Stephen Fitzpatrick

8.9

2021 vintage. Immediately hit with heavy aromas of oak, spice, berry, and a slight hint of leather. Shockingly smooth on the palette, flavors of dark cherry, with a lingering finish and defined texture. Paired well with NC Barbecue chicken and spicy potatoes. Decent go to Cab for under $25. — a month ago

David Koenen

9.6

Birth year tastings, evening 3. Enchantingly beautiful nose. Sweet and sour in a wonderful balance. Licorice, blackcurrant, Indian ink, dense structure, The smell of a just delivered newspaper in the morning. Chocolate, soft, pleasantly firm tannins. — 10 months ago

Elyse P

9.4

👍🏼 I’d buy again — 4 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.6

The 2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a total gem from Dunn which is showing absolutely phenomenal after nearly 15 years. This instantly impresses with stunning aromatics of dark currants and back cherries which are laced with Indian spices, bell peppers, tobacco and some underlying earthy tones that all come together and soar from the glass. On the palate this possesses an absolutely gorgeous mouthfeel, with big polished tannins that are beautifully integrated into the solid frame. It displays stunning balance, as layers of ripe dark fruits and savory characteristics expand seamlessly through the lavish finish. While the 2005 is showing impeccably well at this juncture, however there is no sense of urgency to start pulling the cork, as it should have at least another decade or two of peak drinking to offer. — 7 years ago

DCH

9.1

Excellent with Indian lunch buffet. Stands up to the heat well. Present residual sugar, but not overly sweet. Plenty of acidity to carry it through. — 8 years ago

Alyse Thomas

9.0

Went so well with the Indian/Nepalese Cuisine 😋 — 9 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Fit the bill with Indian food. Lovely Riesling fruit. Dry. Bit simple. — 9 years ago

with William

Jamie Amann

8.9

Dull red color with visible legs. Smells and tastes strongly of cherry or dark fruit. — 3 months ago

Marianne Zuhorski

9.6

It was very good. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose of cedar, licorice, cola, Indian spices, chocolates and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, eucalyptus, light vegetables and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville is already delicious. Fruit forward and elegant. Soft and smooth.

Showing nice complexity. Still young but already enjoyable even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter. A good quality wine.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. This Single Vineyard has good potential to become a 94 +point wine.

A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged for 19 months in (55% new) French Oak barrels. Only 7,200 bottles made.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 3 years ago

Rhett Reeves

9.2

Love love love. Big body. Eating Indian food at Kirma in Houston with a great buddy Nick Garcia. It’s a perfect blend atmosphere and personality, which suits this wine perfectly. — 7 years ago

