Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25. — 10 days ago

Jan A

9.5

Really looked forward to this one, but a little bit too rich to warrant higher score. Missing the acidity/tension a bit.
Edit: and it was served too warm.. — 14 days ago

Kate

9.1

Block 296. Deep purple. Earthy. Dry. Dark fruit. Just opened it. May open up to be lighter. — 3 days ago

leon egozi

9.1

happy bday @Ira Shapiro — 21 days ago

David Walser

9.4

Going through some of my older wines and really enjoying them. This bottle of Phelps tasted great! — a day ago

Doug Powers

9.7

From a really fine, structured Napa vintage, this shows dark fruits and mineral notes aromatically, still has loads of Dunn Howell Mountain structure and tannin, long, lingering finish, but the finish suggests that it needs 10-20 more years of aging, simply an incredible, old school (13% ABV) Napa mountain Cabernet with amazing length and freshness, a true WOW wine (if you’re moderately unoffended by the enormous structure still remaining)!!! — 13 days ago

with Jim

Benjamin Hickey

8.9

Big but still pretty restrainted. — 17 days ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Heidi and Bo Barrett wine dinner
Lazy Bear Restaurant

WINE
2024 La Sirena Muscat
2009 Montelena Chard
1994 Paradigm merlot
2019 La Sirena cab/syrah
1985 Montelena cab
2008 Montelena cab
1983 Buehler cab
1990 Dalla Valle
2015 Barrett & Barrett cab
20-year Montelena ruby port

FOOD
SF Bay halibut salad
Monterey spot prawns
Liberty duck
Morel au poivre
Coal roasted wagyu A5 ribeye
Dandelion chocolate — 2 days ago

with Brenda

John Malcolm

9.7

An exceptional, full-bodied wine. Tasted a lot of black cherry, currants, cedar, and creme de cassis. Drinking great now, but should last a long time in the cellar. — a month ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Rich and rounded. Smooth as silk with developed fruit and structure. Always a reliable wine but this is a strong vintage. — a month ago