Martin G Rivard

10

I opened a 3L of Chateau L'Evangile as a follow up to 65 Unico birth year bottle that we enjoyed. This was legendary beauty. Robert Parker rated 100 and I have to agree. He indicated "The most profound L'Evangile ever made?". I'd have to agree yet again!! Huge mouthfeel especially in light of the very light and playful Unico that we had just enjoyed. Gorgeously inviting Nose which ignited our senses. On the palate it was seamlessly multi layered with dark fruit & a creme Brulé type of caramel finish. Super cool!!! I loved it!!!
No rough edges with a marathon finish. Badass in a glass for my badass wife!! Happy birthday babe!! — 9 years ago

with Ryan, Robert and 2 others

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. — 9 years ago

Richard Steinberg

9.5

Up there for wine of the night in blind old v new world. Great well integrated fruit. Grenache fruit was so pure and well balanced. — 10 years ago

with Mike, Howard and 1 other

Michelle

9.5

On the lighter side for a cab. Delicious cola, smoke, juicy. Drank 2011 vintage in 2015 — 10 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

From 83 MGX to this monster. Perfect bottle, perfect cork. This is still an infant. Tobacco smoke, and spice this kept adding weight as it opened up. What a amazing wine and dare I say young. Last bottle I had was more floral this was more primal , both awesome. While the 89 has more finesse this is all torque. Leave alone for another few years or give it a real decant. Amazing. — 10 years ago

Peter Mansell

9.6

In magnum. Took a while to open up but outstanding — 12 years ago

Stuart Sutton

9.6

This tastes more like a Bordeaux to me than a Cab from Napa, but it is so excellent that I'll let it slide. This is a full bodied wine with strong oak, leather, smoke, and honestly a hint of tree bark (in a wonderful way!) This is close to a perfect wine. Buy all you can. — 9 years ago

Matthew Denci

9.3

Heitz has still got it baby, 1998 Napa cab standing up nicely at 18 years old. The color is only just showing signs of age. The nose is full of mint and lamb. In a strange spot since its not especially lush or fruity and yet hasn't fully developed the tertiary notes you would expect. But has the bones to go longer still. — 9 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.2

Tastes remarkably young and fresh after 9 years. A big Pinot showing lots of oak but not necessarily in an ostentatious way. Complex, long finish, all of the quality wine buzz words. As advertised, if not exactly the style I gravitate towards these days. — 9 years ago

Steve Shepherd

9.1

Excellant with ahi tuna served at Cetrella in Los Altos. — 10 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. — 10 years ago

James Hart

9.5

Spicy, liquorice plums, wrapped up in cedar wood. Very long finish. Top notch. — 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. — 11 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 — 9 years ago

with Hannah

Eric Egan

9.5

Another level... Still dense at the core, with steady, attractive bricking: Wonderfully dense nose of blackcurrents, pencil shavings, fine tanned leather, and a hint of woodland floor (fine moss, leaves, and fresh soil after an autumn shower). Velvety tannins and great acidity. Along with the '66 this is one of my all-time favourite Bordeaux vintages. Seems to be keeping up better than the '61s I've had over the last few years!

We drank half of it from the coravin before waxing the top in case the cork had lost too much elasticity to self-seal. I'll have the rest with my brother in a few weeks' time! — 9 years ago

Mo Hassankhani

9.2

An absolute gem. It was great initially but just kept on getting better and better as it opened up. Definitely a wine that I need to keep on hand at home. Especially since it comes in half bottles. Tastes like it's in its prime. — 10 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. — 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. — 10 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! — 11 years ago

Jennifer Bingham

9.0

In the decanter...starting to open up nicely! — 13 years ago