Danielle Mathey

9.2

Gift for dad — 4 years ago

Brandon T

9.3

My favorite of the RM chards year in and year out - even better with an extra year or two in bottle. Beautiful. — 4 years ago

Anne Richardson

9.0

Sooo good paired with our Prime Rib! Deep flavors of cassis and red fruits: The Syrah adds a peppery spice. Very good! — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

@Mark Flesher and I decided to do a 2014 Napa Cab battle from two of Napa’s top winemakers...TRB and Mike Smith.

In comparison to the Rivers-Marie, this was darker and more savory. There were crushed rock/graphite and charcoal toasted blueberry and blackberry aromatics. Plush and inviting. On the palate, this was incredibly silky with beautiful structure. The palate showed Beckstoffer GIII typical notes of cinnamon, dust, baked black cherry and some cardamom. A wonderful and textbook example of this site from a talented winemaker. Bravo @Mike Smith — 5 years ago

with Mark

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The 2008 Launois Special Club might be the best they’ve made in the 2000’s that’s been released. Pronounced (loon wah). My palate tells me part of this was aged in tank and some of it in wood.

It’s made from two plots of 65 year old vines, one in the Grand Cru of Oger called 'Chenys' and one in Mesnil called 'Derriere Maison’. The plots in Mesnil are their oldest.

The nose reveals, bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, touch of nutmeg, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossoms and spring flowers.

The body is full, rich, soft & creamy. Micro bubbles. The palate shows nice backbone of minerals and excellent chalkiness. Bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, white nectarines, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, coriander, touch of nutmeg, graham crackers, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossom and spring flowers. The acidity is magnificent. The long, rich, well balanced, elegant finish astonishes. It’s very good tonight but will wait another 3-4 years before I open another.

Photos of, the House of Launois, two different areas that make up their champagne museum that encompass Champagne’s history and then some, as well as, some of their Grand Cru Vineyards.

This 08 Special Club was/is a steal at $59. — 6 years ago

Bassel Sommelier

9.2

Massive just delicious — 7 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.4

Black as midnight. So dark that you are afraid to spill any of it because it will stain more than grape Kool-Aid! As you swirl it in your glass, the high viscosity makes it seem like it is actually staining the glass. This is powerful stuff! Mending Wall is a great collaboration with Outpost owners (Frank and Kathy Dotzler), vineyard owners (Mark Pulido and Donna Walker) and bringing in spectacular winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. This petite sirah comes from the Palisades Vineyard in Calistoga (considered one of the best). In just two sips, your tongue will be as purple as a Chow puppy's. Deep dark currant flavors and a long lingering finish. Come to the dark side and get your hands on this soon. They sell out very quickly. — 8 years ago

with Katherine and Lauren

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Opens with orange peel and white pepper, cider, tea, all sorts of florals. Oxidative, tart and perfumed. Perfect trifecta in this beautiful amber wine.

Day two it is more prominently mineral, more lemon-focused citrus, and showing an aroma of brown bread. Really quite wonderful. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our first bottling from this small production family winery in Calistoga.

My first impressions of this wine, it’s a classic older Calistoga Cabernet. It’s nicely resolved but, not at the end of its life as some have predicted. It is a shade past its prime but, drinking nicely with the exception it’s a touch hot, even after all this time in bottle and when temp’s were not pushing alcohol levels like they can now. However, heat aside, I enjoy wines just the other side of their prime and beyond. Brings out additional complexity-characteristics and are infinitely more interesting.

The nose reveals, stewed & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries with some deep blue fruits. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender.

The body is rich, lush, ruby, statin, velvety and thick. The tannins are rounded & softened but, still speaking loudly. The structure, tension, length and balance are in a very good place. This wine has legs to stand for another 5-10 years depending on how you enjoy them. Stewed, candied & baked fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black cherry extract, black raspberries deep blue fruits, purple fruit blend, haunting raspberries with poached strawberries as it sets. Loads of baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Dark spice with good palate heat, dark chocolate, sweet tarriness, mocha, caramel, walnut shells, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit teas, mint/eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, slightly, moist clay, pronounced, fine volcanic minerals, leather, tobacco, graphite, used charcoal, dark liqueur and cola, dry herbs with dark, red, blue, purple, fresh & withering flowers accented with lavender. The acidity is round & exquisite. The long finish is; well balanced fruit & earth, very complexity, rich, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; Stephanie Jones Bailey, Rick and Elaine Jones, Estate view, their Cabernet fruit close to harvest and vineyard staff managing fruit clusters & leafing.

