Rick Phillips

9.6

After 35 years I was not expecting much. Especially when the cork disintegrated on opening. Aureated on decanting and was happily surprised. After about 20 minutes opened to dark chocolate, leather but so smooth. The last glass was pure delight. Howell Mountain at its best! — 7 days ago

with Letha

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Medium ruby color. Aromas of dark chocolate, brick, plum, blackberry and lead. Fantastic wine from South Africa! Full of dark fruit and minerals. — 2 months ago

John Malcolm

9.2

An excellent, smooth wine with floral notes. A little less powerful than other vintages I have tried from Lynch-Bages. Cassis, blackberries, blueberries, milk chocolate, a hint of vanilla, and mushrooms. — 3 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — a month ago

with Brenda

John Malcolm

9.4

Powerful, voluptuous wine. Decanted for eight hours (it needed it), but silky and well balanced after that. Lots of blackberry, cassis, tobacco, dark chocolate, oak, graphite, and a hint of vanilla. Gorgeous bouquet. Long finish. — 2 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v18. Consistently very good! Soft toasted cedar nose. Luscious black currant and blackberry fruit with a licorice hint. Smooth , tight, black pepper, chocolate and soft strap leather finish. Nice! — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure. — a month ago

Anthony James Marr

9.5

Supremely elegant with plenty of life left, but likely peaking (if it hasn’t already) - loamy soils, dried tobacco, interesting and subtle spice and chocolate on the palate. — 2 months ago

John Malcolm

9.5

An outstanding wine that is drinking very well now. Powerful, but smooth and refined. Blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, truffles, and cedar. Long, satisfying finish. — 3 months ago

David Shaw

9.2

Rich, chocolatey, syrupy, light hop bitterness on finish. Much to like; it defines the stout style — 4 months ago