Jarrod McCann

9.3

Nice Barolo with lots of limestone showing minerality and brightness. Still a little tight after 11 years, but it’s fantastic with a nice piece of beef. Floral on the nose with juicy choke cherry, leather, unsweetened coco, tobacco, raspberry preserves, and crushed blueberries on the palate. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

The 2010 Montée de Tonnerre pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, this is an absolute powerhouse; sizzling with energy, tropical and orchard fruit: passionfruit, tangerine, green apple, crushed seashell, lemon curd and chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of minerals. A supercharger of a Chablis. Tonight, this was truly sensational and an experience I won’t soon forget. Drink now through 2040. — 3 months ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Medium “tea” rubi robe, nose of crushed flowers, spices, and dark fruits. Good density and body, acidity, cistercian at this juncture but with excellent potential. Give it 6 or 7 years in bottle. — 7 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Tom Garland

9.3

Pop and pour. A striking medium gold color. On the nose: wonderful aeromatics of apple, honeycomb, floral, lemon, almonds. Taste: lean, waxy, balanced mouthcoating wine with tart apple, saline, lemon rind, crushed stone, and a minerally orange peel lingering finish. YUM! Should have more time to go. — 17 days ago

with Brenda

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium lemon colour . This is showing a little more complex and detailed than the last time . Lemon rind , crushed rocks , ginger and white flowers , touch of brioche also . On the palate a bit more dense , but with good balanced acidity and lemon rind , brioche , ginger and toasty , mineral finish. Drinkable now , though best days will be in 5-10 years time , though I don’t think this will be as long lived as the 2012 . — 4 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Another great one that was suave, polished, showing a perfumed nose of dark cherry, berry fruits with notes of licorice, spice, crushed rock mineral, graphite, tobacco & violets. — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

Tried side by side. Tasting these since 2009. These are now classic wines. The vineyards are very close to the tree line of the western slope of the black forest in Baden. Who knows what these clones are? May be the Cluny Monks brought them up from France. These are world class Grand Cru level Pinots and are stupid underpriced. With age they turn into incredible beauties which easily match GranCru Burghs. Will be a 10 in 5 years from now. The Muschelkalk is always lighter in color ethereal and elegant. Black forest thyme, touch crushed marble, wild sour raspberry, hint of black forest morello cherries, cranberry, Mexican lime, green moos. This needs to uncoil over night to really get the potential of this. Quite acidic. 12.5%. A stellar vintage. And sleeping beauty. I would say not approachable for a novice at this point. Lucky for me my neighbors get it. Revisit in 2031. — a year ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Slow ox for 3 hours. Deep ruby, still ruby edges. The pronounced nose was loaded with spices, olives, smoke, smoked meat, anise, clove, peppercorns, mostly tertiary dark red fruits, dried crushed violets. The palate was med+ bodied, medium grain tannin were a tad chewy and grainy, an intense but elegantly persistent palate. A long, spicy finish showed subtle fruit with the tannins showing a touch grainy/chewy and not as integrated here. Still a beauty, though not sure the tannin will resolve at this point. — 22 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Rich, lemon, green apple & pear fruit, crushed stone with saline & floral notes. Always delicious! — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨

1997 Jones Family, the year prior to TRB taking the helm and yet still a fantastic Napa vintage that is singing.

For me, this is classically styled Napa Cabernet. This is still not descending. Has another 5-8 years of good drinking and perhaps beyond.

Showing dark, meaty, dry, velvety tannins. Dark currants-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries, plum pudding, chocolate mousse/cake, caramel, mocha powder, dark spice, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, graphite, dry stone, volcanic clay, withering, dark, red, purple flowers, excellent round acidity and a well made, balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls onto earth & spice. — 5 months ago