Producer notes...they were founded in 1996. Jones Family Vineyards specializes in estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Thomas Rivers Brown makes their wines, two Cabernet wines...Jones Family Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and The Sisters. TRB also makes an extremely limited production of aged Sauvignon Blanc that is cellared for over 3 years in barrel and bottle.

Jones Family has ten acres of south facing vineyards that lie 600 to 800 feet off the valley floor, resting above the fog line, an ideal altitude for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley area.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach FYI. — 5 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.6

Thomas Rivers Brown making some great Howell Mountain wines! While he currently makes 40+ wines throughout Napa Sonoma, Outpost was his first winemaking client. This one is one of my favorites. I’ve been on a Zinfandel trip for two years now, and can honestly say that this is in the top 3 against any of the hundreds I have tried. — 6 years ago

with Ryan and Katherine

Adam Shaylor

9.8

2014 is a solid vintage. We could stand to learn a thing or two about keeving cider varietals of pears here in the Pacific Northwest as Eric Bordelet does so expertly in Normandy. — 6 years ago

Jo Anne B

9.5

Like cozying up to a good man for an intimate evening. 💋 — 7 years ago

with Buffy

Lucy

9.2

Smooth tannins, ripe and juicy fruit with a meaty kick. Delicious. — 8 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

The first German Riesling we ever sold. Always has a spot in my heart.

1er cru from young gg grapes. The more muscular of the two most known vineyards. I’m not going to try and spell it here.

Had pork in cider for dinner. Was in no mood for subtlety.

Nose is a big-un. Dense as heck. Stone fruit. Herbaciois but not vegetal.

Palate has great minerals but they take a back seat to the concentrated stone fruits. Still has that mineral grip. Bracing acidity keeps it fresh. So damned well made. Mountain stream freshness.

Needs 30 minutes to strut its stuff. And strut it does. Ass whips grosses Gewachs from all but the tippy top producers.

Bought from fass selections. — 4 years ago

Robert McCall

9.3

Started off pretty one dimensional and gloppy for the first two hours or so. I was beginning to expect little else. But then things changed. Airtime really did wonders. More personality, aromatics, and nuance. Glad I have more to sit on! Good stuff TRB. — 4 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

This wine has really changed quite a bit in the last two and a half months. This used to be quite a bit more tropical and acidic, but today's bottle opened showed more of an amber hue and nose of buttered popcorn and caramel. The palate seems to have more of an overripe red apple, and resembles more of an apple cider then wine. Finishes with a dried nut note. Not too sure what to think about this. All I know is that this one is nothing like the bottle I had in February. Good, but nowhere near great. If this was my first score for this wine, I would probably give it an 88.if you have any of these, I would either hold on to them for another six months in case this one is in a really funky spot, or drink them all now. — 5 years ago

with Shay

Eric Morton

9.0

A nice sweet mead, great when chilled. However, this time of year I put the whole bottle into a pot, added the two packet of spice that came with the bottle, and slowly heated it up. Gave a similar feel and taste to spiced able cider. — 5 years ago

Rob Marini

9.4

Fairly restrained nose (briefly showed some pear cider like notes in a big burgundy glass). Dried pears and lemon rind, brioche and white pepper. Incredible acid. After being open for about two hours started to demonstrate some flowery notes. Fairly reminiscent of a well made Chablis. — 6 years ago

with Jim, Brandon and 3 others

David Quammen

10

Rockapulco 8/22/17 - Jamie, Kate, Kenz, this is a super baller Syrah! — 7 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.5

One of two. Good cider can age well. One benchmark producer for me. This is pulsating and roaring. Always a treat both new and old vintages. Seek out. #cideriswine — 7 years ago