Abe Froman

9.3

First dinner at the supper club at the Delano with Danny and Melissa trying a new sake that is really nice  — a month ago

with Camron

Conrad Green

9.5

Settled and pretty. Tell tale Barolo notes of tar and wood. Roses and faded plum with done dried herbs and a hint of dried orange. Balanced and transparent. Long. Very good. — 4 years ago

with Matt and Paul

Aaron Thompson

9.0

Hint of balsamic, rich and full body. — 4 years ago

Stephen Lynch

9.0

Yes. Very good. Bought in Maine. Had never heard of Carinane grape before. Very soft, smooth and easy to drink. — 5 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.4

Rose de saignee without liquor addition. Extremely elegant and balanced with the tell tale notes of pinot. This is top notch stuff and highly recommended. — 7 years ago

with Adriana

David Shaw

8.9

14.3% alc/vol. Ruby to dark red, moderate pigment extraction, very good clarity. Cherry, weedy greens and barrel wood aromas on nose. Cherry flavor with length, some seed bitterness on finish with leather and cherry pulp fruitiness. Aftertaste of cherry stone. Moderate skin and barrel tannin astringency after 30 minutes. Could use some decanting. Mint, blueberry and black currant flavors emerge after 60 minutes. Solid fruit expression for variety, shows well for Cali cool climate vineyard location in Templeton Gap. Perhaps more barrel character than some might prefer; not my usual style for the varietal but good fruit at its core, and well crafted overall. Castoro reds can be tannin-forward, and this Pinot noir is no exception. The natural question is: can you dig it when a Pinot noir is made this way? I love the challenge, but do you have the patience to age or decant this wine long enough to show all it can be? — 7 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

8.9

White clear tasting ale. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 4 months ago

Carol Poarch-Blagburn

9.0

Bright Cellars wine club. — 5 years ago

Keith Pinault

9.0

If you’re looking for a fruit-forward Pinot that’s still elegant and light, but you do t want to spend $$$, here’s your white whale. The QPR here is crazy. Great with a wood-fired pizza! — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Atop heady iodine, wet mossy and pine bio, green apple sliced thin, melon, lemon and lime peel, smoky glazed ham with pineapple, igneous grind, dried sunflower blossom, jasmine, fall maple leaves, roasted corn with sweet chillies, cinnamon, and the faintest matchstick sail memory scents. Instantly warm and welcoming ginger candy, caramel, leather, graphite, cinnamon oil, hazelnut, pine sap, mint, calvados, cherry stem, eucalyptus, tangerine oil, lime, and jalapeño. Intense and lingering, filling the mouth beyond its capacity to taste. Really lovely Talisker manifestation conjuring metal and stone textures like some dark tale of briny ghosts! #Talisker #scotch #scotchwhisky #scotchwhiskey #whiskey #whisky #TaliskerStorm #singlemalt #Isleofskye #Scotland #madebythesea #classicmaltsselection #Islay — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Mary H

8.9

Fresh and fruity - grape and cranberry. Went decently well with whale beef steak! — 7 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.0

A gooseberry, honey, an apple. — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Light pink color. Aromas of red berries and red and white flowers. Flavors of wild strawberries, pomegranate, green melon, red apples and unripe peaches. A slight citrus note on the medium finish. Medium-minus body and medium acidity. Light, easy drinking and refreshing. Thanks for sharing, Chris B! — a year ago

Greg Gratson

9.3

Good from firstleaf — 4 years ago

Aylin Ulku

8.9

quite delicious. balanced. — 5 years ago

Joe Santiago

8.9

Nice and bold, slightly acidic finish. — 6 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.3

If there is a better Cab Franc from Saumur at this price point, it would be found in a fairy tale story read to young budding wine geeks. It just doesn’t exist, so buy this one. — 7 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

Lovely, tell-tale Sangiovese. Drinking perfectly now.
Highly recommended! — 7 years ago

Roger Ray

9.1

"a nose of dark cocoa, dried grass, and black pepper of Syrah. The flavor is similarly peppery but the Sangiovese loosens things up a bit by contributing bay leaves & the tell-tale sour cherry." — 7 years ago