Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

One of the very best QPR’s in Napa/Sonoma. I have had all the top tier Napa Cabernets. On the secondary markets, I pay in the $70 to $90 range. I enjoy this producer more than many of the higher-priced Napa Cabernets. Including; Realm, Maybach, Phelps, Outpost, Lakoya, to name a few.

This 2007 is right around the top of the bell curve. It delivers everything you expect from the 2007 vintage and yet, it’s a Sonoma producer, which lends itself to the expression, don’t judge a wine by its region.

My 5/24 note remains. To that end, for me, this is not a producer to open young if you’re looking for its best self. You can open a wine whenever you want to, but I would pushback that you’re not getting its best self. This 07 still has a fair amount of teeth. The integration and evolution is incredible. It’s flat out near perfect as to when to open your first.

The short notes on this are perfectly ripe/ruby fruits that are;, blackberries, black raspberry, black plum, haunting raspberries, dry earth, cinnamon stick for days, endless far east spices, dark chocolate, caramel, black licorice, mid berry cola, dark & red flowers with violets and hints of lavender, excellent round acidity, a well-made balanced finish that is the definition of elegance with earth and spice on the long set that goes on and on.

In a QPR Napa/Sonoma Cabernet race with the higher-priced Cabernets, it is not even close.

— 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium deep ruby , bright ruby rim . Exuberant and open from the first with tobacco , cedar , deep crème de cassis , violets . On the palate this is intense and richly fruited but remains really well balanced , with great freshness . Spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , really quite classic. Reminds me of St Julien with the radiance , sunshine and brightness of Napa. Fresh acidity , ripe but grippy tannins , excellent length and balance , grafite , cassis tinged finish. Lovely now , but still quite youthful, from now and over the next 10 -15 years. At Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas — 13 days ago

Ming L

9.3

I opened this 2015 after the 16’ Branaire-Ducru.

The fruits are riper and slightly jammy with plum, blueberry, and blackcurrant, but it’s the savory expression that really sets it apart. Rich palate without excessive weight with lively acidity and fresh herbal lift. Kong savory finishes. Beautiful Bordeaux blend with Napa mountain fruits. — 14 days ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Lovely and bright and precise. Slate and great acidity. Quite ripe but vivacious. — a month ago

with Paul and Ara

Jody Scharf

9.8

fantastic and hard to believe still felt like it can sit. anyway balanced acids that hold with dark rich fruits... — a month ago

Graham

9.4

Amazing. This is why you wait to drink these. — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.1

From a split. Lovely fresh fruit- raspberry, black cherry, wild strawberry, blueberry. Loads of fun and character — 7 days ago

with Bex

Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant(little sediment). A striking deep dark magenta with bricking. On the nose: subtle seductive notes of dark red fruit, wet earth, eucalyptus, mushroom, toffee. Taste: silky, balanced, fresh, elegant wine with dark cherry, currants, leather, minerals, herbs, mint, and a earthy raspberry espresso long lingering finish. YUM! — 20 days ago

with Brenda

AEL

9.3

Great year for this one. Really layered and granular, with a light lemon note offsetting the distinct dark fruit notes. Celebrating dad and Bogie, with mom in FL. — 22 days ago

Patti Gamboni

9.2

Exactly what I want from Zin. Fruit with restraint and finesse. Not hot or jammy. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2021 vintage. Decanted and passed, with high air, between two decanters four times. If it were Caymus, woulda used a blender and forgotten. Last tasted 8.5.26 (9.6) Older (60's, 70's and early 80's) vintages more fruit driven which is quite the surprise in the current Napa Cab climate. Arguably the best GDL Private Reserve this estate has ever made. That goes back six decades. Supple, velveteen entry without the temptations of appearing over-extended. Structured mid-palate. A seeker's wandering, yet undeniably substantial finish. Taste it and you tell me. — a month ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.6

Deep ruby-purple in appearance. A brooding nose of cassis, blackberry, and dark plums, followed up by crushed graphite, mint, cedar pencil, and a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and statuesque yet supple, held together by firm, heavy tannins (7.5/10) and lively acidity. Layers of ripe black fruits, mocha, and sage are mixed with roasted earth and savory oak spice. The finish is long, plush, and persistent, marked by seamless texture, crushed stone minerality, and a lingering floral lift. Drink till 2050. — a month ago

with India

Ming L

9.2

2013 is a great Napa Cab vintage, so I’m somewhat surprised that there is only 57% Cab in the blend.

Still quite stern and massive, I got this wall of dark fruit, tannins and extract, with acidity underneath it, but not necessarily a lot of charm. The structure softens a bit after 2 hours, revealing more fruits, herbs, and savory complexity. I think this needs another 4-5 years. — a month ago

David Koenen

9.5

A full-bodied, warm wine. Spicy, with tremendous concentration—a wine you can really sink your teeth into. Notes of sun-warmed tiles, blond tobacco, cherries, and blueberry pie. Despite the tannins—which are still clearly present—it remains round and soft. It’s a truly substantial, mouth-filling wine. It’s impressive even at this young stage; I’d say it’s just at the beginning of its drinking window. A 95+ score. — 8 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2023 vintage. Go back with this baddie to the 1988 vintage. IIRC…this climbed up to resto cost around $27.33 a bottle at the high in the late 90’s/early 00’s. Picked this up the other night (and last few years) at $15.99 a bottle. 69% Grenache. 15% Syrah. 14% Cinsault. 2% Petite Sirah. Medium/medium-heavy body. Nice balance between fruit/structure. Really hard to beat at the price and perfect for a Thanksgiving red. 11.6.26. — 7 days ago

Doug Griffin

9.0

2022 Gap’s Crown
It took a good five hours to begin opening, initially showing a tight core of raspberry but remaining very closed. By day two it had opened considerably, revealing more concentrated raspberry and strawberry with a subtle note of sarsaparilla. There’s decent length on the finish, yet the wine still comes across a bit flat overall. A rare miss from them, especially for a single vineyard — 7 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Big but hides abv. Smooth, dark fruits, some herbs and spices, overall a ton of fruit and bitter cocoa. It honestly needs more time. So good with steak au poivre at meritage St. Paul. — a month ago

Sergio L Figueiredo

9.2

ManoLLo - Fev/2026
Cabernet Sauvignon 9
Cabernet Franc
Merlot — 7 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

lovely and pure. Cool fruit. Balanced. Very good — a month ago

with Paul and Ara

Henry Fuseler

9.0

10/2026. Nice finish. Lingering dryness. Good fruit. — a month ago