Jan de Weerd

9.2

Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 20 days ago

with Tammy

Deborah M

9.3

Day 2. Different is trending here. Did a little digging and pulled this gem.

The 2009 Viña Tondonia Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Mazuelo and Graciano, matured in used American oak barrels for six years.

Elegance and value. Lively and fresh. Lot’s of life left for this one. Not a bad start for the year.
— 2 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.0

Deep ruby in color with pleasant aromas of cassis, mint, cedar, and vanilla. The cedar notes are quite strong. Medium to full-bodied with grippy tannins. Very nice, long finish. Bone dry. Not a bad wine, but I’m not blown away either. — 4 years ago

Bob Yoon

9.6

Not a bad way to kick off my first trip to Napa. Was worth the decades I’ve been waiting to have this wine. — 4 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.3

Some specials on today at the Chelsea lounge at JFK. Thought I’d ask and look what we got. It doesn’t have as much of the typical Dom taste for me and it is still very very young, definitely still a baby. Great nose and packs a lot of citrusy flavors - they will certainly mellow over the years. Not a bad rendition, not quite hitting the super high marks with me right now, but very pleasant early p.m. bubbly on this holiday — 8 months ago

Skip Smyser

9.6

Heidi Barrett put this winery on the map. Lush red fruit with subtle tannins that are multi tiered. Has years to continue to mature. Their wines have not stayed at this level since Heidi left. Too bad!! — 3 years ago

John Midea

9.4

Big, bold Beckstoffer Cab. Not as elegant as the 2014 but a serious wine for enjoyment. — 4 months ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Decanted and simmered for hours. By Hour 3+ this broadened into a deep and luxurious wine. Ripe fruit - currant blackberry. Nice mouthfeel with some mineral residue. Not a long tail on this but it did linger still. Not particularly fragrant. A bit inward overall but all the pieces good and bad kinda fit together and it was nonetheless quite enjoyable. — 7 months ago

David Shaw

9.3

Purple to garnet red, moderate pigment extraction, very good clarity. Leather, wood and blackberry notes in nose. Blackberry, cherry flavors with length, raspberry on finish. Good balance, acid a tad above the ethanol but nicely so, some unresolved fine-grained seed tannins on initial pour with moderate skin astringency. I’m liking this one after 30 minutes, and wishing I’d bought more. 425 cases made. A solid version for WA state cab fans — 2 years ago

Egan Lim

9.0

An easy everyday Bordeaux as it’s affordable. Very fruit forward with spice but finish is lacking. — 4 years ago