Sam Maniar

9.5

Amazingly good. Lots of fruit flavors but not super sweet. Complex. Smooth. Amazing finish. — 2 months ago

Dan James

9.3

Bought at Veraison. Very nice, very dry red. Medium to full bodied, smooth, tiny bit of smoke and good tannins. Both Katy and Dan were fans — 3 years ago

Dan James

9.2

Bought at Veraison Wines. Lovely, smooth, semi-dry medium-to-full-bodied red. A tiny amount of spice, a small amount of smoke but very subtle. Dark, tobacco notes and general well roundedness. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Completing my tasting of all my Walter Hansel Pinot single vineyard selections with their “The Three Rows.”

The nose is engaging. Sweet vanilla, caramel, ripe & slightly sour; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries and baked strawberries. Dark soil, limestone, dry clay, dark berry cola, touch herbaceous, black licorice, sweet tarry notes, stems, notes of pyrazines and fresh dark floral bouquet.

The body is just medium. I would say this wine hit its peak two years ago. It’s good, ripe and still shows freshness after being open for an hour. Ripe & slightly sour; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate extract, blue floral fruits and baked strawberries. Vanilla, salted caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, dark soil, limestone, dry clay, dry crushed rocks, dark berry cola, touch herbaceous, dark spice with palate heat sets in the longer it opens up, black licorice, sweet tarry notes, stems, notes of pyrazines and fresh dark floral bouquet with violets.

Photos of; Walter Hansel Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker Stephen Hansel, Pinot grapes going through veraison and the Walter Hansel Winery. — 8 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Krupp Brothers – Cabernet Sauvignon “Veraison” 2009
Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley – USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
From the famed Stagecoach Vineyard, this 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon shows why Krupp Brothers has earned a reputation for power and finesse. At nearly 15 years, it’s still on the ascent, with structure and depth that promise more evolution ahead.

Aromas & Flavors:
Layers of dark cassis, blackberry compote, and black cherry mingle with graphite, cedar, and espresso. Hints of dried violets and cocoa powder emerge with air, weaving a bouquet that is both bold and nuanced.

Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied and dense, yet polished. Firm tannins and vibrant acidity still hold the core tightly, making it feel youthful despite its age. The finish is long, savory, and mineral-driven, echoing dark fruit and spice.

Food Pairings:
A classic match for dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, or wild mushroom risotto.

Verdict:
An outstanding wine, multi-layered, complex, and still climbing toward its peak. A bottle to savor now with decanting, but also a treasure for collectors willing to wait.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight:
This vintage remains one of the standout expressions of Stagecoach Vineyard fruit, alongside 2010, it is a benchmark release. Collectors take note: the 2009 is still gaining complexity and shows remarkable staying power. — 5 months ago

Dan James

9.2

Bought at Veraison. Very very smooth and very dry red. Nice long finish and good complexity — 3 years ago

Sasha LaJeunesse

9.1

A perfectly balanced rosé, without the overbearing sweetness — 5 years ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.3

When in Chateauneuf du Pape…tasted during La fête du Veraison. More complex and bolder in style than the Usseglio white. Also had their reds, very good but less than the Usseglio ones — 7 months ago

Dan James

9.3

Bought at Veraison. Absolutely lovely, medium to full bodied red, dry finish, good spice notes and light fruit up front. Katy’s not a fan. — 3 years ago

Martinez

9.1

A minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends, Petit Verdot is one of those grape varieties that enjoy greater popularity away from home. Notoriously late-ripening, grapes can have difficulties undergoing veraison in Bordeaux, especially in cold years, remaining unusable green berries (hence its name, “little green”). While Petit Verdot often fails to ripen in Bordeaux, it seems to flourish in warmer regions, such as some parts of Australia, California and Spain, where its long-cycle offers winemakers a hedge against global warming. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the region of Ronda in southern Spain has turned out to be an ideal location for Petit Verdot - which even here, doesn’t get picked until late October or early November.

Cortijo Los Aguilares’ Tadeo is one of Ronda and Spain’s most recognized Petit Verdot bottlings. Sourced from the estate’s El Calero plot at 900m (nearly 3,000 ft) elevation in Ronda, in the province of Málaga. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak for 15 months. Dark ruby color with purple rim. Fragrant, very attractive, complex nose with layers of black fruit (bramble), smoke and graphite, herbal notes, sweet spices, vanilla and violets. Full-bodied, structured, powerful tannins. Impressive. — 5 years ago