Kurt Schuster

9.0

Maybe I drink it too earlier maybe I didn’t listen and it has to go with food. Cause it definitely improve with food. Deep rich, intense, graphite mineral dark root black cherry cola, Bird and Nikki. Even after a full night of being open, it was still grippy and slightly bitter, but then paired with food shown. Incredibly intense wine.  — 24 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a reddish/ brick rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, black cherries, cooked plums, sweet raspberries, tobacco, light cedar, licorice, chocolates, light alcohol, mediterranean spices, earth, black pepper and herbs.

Full-bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, plums, cooked cherries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn, tobacco leaf, mediterranean spices and dark coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Franc based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Fruit forward and rich. Complex with a nice mouthfeel, tangy and entertaining.

Feels like a Napa Merlot, and a little hot at the back of the throat.

Needed 4 hours of airtime to open up, so be patient.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is definitely better with age.

This 10 year old Single Vineyard is drinking very well now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Showing good structure, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 66% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Sangiovese and 1% Petit Verdot.

15.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried, mixed fruits: brambles, plum, blueberry, purple flowers, leather, earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Alcohol is medium+. Pretty tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Merlot (or blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or blend), Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend), Shiraz (or blend) Tempranillo or Syrah from the United States, France, Australia or Spain. The fruit is the star here so I’m taking this to the “new world”. Plus, there is a generosity and elevated alcohol that gives me Aussie vibes (though I find the wine balanced). I also think this has 15-20 years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Shiraz blend from Australia, Barossa, 2005. Daaaaaang. Andrew Will! I don’t hate my call but I should have probably done better with this one since I’m very familiar with these wines. Still much to learn. Drink now through 2037. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend of all 5 Bordeaux varieties, aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and cigar box spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with cacao and herb spice. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.0

2018 much more minerality on the nose! Not what Zin reminds you of. Red cherries blackberry black pepper spices licorice medium acidity long spicy finish moderate body dark. notes from visit to the winery.

Alexander Valley. Bright red volcanic soils, steep rocky slopes and western exposure. — 4 years ago

Erica Gamble

9.0

Very dark color. Very dark fruity nose but substantial flavor. A little bit of earthiness. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Dark ruby/purple/black color. Deep aromas of cooked blue/black fruit, wet asphalt, anise and savory spices. Flavors of black cherry/berry/currant/plum compote, dark chocolate, black licorice and coffee. Soft oak and savory herbs on the long and persistent finish. Fine grained tannins and well balanced acidity. Nicely structured. Full bodied, deep and powerful but not at all overwhelming. Wow!! Thanks for opening this bottle on our 2026 Cape May, NJ vacation, Kase and Petey! — a month ago

Big Wave Dave

9.6

Fresh as a daisy. Powerful. Umami, soy, prunes. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby with a Crimson rim. Aromas of red and black berries, chocolate, and smoked meat. Full bodied and muscular. From a single vineyard in McLaren Vale which was planted 124 years ago. Silky tannins. A great red on a cold night in Winter. Love the old fashioned label which probably hasn’t changed in 100 years showing the two Kay Brothers. Hope to have the patience to drink the last bottle in say 2028 to 2030. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

I’ll just commence this tasting note to see if it is accepted. Dense Ruby in colour. Blackcurrant and tobacco notes - ripe blue and black fruits - luscious texture. Anytime I’ve had a Napa (or Washington State) Cabernet I have always been impressed - probably better than most good Aussie Cabernets (and more expensive). Has a good future but irresistible right now. Have the last bottle in a year or two. Interestingly reverse osmosis was used to reduce the alcohol. Now at 13.9%. — 6 months ago

Diane Heyboer

8.9

Had the 2021 in February of 2026. Lots of blueberry and vanilla with some spice with this one. Enjoyed this one more with food rather than sipping alone. — 8 months ago

Bryan Florendo

9.0

Kroger. Very good. Get more. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

@Delectable Wine oddly enough this is a Blanc de Cinsault, one of the silver linings of 2020.

When the fires hit early in harvest 2020, Will and Karen hedged their bets by pressing some of the 100+ year old vine Cinsault from the legendary Bechtold Vineyard immediately, and the result is a joy: pear, pomello, white grapefruit, some pith and white pepper on the finish. Fragrant and light.

In good news, the regular Cinsault from the vintage also turned out beautifully and isn’t showing a trace of smoke taint—or at least when I tried it a few months back. — 4 years ago

Ken Venezio

9.1

An evening of Cakebread Cellars. The Pinot and CabFranc were the shining stars. Earthy tones with a hint of cherry and back spice. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — 19 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 4 months ago

David Hale Smith

9.9

Lucky to sit with a friend who bright two bottles of this beauty to share at Bordeaux Fest Near perfection from a magnificent special bottle. The year the wall came down with label art that looks to the future. Believe the hype. — 7 months ago

Diane Heyboer

8.9

Had the 2022 in February of 2026. Blackberry and dark cherry with a barrel forward character on the nose. Not super tannic- berry/cherry throughout. Short finish with hints of tannin on the end. — 8 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

Sara Gravesen

10

Nice balance of wines, smooth and delicious. Recommended at Del friscos double eagle to go with our tomahawk steak and scallops. Amazing! Will be purchasing again! — 5 years ago