Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

9.2

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Quite a lot of cassis, herbal grafite notes , touch of blackberry , scorched earth , a bit for floral after a while in the glass. On the palate this shows more sweet dark fruit, touch of spicy oak, blackcurrant , dark cherry and cacau . Balanced acidity and sweet slightly grippy tannins , just balanced alcohol . Spicy sweet blackcurrant, grafite tinged finish , decent length. This is still young and quite fruit driven but is enjoyable now with food . Better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 8-10. — 9 days ago

Somm, Rob and 10 others liked this

Somm David T

This is not a knock on anyone or this producer. For 10 years a friend of mine was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus. He is now back in Bordeaux, rebuilt & raised the quality of Clerc Milon. Now is in charge of all Rothschild properties. This is just me thinking out loud. I have been to this property many times and bought a glass of their Cabernet to take to their top deck and take in a spectacular view of the Napa Valley. Enjoyed many of their vintages in those very nice moments. However, knowing the quality of 2012 vintage and their price point, I and I think most expect & want more than a 92 point wine. Which begs the question, how long can they push bottle price with this level of quality? At what point does the quality price ratio kick in? To a bigger picture, how sustainable is the high quality respected producer wine economic model going forward? To me, a fascinating question going forward.

Andrew Cullimore

Yes @Somm David T , this was actually served blind , the only wine at lunch ..and we had plenty of time to get to know it before the big reveal . I was trying to evaluate the quality in the glass without the distraction of the label, which is always an illuminating experience . It’s a good wine, and went very will with our steaks but it certainly doesn’t represent good value nor is it a stellar example of 2012 . I would be perfectly happy to have it again mind you , as long as I wasn’t paying .

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Mark

9.2

Deep ruby colors with delicious fruit and balanced tannins. Wonderful yeast aroma on the nose. Blackberry fruit with an after taste of current. Very enjoyable wine!!! — 5 days ago

with Jeron

DAD, Neil and 4 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Kevin Dale

9.5

Decanted for 40 minutes. Still drinking really young. Probably in its prime another 10-15 years. — 6 days ago

Joe, Tom and 6 others liked this

Faust

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Dark Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs and earthy floral spice, blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc. On the palate flavors of black cherry, raspberry and currants with espresso, cacao and earthy notes. Well balanced, lively acidity, fine ripe tannins long finish with fruit, oak, mineral and floral spice! Nice drinking Cab! — 15 days ago

Tom, Paul and 1 other liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2005 vintage. From magnum. Tasted after 3 hours open. Light-medium body. Drought earth. Coffee grounds. Espresso crema. Dark plum skins. Drinking excellent but like a Napa cab a decade older. And from a magnum!?!? Was expecting a bit more of a delicate fruit presence. Oh well. It was a full moon. 04.11.25. — 2 days ago

Ted, Austin and 8 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. — 2 hours ago

Jay, Neil and 5 others liked this

Ron R

Looks like fun! Hope you had a great time.

Somm David T

@Ron R it’s a good event even worth the effort to travel from the other coast. Cheers! 🍷

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Tom Garland

9.5

1 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark medium garnet with little bricking. On the nose: expressive perfumed nose with dark plum/cherry, currants,milk chocolate, baking spice, floral, wet forest floor, touch of roasted meat. Taste: silky, balanced, elegant wine that is singing at 20 years with dried red fruit, earth, chocolate, cedar, minerals, saline, and a spiced-tobacco-green bell pepper long finish. YUM! — 21 days ago

with Brenda

Brenda, Paul and 13 others liked this

Deborah M

Nice!

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2009 | Has everything a Grand Seigneur promises: beautiful mature smell with tobacco, pencil shavings, leather, autumn forrest. Warm and comforting taste with great structure. A beautiful wine! — 3 days ago

Martijn, Anthony and 15 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

We think something has changed at Montrose after the departure of Jean Bernard Delmas. Its not a bad wine by any means but the style is modern and extracted. At ten years this ie very drinkable and great quality but does not speak to its terroir as it used to. Hope its just one year… — 14 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Adriana, Daniel and 10 others liked this

Jay Kline

The most recent vintage of Montrose I’ve had was the 2000 vintage but I’ve have enough experience with the estate going back to vintages in the 1960’s. If it has changed, that’s borderline criminal.

Alexandre Pagliano

We have same experience, pretty much all vintages from 1966 to 2009. This 2014 is a good wine but little resemblance to our experience in so many vintages. We hope its a one off, but we dont really know. To your point if they changed, well its criminal indeed...

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ron R

8.9

I can’t remember the last time I tasted this brand, and while it’s very approachable, it’s a total construction site. Vanilla and over-sweet brown sugar with resolved tannins. Not my cup-of-tea, but will be enjoyed by others. — 3 days ago

with Andrew and Rick

Tom, Jay and 20 others liked this

Jay Kline

🇺🇸 🪵 💣