Steve Rura

8.9

Pretty consistent with the 22 vintage. Tart, fresh, raspberry, a little bitter and herbaceous towards the end. Slightly less abv at 12%

Follow up: By day 3, it’s not good anymore. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2016 vintage. Last tasted 6.15.24. Still too fleshy for me. Prob need to decant (or open and put back in the reefer for a day or two) for 3 hours to draw out the tannins that, theoretically, should be there. Enjoying the 2006, 2018 and 2019 vintages a bit more currently. **UPDATE**Came across an opened (2/3rd left from last night's party) bottle and retested. Tannins out and looking for nightlife. Upgraded to 9.3 (7.21.24.) 7.20.24. — 4 months ago

Tyler Felous

10

Finally had my a-ha moment with this wine (after opening a 16 too early). 07 was just beautiful - kept growing in stature over the 3 hour meal. Drank in Venice to celebrate our anniversary. — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.7

After a warm 2020 this 2021 is more backwards and classic and reminds me of the 2016‘s. The first bottle had a touch VA which blew off. Second one has no VA. Violets and a hint of roses. Robust beautiful cherry 🍒. Touch bark. This is a top vintage for them. Awesomeness in a bottle for a ridiculous low price for this quality. It’s hard to put the glass down - it is that good. So in this instance I do rate this higher than Lyle F. 3 days later on the Argon line - this is still exceptional elegant and unique. Gained weight and at the same time super elegant. What a wine. — 7 months ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Very fresh, lively, primarily redfruited aromas and flavors, some spicy notes as well, super nicely balanced, great acid, shows admirable restraint, should age nicely midterm (5-10 years?), very good “entry level” Zinfandel, long finish!! I’d read that the 2023 Zins, grown in a relatively cooler year, had a very long growing season, with excellent acidity, and I’d say this shows all of those characteristics. Morgan nailed this, it was great to finally meet his “adult” version, my wife and I first met him about 35 years ago at a ZAP event at Ravenswood hosted by his father Joel. — 2 months ago

with Jim

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Deep ruby in color; blackberries, strawberries, and tabacco on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; tastes like raspberry jam,white pepper, and crushed gravel with a long fruity finish. There may be a little residual sugar, but it's well balanced and tasty. Nellie likes it and I do too. — 5 months ago

with Nellie

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1995 vintage. Good fill. Excellent cork with minimal saturation. Decanted and throwing a tad extra sediment…a nice mix of chunky and powdery sed. Tasted after 30 minutes and 2 hours open and decanted. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and earth in the nose. These transferred over and slapped on a fudge chocolate note on the finish. In a good place now and not improving. Would seem to hold steady in this standing for another 3-4 years. 6.6.24. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1990 vintage. Excellent fill and halfway saturated cork. Used a Durand but surmise a regular waiter's friend, wielded carefully, could have done the trick with the cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins, one hour and two hours. Some obvious sed but not troublesome or overtly noticeable. Original owner-château direct on original release. Super cold cellar because this was lagging noticeably behind other '90's and LB's. Bigger tannic structure (for a generally feminine-styled house) than anything save a Latour, Mouton, Ducru Left Bank property. Even more guts than Lynch-Bages or Pichon-Baron '90's currently stored above 55 or so degrees. Surprising but made sense. Light-medium body. Appropriate color. 3-4 years left in this stage unless larger format in play. Slight, fleeting burst of richness in the frontal palate and a tad brickish and then it just flowed on, without speed bumps. A little cocoa powder and cedar/tobacco. Suspect 750ml specimens not stored as cold/religiously will be showing more in the 9.0-9.1 range and farther down the backside of the bell curve. 10.26.24. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

The last bottle at Mick’s Cellar tasting last Saturday and what a finale it was. Amazingly rich and full bodied for a 42 year old wine from the fabulous 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. One of the best wines (probably top 3) I’ve ever had was the 1982 Chateau Margaux and this nearby neighbour just reinforces that tasting some years ago. Plenty of red and black berry. Full bodied and delicious, still with a future. Supple fluid tannins with a loong finish. A treat to taste this. Thanks Mick. — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 8 months ago