Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This estate owes its name to Connetable Talbot, the English general & governor of the province of Guyenne who was defeated at the famous Battle of Castillon in 1453. Deep Ruby color, with aromas of black fruits, herb, tobacco and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of plums and black currants with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well balanced frame. Fine tight tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and cedar character. Nice! — 8 months ago

romo

9.4

Objectively delicious. Gentle frame of fruit and acid with little tannin to get in the way. Wow. — 3 years ago

Matt

9.0

Not a deep montée de tonnerre, but shows ample fruit, deep minerality, on a more approachable and friendly frame. Immense value given the realestate — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Located halfway up the hill dominating principal valley of Barolo, lined by vineyards, lies a precious 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with complex aromas of berry fruits and fresh floral scents. On the palate the palate dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, espresso and fresh herbs give this full-body wine grace and elegance. Soft fine dusty tannins on a well balanced frame makes this hot vintage wine approachable today as well as have room to run over the next decade. — 4 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Petaluma Tiers - In my mind, a first-growth chard from down under.
I spat my pacifier out when the cork disintegrated, but I need not have been concerned.
The visual presentation is stunning - look at that golden color in the glass. The nose displays roasted almonds, nutmeg, toasted bread and white fruits.
Palate is regal, revealing poise, layers and complexity. The mouthfeel is dense, while notes of nuts, exotic fruits and oak are layered. The acidity provides a frame for the overall structure. The almost undetectable oxidation is to be expected, but that just adds to what is a stunning example.
@Bob McDonald, any backstories to share?
Pairing this with filet and porcini mushrooms (which I have never cooked) 😱 — 6 years ago

with Anne-marie, Eric and 2 others

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Roald 2016 “GSM” short for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Grapes sourced from Chalk Hill AVA as well as other California sites. Medium Ruby color of this lovely Rhône Blend with aromas of dark berry fruits, rustic spices and smoky notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry fruit with cacao, leather and earthy notes, wrapped in vivid acidity on nicely structured frame. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with a fruit and spice character. Drinks very nicely now! Good value! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

So delicious and balanced. Deep cherry and red berry fruit on the nose, with warm gravel and a hint of sweet vanilla. Deep flavors in a lively frame in the mouth. Nice acids and a slightly chalky feel from those Carignane country-boy tannins. — a year ago

David Kline

9.3

Rim to rim color density. Red and black cherries poke through cedar and sweet tobacco on the nose with dark chocolate chunks, plum, prune and date, toasted sesame, cinnamon, rose petal, and cardamom. Chewy tannins that roll satin-smooth initially, then cassis, black currant and licorice flip the script. Graphite and blackberry frame dark chocolate and mocha-tobacco, oak and black bread.


#dunn #dunnvineyards #howellmountain #howell #napa #angwin #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #cab #cabsauv #2014 #2014napa — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 2019 La Fleur-Pétrus has an entrancing bouquet that demands your attention, delivering a mixture of red and black fruit, licorice, fresh fig and potpourri. The oak here is beautifully integrated. The palate is very harmonious, with ripe, succulent tannins that frame the concentrated black cherry and red plum fruit, and a dash of white pepper and sage, fanning out wonderfully toward the finish. It’s almost like a slightly toned-down version of the Hosanna. This exceeds my expectations. A brilliant Pomerol. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 4 years ago

Mike Evans

9.2

I can’t overstate my love for the Cordier stable in the 1980s and this reinforces that passion. From a 375 ml bottle in a Gabriel Glas Gold, savory leather and a streak of mint play off brooding dark currant to deliver fine depth. It initially seemed a little dilute, but 30 minutes of air brought out the fine tannin and acidic structure it needed to frame the flavors. While fine on its own, it really took off when paired with a prime ribeye. A terrific final red for this challenging year. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Nose has lightly grilled lemon, wet limestone, oxidized green apple peel, minor oak char and vanilla creme.

Palate has day-old lemon zest, yellow apple pulp, dried white florals, slight lanolin and dry earth. Mild acidity, just doing wonderful tonight.

Our last bottle of 2016 😢. Paired great with large slabs of Steelhead trout on the grill, toasted orzo with garden herbs and a wonderful salad of microgreens with early lettuces from a local farmer. Our greens likely to be ready in a couple more weeks. 🤤 I really need a full on greenhouse, a cold frame isn't enough! — 6 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Lychee, pear 🍐 on a dry, clean frame. A little waxy, but for the money this is a real good buy. — 6 years ago

with Alex and Tim

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Inspired by the golden hills that frame the landscape of San Bernabe Vineyard at the southern edge of the Santa Lucia Mountain range. Deep color with berry fruit aromas and notes of toasty honey scents. On the palate blueberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, cacao and toasty notes. Smooth tannins balanced well with acidity, lingering ending with espresso and spice character. Nice value. — 7 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.5

Dark & still very youthful, perfumed & elegant, full of energy, ripe dark fruit, with a beautiful fresh menthol-cedar wood note. Layers of Black currant & cassis with some lighter cherry and a touch of fresh raspberries. A hint of dark Ghana chocolate. Ripe & sweet yet savoury. Complex.
Surprisingly energetic on the palate, with a firm tannic frame yet the tannins are juicy, polished, velvety. This is filled with juicy ripe fruit and fresh acidity. Impeccably balanced and with great complexity & depth.
This is a beautiful wine that is just awakening, serious & profound yet so approachable. A spectacular bottle! — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2020 Ripa delle More is the estate's blend of (50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot). Powerful and sleek at the same time, the 2020 packs plenty of intensity into its mid-weight frame. Dark red/purplish fruit, blood orange, mint, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco are some of the many notes that build in the glass. Give this a year or two to soften. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2023)
— 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2019 Ausone was picked September 20-27 for the Merlot and October 3, 5 and 7 for the Cabernet Franc, then matured for 20 months in new French oak with light toasting. This is very refined and focused on the nose, less opulent compared to recent vintages, and very sophisticated, with hints of Montecristo cigar interwoven through the red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine but quite firm tannins that frame the lightly spiced black fruit. Touches of pencil lead and white pepper appear toward the prolonged finish. This very composed Ausone might actually drink earlier than other vintages but unequivocally has the substance to age with grace in bottle. There is an abiding sense of completeness here. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 4 years ago

Philip Deibel

9.3

Home alone for 24 hrs! The perfect time to open something older. Fully mature Bordeaux... I mean Napa! Dried fruit and tobacco, there is still a frame of tannins but they are well integrated and slightly chalky in texture. Enjoyable but more mature than I prefer. — 6 years ago

Robert McCall

9.4

Wow. This guy shed its youthfulness within the hour after it went into the decanter. Evolved several times over the next two into a real treat. Dark fruit, cedar, leather, lavender. Scent geek stuff. Silky tannic grip emerged to frame dark fruit, tobacco/mint, a l’il spice box. This producer delivers every time for me. Quickly becoming my go to Bordeaux house. Awesome again. — 6 years ago

Michael Goldstein

9.5

Tremendous. Leathery, smokey, herbal, musky, cocoa, plum, earthy. Layers of deep, dark flavors delivered on a lithe, well-balanced frame. Tannins were largely resolved and this was gentle and flowing. Fresh and energized and kept getting better the longer it was open. The nose was beguiling: cocoa, earth, smoke. A beautiful, delicious wine. — 7 years ago

with Charles

Doctor No

9.2

Dried cherry, bit of raspberry and fresh plum, subtle toffee, garrigue, tobacco notes on a lithe frame. Improved over two days. Big nose of acetone present on opening was totally gone in 15min. — 7 years ago