Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, cocoa, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Tremendous balance. These will surely enjoy a long life. Drink now with patience through 2053. — 19 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.9

I have written notes on 4 bottles of the 97 Jones Family Cabernet. This is the most perfect.

I have had all the Napa Cult Cabernets. None have ever rocked my palate/whole body the way this 97 Jones has done.

This is sadly my last bottle. I think it has finally hit its precipice. So, enjoy. If there are others that appear on the secondary markets, you’ll have to out dual/bid me.

I could write more notes but my previous ones will still apply plus. I am simply going to enjoy near perfection w/o further notes. Cheers! 🍷

Coravined bottle from last weekend relaid in storage. If I had a long enough thin tongue, I’d lick the inside of the bottle. 🤔😂 😋

#TheTwoHourSteak — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Family-owned and operated since 1985. Found a ‘16 vintage in my cellar. Grapes sourced from several vineyards, complex aromas of fruits, citrus & sweet spice. On the palate ripe fruits, apple, pear and peach with lemon citrus and vanilla adding toasty oak. French oak aging, great balance, lingering ending with toasty oak finish. I continue to have this wine as a staple in my cellar for a number of years. Enjoy! Great value, compared to Chards costing more! — 7 years ago

C. Robinson

9.2

This is a really good flavorful solid gin. Perfect on one large rock with a lime. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby red color with aromas of berry fruit and earthy spice, aged for 24 months in stainless and large oak barrels, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, #17 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum with tobacco, floral and earthy flowery notes. Full-bodied, well balanced approachable tannins on a medium+ finish ending with fruit, espresso and a mineral character. Grab some Italian food and enjoy. — a month ago

Ted Holland

9.3

Beautiful wine full of fruit and structure. The nose is delicate but I am pulling baking spices, violets and dark fruits. This wine brings balance and finesse that can easily go many more years. Tannins are elegant but strong, not grippy but structured. Delicious leading with dark cherry but developing into an elegant display of terroir and artistry!! Enjoy!! — 4 months ago

Andrea

10

Delicious!!! Warm, soft. Enjoy and be merry. Lucious purple plum flavor. #MAH — 6 months ago

Doug Chapman

9.4

Shared with friends at Beuc Osteria in Cernobio! So nice we had to get another! Lovely notes that made us sit back and enjoy instead of talking, ha! Love — 9 months ago

Chris Anton

9.2

Such a wonderful wine to enjoy on the weekend with friends. In Scouts Honor! Cheers!!! — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Champagne is for celebrating & today is a day most worthy of celebration. The Ruinart N/V Rosé is always solid at a 92 on the palate but, today its celebration value is a solid 10.

I will let my many previous notes stand while we enjoy celebrating! Cheers all! 🍾🥂 — 6 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

It’s me again, still lovin’ it — 7 years ago

Patrick Nolan

9.1

Honey Gin from Father IL — 7 years ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.1

2023 Vintage. A very pleasant and easy drinking Napa Cab up front. Decent aroma on the nose, vibrant notes of cherry and blackberry, delicately structured tannins, with a very smooth finish. Not chewy or viscous, but still a bold Cab flavor that resonates with the right amount of spice. Would gladly enjoy again. — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous purplish garnet color. On the nose: Intoxicating musky notes of dark fruit, potting soil, worn leather, truffles, stewed meat, slight menthol. Taste: velvety, seamless, balanced, intense wine with dark fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, mineral, herbs, and a chocolate graphite long never-ending finish. YUM! This wine has aged gracefully and has more gas in the tank. Enjoy. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148 — 8 months ago

Patrick O Driscoll

9.7

Fantastic wine full bodied, shaped and ready to enjoy, the nose is full of instal and lingering aromas — 2 years ago

Sean Peay

9.2

About to enjoy a great dinner at The Food Market in Columbia — 5 years ago

Shawn R

9.2

Such a fun bottle to enjoy with friends. While 77 is not the prized vintage this really shined. Fruit stills shines, touch of acid. Drink now. — 7 years ago

with David and Ron

Eric B

9.5

The 2016 is wonderful. Buy it! Drink it! Enjoy life! — 7 years ago