Jeff Hasmann

9.7

For the fifth and sixth wines of the week, it’s time to raid the cellar. Drinking the ‘05 Cos d’Estournel next to the ‘05 Montrose. For me, aged Cos d’Estournel is the ultimate expression of Bordeaux. Big, tannic, and layered - a wine you don’t think about touching for 15 years. Perhaps because it was my first introduction to fine wine way back in the early ‘90s, Cos has always held a special place for me and, my oh my, the ‘05 does not disappoint. At 78 Cab / 19 Merlot, the wine has the highest proportion of Cabernet in recent memory and is just now entering its ideal drinking window. Deep ruby in color with a bit of bricking, the bouquet opens after a bit of air. Ripe black currants, plum, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and leather on the nose. Also noticeable are prominent hints of incense, a characteristic that is unique to Cos in the best vintages. The entry on the palate is rich and layered evolving with each sip. Layers of ripe black fruit, black tea, graphite, chocolate-covered cherries, and graphite are evident. The tannins are strong but smooth, and hold the layers together in beautiful harmony.. The finish is long and pervasive with strong notes of cassis lingering. Honestly, St Estephe doesn’t get any better than this. A wine to savor over many hours. It has a long life ahead and will improve further with proper cellaring. 2005 vintage on April 20, 2020 — 4 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.0

La Rioja Alta 2007 Grand Reserva 904- cherry, forest spice, forest red and black berries, cinnamon, slight leather, mushrooms, bay leaf, dried herbs, sousbois, smooth drying resolved tannins that are fondue like, a small element of astringency. The color has fallen out yet very traditional style Rioja. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.1

I’ve got to be honest...I don’t think I’ve ever had a BV wine before. Being that their history in Napa runs quite deep, I figured it was time to try a bottle, and this was reasonably priced at the restaurant.

Extremely dark in the glass. Nose was spice, dark chocolate shavings and cassis dominant. Quite smooth (which I find with most ‘14s) from the front palate all the way through the finish...blackberries, black cherry, just a touch of blueberries in the mid-palate that accentuates the oak. Finish has a nutmeg and bay leaf type note. Fairly rich style cab-blend that went well with my hangar steak. — 6 years ago

Noel Touchette

9.0

Great tasting especially @$2.95 a bottle!! — 8 years ago

Lili Brock

10

Excellent. Sweet but not overbearing. — 8 years ago

Nathan Evans

9.0

Delicious! Very aromatic and sweet! — 9 years ago

Marty Winters

9.4

Turning people on to @Cathy Corison is one of my favorite things, we just keep running out of it... — 9 years ago

Jessica Colburn

9.6

Dried tobacco, cedar box, eucalyptus leaf with ripe cherries and dusty berries. — 10 years ago

DAL 9000

9.1

Very smooth initial flavor. Light bodied plummy that fills the nose with red berries after swallowing. More intense after it breathes. — 10 years ago

Sidney Jackson

9.0

Not bad for the price def drink again! — 4 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Dusty, earthy nose of tea leaf, humidor, caramel-latte, leather and damp soil. The structured palate echoes the nose but also reveals cedar, graphite, beef blood and dark forest fruit. Tannines are wonderfully rounded and ripe. Medium to full-bodied, this is a gorgeous 95-leftbanker. 🤙🏻 — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful drinking claret showing red berry fruits, leather, tobacco leaf & rose petal wrapped up in an elegant & floral style. — 5 years ago

WineMascot

9.1

1982, amazingly this needed time to open up. Menthol and tobacco leaf lead with the finish of warm blue fruit. — 6 years ago

Rose’s Cafe

9.1

Nice! Juicy with notes of oak and vanilla. 😀🍷 — 7 years ago

Kelsey Redd

9.0

Chardonnay: tropical fruit, butterscotch, pineapple, peach, nectarine. Oak character. Rich texture and a creamy mouth-feel. — 8 years ago

Craig Williams

9.0

1.5 L bottle Other than a really poor quality cork that crumbled upon removal, this wine remains a youthful dark red with black currant, tobacco leaf-savory soy aromas. In good shape for such a modestly extracted wine. Demonstrates the strength of quality harvest conditions, which '94 was in many ways. — 8 years ago

Justin Timsit, MS

Wine Director, The Rittenhouse

9.8

Pure elegance. Absolutely remarkable. Still fresh and showing some decayed fruit with charcoal, smoke, pepper and tobacco leaf. — 9 years ago

Greggum

10

Cheers to Joe (R.I.P. 2015). This juice has stood the test of time, like Mr Phelps. Always a super quality, head turning, memorable wine. Enjoy with good food and great friends. — 9 years ago

Helen Keplinger

Owner/Winemaker Keplinger Wines

9.0

Ok not a great year but still beautiful - iodine, hibiscus, tobacco leaf, mortadella, red currant — 10 years ago

Joe Printz

9.8

Oh my. This is a beautiful example of a well kept wine from a legendary house. Meat, leather, mushroom, tobacco leaf. Elegance grace and longevity. — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Great vintage for DB that is still showing up at 65 yrs with notes of dried cherry, berry fruits, cedar, leather, savory spices, dried herbs, forest floor, lead pencil & tobacco leaf. — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

Outstanding and ready for business. Bay leaf and tobacco nose led a lush, velvety and completely integrated rainbow of dark red fruit, cherries and nutty earth. Perfect display of the potential of Tig in the good years. — 5 years ago

with Melissa

William Hughes

9.3

Aging beautifully! Still loads of currant and lavender. Add a touch of iodine and some more black fruit, mix with lean tannins and fine acidity. Here is to Maryland wines! — 6 years ago

Rob Mayes

9.7

Outstanding. Winner of the weekend. — 7 years ago

DrinkBordeaux

9.2

While it still appears young, it is already starting to show some of that aged Figeac charm. Bright red cherry, raspberry, herbs, damp earth, spices, and tobacco leaf create a charming array of complex aromas. Less power, more elegance with this wine, but perhaps not as nuanced and layered as some other right bank wines from 2001. Still, this is easy drinking and a great food wine. The tannins are a bit forward right now, but I guess this will hit its stride in a couple more years. — 8 years ago

Christopher Legere

9.1

Good cab with fruit flavors — 8 years ago

Kari Johnson

9.6

Smooth flavor, fruity, sweet but not too sweet — 8 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.0

80%Temp20%garnacha
Bruised red strawberry & raspberry fruit, elegant, herbal notes, tea leaf with very light balsamic and decaying fruit character. In the mouth the wine excels with dried red fruit backed up by serious tannins and plenty of acidic lift to keep it fresh and exciting but more food friendly. — 9 years ago

Lily Mirabelle Freedman

9.0

Tomato leaf, leather, and cool funk — 9 years ago

Cindy Minucci

9.7

Smooth honey, full bodied deliciousness. Will buy again! — 10 years ago