Ron R

9.3

The past just washed into the present. This is totally whole-grain. Sexy and pure high-octane fuel, even though it was born during a lousy vintage. — 9 months ago

with Anne-marie

Carter White

9.1

Fruit forward, cherries and strawberries, high octane tannins and acid, but all in balance and paired wonderfully with rich wagyu and seafood stew. — 3 years ago

Carter White

9.2

Complex and high octane. Juicy red fruit, fresh hot tar, leather, menthol, hints of floral and orange peel on the finish. Ripping, aromatic, and long with grippy, rustic tannins. — 3 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.2

Take a typical good-quality PN and amplify everything from color, nose, mouthfeel, structure, and length - and you get to this wine from Rocky Point, a steep hill above a lake in central Otago. Color is deep violet; nose is high-octane black fruits (mulberry) and ripe cran- and strawberries, and minerality and a sweet herbaciousness; taste is full bodied with round tannins, dense fruit, medium-high aclohol, rubber and spice. And all well balanced. Would love to try in 3-5y. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured. This was a selection from a friend’s cellar and since I just enjoyed a couple bottles of Merlot the other night, I figure we might as well check in on this 2015 from Kenefick Ranch. Popped and poured, the wine pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, this smells like a big wine. Developing, with powerful notes of plums, blackberries, purple flowers, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, this tastes like a big wine. Dry with medium tannins and medium(+?) acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is a high alcohol, high octane version of Merlot. Drink now and through 2030. — a year ago

Brendan Devine

9.5

High octane Zin, not messing around. — 2 years ago

Carter White

9.5

A high octane flavor bomb. Lush dark fruit, earth, dusty, scorched minerality, clove, coffee. Powerful, concentrated, lively, and long. Nice grip, tempered by age, probably a beast in its youth. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

This is a medium ruby wine with medium(+) intensity of ripe plum, prune, red currant, black cherry, violet, anise seed, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, leather, and forest floor notes.

Tannins are ripe, fine-grained, and well-integrated. Alcohol is high!!! 16% ABV.

This is a ripe, full-bodied, and high octane wine that has great potential for further aging. I’m excited to revisit down the road.

Clos Saint Jean Vieilles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge (2019) — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.0

La Cabotte, Massif d’Uchaux, Cuvée Gabriel 15% ABV (2020).

Robust notes of black cherry, plum, fresh fig, kirsch, also vegetal, stone, fennel, peat moss, forest floor, and meat notes.

Biodynamic and Organic. A southern Rhône, Grenache blend - a Côtes du Rhône Villages.

Very delish!! The high octane/alcohol nature is well-integrated with the powerful aromas and flavors and soft tannins.
— 2 years ago

with Deked1

Matt Duncan

9.3

Impressed by the showing for the 03. Expected it to be high octane and lacking finesse. The aroma proved me wrong, as measured herbal notes came through. Attack is certainly ripe but oak seems to meet it quite well. — 4 years ago