Deb Dellaposta

9.1

Could have decanted as it was still showing young. Nice vibrant color and ripe red and black fruits. Well balanced and very nice for an entry level Mondavi. Wish I had more. — 5 years ago

with Ryan

Stephen F Laga MD

9.6

This 2005 vintage is really smooth. Perfect for dinner with family and or friends. No after taste. Great legs. I wish there was more. — 7 years ago

Amanda Uhlianuk

9.5

This wine is moody but deep down has just the right amount of sweetness. The flavors shift and is a pleasant experience all the way to the end. Making you wish it wasn’t over for a mere $13. 👌🏻 — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This one was served pop and pour, and I really wish that I had double decanted earlier in the AM as this wine was a touch too young. Even after 3 hours, the wine was still not completely open. But it was showing what it has to offer in the FUTURE, and for that I'm glad that the other bottle is in long term storage because that's exactly where it needs to be. Cocoa, black cherry, black tea, medium+ density wine. Lots of black cherry and coffee bean in the middle. The finish is darker, and did show very well after 3 hours to include a lot of blackberry and black pepper in the finish. At the time that this one was completely GONE was the time when we should have started DRINKING on it. Lots of tannin still on the finish. This wine will be beautiful in 5 years, and will hold another 15 quite easily. — 8 years ago

Annie Blossom

9.0

Perfect Sancerre. Everything you would wish and hope for. — 8 years ago

with Terence

Jason Adams

9.5

Eucalyptus and earth, blue fruits and slight oak. Found at a private collection in NY and worth it. Luxurious mouthfeel, super smooth tannins but very youthful for a 34 yr old bottle. Special wine for a special day. Happy Easter @Marcus Lancaster wish you were here to share brother. — 9 years ago

with Peter and Dale

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

First, a person has to pause and realize how lucky they are to drink this wine from 3L. Thanks Clyde for opening. This is in a perfect stage. Such evolution, length, balance, structure. Love the lower 80's alcohol levels. It's rich, lush and near perfect. Dark cassis; ripe and resolved blackberries, dark cherries, black plum w/skin, mixed berry liqueur, tobacco leaf, leather so soft you would wish it as a pillow cover, dry pebbles, dark rich earth, perfect acidity and a rich, elegant, ripe dark fruit finish. In 3L, this wine still has 10-15 years. — 9 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

Côte Challonnaise, the appendix of Burgundys esteemed golden slope, a necessary and much needed resort if you wish to drink decent and representative Burgundy’s without spending a fortune these days. The 2014 Bruno Lorenzo Cuvée is very true to its provenance, where the primary red fruit has just slowly started to retreat to give room for an earthy canvas of damp soil, dried leaves and truffle that we so much love with the true Burgundies. Six years after harvest it still has a long and happy life ahead, eventhough it drinks beutifully in its pre-mature stage as is today. more harmonazied than last encounter in December 2019 I would say.
Successfully paired with pan seared Salmon with red wine jus, and thinly sliced glazed beetroots.
— 5 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.1

Damn, I wish I bought more of these at $9. I only bought two bottles and I am kicking myself for that now.
This easily comps to a $25 plus bottle. Black cherry, smoke, tar, and earth. Amazing value! — 6 years ago

Rease Kirchner

9.0

Amazing value from Trader Joe’s! Really great red blend for only $7 — 8 years ago

Chris Bensick

9.1

Christmas present to ourselves! This Is a fine, mature wine from a ripe year. Not as overripe as some, not yet drying out, makes one wish for a cellarful of oldies to drink every day! — 8 years ago

with Alex and Jonathan

Paul Woolls

9.4

Again, crazy rich for a dry sercial. The length is astounding. Bright and elegant. Wish I could be this vibrant at 80! — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

Found this one behind another one in storage. All I can say is....DAMN. This drinks like a Sangiovese that I paid 3x the amount for. Dense cedar and a little sweet blackberry. Smooth operator on the front and finish. A part of me is very sad this one was bought out by Kendall Jackson but I hope they kept their identity intact. Lilac and pepper finish. Immense. LOVED this wine. Almost gave it 95 but not quite there. I wish I had another case of this one! — 9 years ago

Keith Herrick

9.3

Wow, I wish I purchased more of these! Well integrated oak, peach, lemon and strong minerality. Pretty open for 2013. — 9 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

A superb vintage for Rostaing and the Northern Rhône. Intensely perfumed and seductive on the nose. Further reveals smoke, black raspberries and currants and hints of charred meats and spices. Finishes with excellent length and depth. A tremendous showing after a 2 hour decant. Only wish I had more bottles to hold! — 6 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

I get it, I get it. This is the first Chateauneuf that’s really wowed me. Having been left a little underwhelmed by the 2004 Beaucastel I had over Christmas (though I rated this highly at the time), I looked to Isabel Ferrando and her Domaine de Saint Préfert for some confirmation - in my untrained mind - as to the appeal of CNDP. And boy, did this bottle deliver.

This wine boasts a very powerful aroma, which drove me to profanity when I first smelled it; a mix of blueberry, liquorice, bergamot and coffee much of which continues on the palate. It’s incredibly ripe, full, seductive and has everything in check: fresh acidity, gentle tannin, and a long, velvety finish (think Turkish delight). My initial thought on composition was that this must be a Grenache-dominant blend given the ripe, fruit forward profile and high alcohol (15%), so as an amateur I was pleased to find out that, indeed, it’s 85% Grenache with 15% Cinsault.

A great wine that will age gracefully. I wish I had more. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.7

🎉 Happy New Year dear friends 🎉

Have a fabulous evening & I wish you a fantastic 2018 full of health, happiness, love, peace & many more fabulous wine discoveries 😍

From Jan 1st 2018 I’ll be posting reviews from vintages 1961 through to 2018 😁 so get ready for a journey 🤪 then I can catch up with everything else I’m having tonight 🙃🍷🥂

For now this lovely Dom can kick off the celebrations 🎊 Enjoy yourself 🤗💃🕺

To 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ 🥂😘
— 8 years ago

Gareth Best

9.6

Essentially the perfect wine for my palette. Beautiful feminine floral nose, pretty, ethereal cherries and bright red raspberries, along with anise and tobacco. Weightless mouthfeel with a rich consistency; like having your tongue wrapped in liquid velvet. However those earthy Sangiovese tannins show up just in time to add a remarkable masculine balance. This wine sang a song about food. Gosh I wish I had another.... — 8 years ago

Michael Adelman

9.3

Black and blue berries, earth, tobacco. Layered beautifully. Power and elegance in harmonious balance! Has so much more to go! Wish I saved this opening for about 10-12 more years! Makes me fall back in love with CA Cabs!!! — 9 years ago

Spencer Dodd

9.2

Opening up some beer to create cellar space. Also minor celebration for work related stuff. Not what I expected but real good. Highly carbonated and the beer itself is actually a little light in power. But the bourbon is very well integrated. Lots of vanilla. It doesn't taste like a flabby Chardonnay. I wish there was a little more raisins in there as it's a good taste. Maybe waited a little long on this one? Good though — 9 years ago