Guy Davies

9.8

Everything I could possibly want it to be at this age. Damsons and blackcurrant, meat, smoke, earth. Depth, power, complexity. Packs a huge punch (I laughed when I first put my nose in it) yet stays dainty and elegant. A hippo in a tutu doing a startlingly good pirouette, a wild animal and an aristocrat. Am almost frightened by how good this will be when fully mature. — 10 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

Ted Armbrecht

9.6

1983 vintage. Wasn't sure what to expect and was thoroughly surprised and taken with how well this was drinking. Aromas of mushroom and graphite. Plenty of fruit still here with good tannic grip. Held up in the glass to the last drop! — 12 years ago

Ed Chang

9.4

After a couple hours began to open up. Chateauneuf-du-pape is becoming a fav in this house 2012 vintage. — 11 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

3 hrs in the decanter. Pencil shavings, earth, leather, cool cassis notes. Medium body, good freshness, the initial poopy notes dissipate slowly. Rustic tannines, classically built, very good.
Happy b-day, L.
Even better on day 3!! Saved half a bottle in the fridge. Tannines have softened, fruit is more prominent and darker in aspect. Up 1 point. — 11 years ago

James Hart

9.5

Spicy, liquorice plums, wrapped up in cedar wood. Very long finish. Top notch. — 12 years ago

Peter Mansell

9.6

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

Rafael Landestoy

9.1

Bordeaux in style, but apparently my wife disagrees so not sure if I had the right wine. Didn't pick up on much fruit on this one but heck maybe i grabbed one of the Bordeauxs. — 11 years ago

with Janet, Jorge and 1 other

Ken Kodger

9.2

2012 opened up very well in decanter — 11 years ago

Darren Delmore

10

Where do I even begin? I was the winemaker's assistant this vintage for a very stressed and haunted man. David Hirsch didn't believe in air pumps then, and the press that was installed at the winery wasn't quite high enough to press into barrel with Gravity.... So I can honestly claim that I punched down every lot everyday every time, and I hand bucketed every drop of wine in paint buckets out of the press and up into barrel. Still I never got a bottle of the stuff until I bought it recently for 35 off Benchmark. As dangerous and chaotic of a harvest gig it was, the wine now sure tastes worth all the hellfire. — 12 years ago