, but it was worth it. Still in its prime and drinking great. — 3 years ago

William Lauder

9.1

Still young, but opens up in the glass. — 4 years ago

A B

9.3

Sediment. Spicy, yet very smooth up front. Decant. A slight tannic finish. Super Bowl dad Tara Erin Myra. — 5 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.6

Outrageously delicious. Fruit still holding up and loaded with green leaf tobacco and cigar ash. — 6 years ago

with David

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

Hep! Step up to the value plate and come back for seconds. — 9 years ago

with Mark

Ryan Johnson

9.4

Such a lovely balance of vibrant red fruit and searing acidity, wound up in a herbal and lipsticky funky nose. — 9 years ago

Zack Sweeney

8.9

Gamey on the nose, tart fruit, earthy, would have benefited from decanting. opened up nicely in the glass when slowly sipped over the course of several hours. Smooth and complex. — 10 years ago

Flavio Menezes

9.0

Very powerful, extracted. Will still improve, as it took over an hour to open up. Good with food, but I clearly see why I drink less and less Bordeaux. — 11 years ago

Mick

10

This wine suited my tastes perfectly - a bold fruity nose, a medium sweetness up front, a smooth full body of cherry, blueberry, leather and blackberry to finish. Mild tannins. — 11 years ago

Mike Shinn

10

Everything it's cracked up to be. What an amazing red blend. Delicious. — 11 years ago

Bertus van Zyl

Assistant Winemaker Regusci Winery

9.1

Loved the brambles and berries from the Zin, great acidity. Took some time to really open up, this should hold up for quite a while. — 14 years ago

Paul K

9.1

Glad I picked up a bunch of these from Costco a few years ago. Great value! Looking forward to enjoying for the next few years. Don’t think this is a long term lay down but over next five years a great mid week bottle. — 4 years ago

Daniel M

9.3

Opened yesterday and 2/3rd of the bottle was left to rest. Yesterday the nose was made of tar, cigare, cedar and oaky notes. There was very little fruit. 24 hours after the same notes are still showing but I can smell some cassis, some meat juice and a tiny peppery note. This is very concentrated and intense. The palate is very well made with a very strong acid drive, some very nice matter on the sides, a great width, a plush mouthfeel, some cassis and meaty, salty touches, a great mid palate with grainy, dusty tannins that power up a very long finish that tend to expand on the rear: there is that grainy, dusty layer of tannins that carries on for a very long time, these cassis notes that bring a bit of tanginess, and some smoky, oaky notes linger for a while too. This is an aristocratic wine and my last bottle will rest for another 10 years at least. Off vintage but great bottle — 4 years ago

Maddison

9.2

Needs at least 1-3 hours to open up! But once it does it’s a Bordeaux true to style; black fruits, spice, silky smooth with a touch of acid and tannin. — 6 years ago

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.8

Rebouche 1988 at the Château. Topped up with another sacrificed 1928. Amazing purity and fruit. A pleasure. — 8 years ago

with Zachys

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1982 vintage. Color still fairly youthful. Meniscus not too wide/watery. Brickish, minty nose with big cedar & baking chocolate flavors. Holding up better than expected for a fruity vintage. — 9 years ago

Liz O'Neal

9.1

Just opened in 2017 - was tight the first evening and definitely needed time to open up. Earthy, mushroom/forest floor notes on the palate, despite bright acidic nose. Crowd pleaser - happy I saved this.

Purchased w/ dad in 2014 - industry price $55 — 10 years ago

with Hannah

Zac Alinder

9.3

Needs time to open up. Huge wine. Finish keeps going. Confusing but delicious mix of sweet dark fruit, tar, and salty ocean air. — 11 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

Outstanding. Ethereal. Sugar plumb fairies dance in the season floating across my palate with arms full of toasted brioche, citrus zest. So light. Must drink at temp, as the fairies start falling if they warm up. That's not a pleasant experience. — 11 years ago

Peter Mansell

9.6

In magnum. Took a while to open up but outstanding — 13 years ago