Steve Rura

9.3

Other ratings called this “closed” which I completely agree with. The dense flavors took forever to open up. I popped it at noon for a 7:30p dinner of chick pea and potato pasta, and it was still developing. Highly tannic, but so layered if you have the patience. Darker fruits, yet still some tart red cherry, lavender, rose petals, and ashy dryness. Complex, classic Barolo (from my limited experience). I’ll save my second bottle to see how it develops. — 10 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.5

Nose is crazy elegant. Intense cherry flower. Cherry liquor.

Palate is amazing. Silky cherries. Integrated spice. Wow. So good. Juicy. Refined. Elegant. Wow. Cherry liquor internal aromatics. Crazy elegant acidity. Will age forever. Silky tannins. Palate staining. Just coats and saturates the palate.

Finish just pumps elegant perfect cherries. Lasts all night. — 3 years ago

Brian Reedy

9.6

Sublime. Delicious bouquet of honeysuckle and caramel. Elegant and beautiful and lingers forever. Just lovely — 4 years ago

with Sarah

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Just incredible. Needs 5 mins for sulfur to blow off. Then massive blueberry, granite, clay and so so mineral. The most mineral St. Joseph of them all. Floral. But so much clay and mineral. So unique. Nothing like Fauterie. Complex, fresh and so mineral. Like the energy on this wine is beyond ridiculous. Stunning depth and purity. Ripe and juicy tannins and this is like 80% mineral and 20% fruit. What a wine. Finish is forever and has hints of white pepper and lingering blue fruits. — 4 years ago

Norman Gennaro

9.5

Wow what a delightful flavor profile. A bit of raisin in the finish. Fills the mouth and lasts forever. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The somewhat lesser known “second” wine of Screaming Eagle is actually a much different wine than its big brother as it includes a lot more Merlot in the blend. In fact, the 2011 vintage contained more Merlot (54%) than Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) with the balance covered by Cabernet Franc. However, they still spare no expense in making the wine the very best it can be and, despite being known as the second wine, it’s actually more limited in production than Screagle. This particular bottle was shared by a very generous friend and decanted about 30 minutes before service.

The 2011 Second Flight pours a dark garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium+ intensity with pronounced pyrazines imparting green bell pepper along with with tobacco, black bramble fruit, black currants, rich earth, crushed rock, semi-sweet chocolate, dried herbs, purple flowers, baking cocoa, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannins (which are very rich and very fine) and medium+ acid. The wine finishes forever long with tobacco, dark fruits, earth, nutmeg other baking spices. I have to admit, this was a killer bottle and probably the best 2011’s I’ve yet to enjoy from Napa. Whoa. — 3 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.6

Sometimes you visit friends at restaurants and sometime STUPID people leave behind some Krug (morons) and you friend gives you a sip of their discarded magic. So...everything. I forever love Krug. Dunno if I love it or Dom Ruinart better I guess it depends on the style I desire. — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Wow. Absolutely stunning tonight. So generous and giving after hardly any aeration, 2000 Angelus wafts from the glass and the decanter with explosive aromatics of blackberry jam, creme de cassis, cigar box and damp earth. It has the most perfect balance of deep fruit intensity and tertiary character, and the palate shows an incredible combination of finesse, density and lift, with a regal mouthfeel and melting tannins. Just stays with you forever. A masterful seesaw between power and elegance. For my tastes, this is in the perfect spot. Fabulous. — 2 years ago

Charles York

9.3

Dark cherry. Tobacco. Tar. Stone. Dark dried fruits. Amazing nose. Evolves. Can age forever. I think the Vaillerano is becoming my favorite La Spinetta. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Always and forever one of my absolute favorite wines. 07 Reynard from the master showed just as well as the bottle I had in February. It’s deep, powerful and has a searing intensity. It’s layered with dark fruit, campfire smoke, olive tapenade, violets and a crushed rock minerality. There is superb concentration along with a firm tannic structure that is beginning to soften. It’s exceptionally well balanced and detailed with a palate saturating texture and a harmonious finish that goes on and on. An outstanding Reynard. — 3 years ago