Rani

8.9

Very nice! Paired beautifully with spicy Indian food. Crisp but warm, delicious. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Is there any meal better than steak (Ribeye) and well aged Claret? This is another 1991 Bordeaux experiment of mine. 1991 was a vintage with horrible frosts and a less than favorable growing season, right? A vintage critically panned. This is my 3rd recent 91 from a good producer. And again, it didn’t disappoint. Like 97 and 07, it’s better with the right bottle age than young. Magic evolution happened in the bottle way down the road. This 91 is in great form with a fair amount of life ahead of it. On the nose; a little ripe fruit funk, wonderful dark & lighter red cassis, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries, vanilla, light cinnamon, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs and fresh & dry red flowers. The body/palate is medium, round, ripe & still fresh. The tannins nearly completely resolved. Ripe, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries & half cooked rhubarb. Vanilla, light cinnamon, touch of clove & nutmeg, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs, a little band-aid and fresh & dry red flowers. The acidity drips over the palate and the long, well balanced, still structured, nice tension, good length finish lasts over a minute. Again, love & appreciate the 12.5% alcohol. What a beauty with and without the steak. Next time you’re in your fine wine retail shop and see a quality producers 91 that’s been well stored, buy it and have it with a Ribeye. Photos of; their exotic Estate, Chateau interior, newer barrel room and their vines as viewed from the front of the Chateau that are across the road. Producer notes and history...Cos d’Estournel has a long distinguished history in the St. Estephe. Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, gave his name to the estate after founding in 1811. It did not take long before Cos d’Estournel became famous with wine lovers and royalty all over the world. In those early days, Cos d’Estournel did not sell through Negociants. The owner preferred selling his wine directly to his customers. In fact, Cos d’Estournel was exported to numerous countries across the globe, with a large portion of the production being sold to India. It was that connection to India that inspired much of the unique, east Indian design we see at Cos d’Estournel today. Cos d’Estournel was one of the first Bordeaux Chateaux’s to bottle, label and sell their own wine. This practice continued until the death of Louis Gaspard d’Estournel in 1852. If you’re at the property, the statue on the bench in the front courtyard is of the founder, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel. The Estate was then purchased by an owner that sold their wines on the Place de Bordeaux using the negociant system. If the Chateau was not selling their wines through the negociant system, it would never have been included in the 1855 Classification. Imagine that! So, it turned out to be a fortuitous decision. Cos d’Estournel was sold to the Charmolue family owners of the neighboring Estate of Chateau Montrose. They continued to own the estate until 1917, when it was bought by Fernand Ginestet. This purchase was the beginning of the next major step in the development of Cos d’Estournel. Decades later, the grandchildren of Fernand Ginestet, Jean-Marie Prats, Yves Prats and Bruno Prats took over ownership and management of Cos d’Estournel. In 1995, Bruno Prats sold the property to the Merlaut family, owners of the Taillan Group. The next era in the development of Cos d’Estournel took place in 2000, when Cos d’Estournel was bought by the industrious and wealthy Michel Reybier, who earned his fortune in the food industry. Michel Reybier hired the son of Bruno Prats, Jean-Guillaume Prats to manage Cos d’Estournel. Things further improved with the efforts of Jean-Guillaume Prats who helped design the most modern wine making at that time. A complete renovation of Cos d’Estournel took place in not only the wine making facilities and cellars, but in parts of the Chateau as well. While the wine making facilities are completely modern with their 100% gravity design, the outward appearance retained the original design and feeling that has always been a part of Cos d’Estournel. On October 15, 2012, Jean Guillaume Prats announced he was leaving Cos d’Estournel to join LVMH (Pichon Baron). Jean Guillaume Prats was replaced by Aymeric de Gironde. Following the departure of Aymeric de Gironde in 2017, the owner, Michel Reybier took over managing the Estate. What makes the remodel special is that the cellars of Cos d’Estournel are entirely operated by gravity. There are no pumps of any kind to force the wine. The purpose is to allow a gentleness to the wine and improve its purity and allow for the expression of their terroir. It set a new benchmark for cellars not only in the Left Bank, but in all of Bordeaux. Perhaps, the most inventive part of the cellars is the four 100 hectoliter lift tanks or wine elevators that replace the pumps used in the traditional pumping over and the racking off processes, which introduce air and often destabilize the marc. From the moment the grapes arrive, everything travels by the flow of gravity. Jean Guillaume Prats called this process a “pumpless pump over.” The 91 hectare vineyard of Cos d’Estournel is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is located extremely close to the border between Pauillac and Saint Estephe at the southern tip of the Saint Estephe. The Estate has very old Merlot vines as well, which date back more than 100 years. Part of the terroir is situated on the hill of Cos, which is at a high elevation for the Medoc at 20 meters. They also make a second wine called Pagodes de Cos. This is a great wine to buy in very good vintages. Especially, if your budget prohibits you from purchasing their first wine. — 9 years ago

Christopher Vaughn Messer

9.1

This is a polished, crowd-pleasing Cabernet that still shows real intent. Ripe black cherry and blackberry lead the charge, followed by notes of cocoa, vanilla, and a subtle cedar spice. The tannins are smooth and well-integrated, giving it an easy, confident structure without sacrificing depth. There’s just enough oak warmth to feel luxurious, but it never overwhelms the fruit.

I opened this during a family winter getaway in Atlantic City, one of those cold, quiet nights after the lights fade and the boardwalk winds down. It paired beautifully with a relaxed dinner and conversation, the kind of wine that elevates the moment without demanding attention. Approachable, reliable, and quietly refined. Indian Wells continues to earn its reputation as a go-to Cabernet with class. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

96 that leans deep into 97. Always stunning from this producer regardless of vintage. Producer trust.

This still has dark, round, meaty, backbone tannins, dark currents w/ Indian/Asian spices. Ruby, lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum w/ dry skin, darkest of cherries, raspberry hues, purple fruits hues, deep baking spices, dark chocolate bar, mocha, caramel, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, dry tobacco/leather, dry herbs-bay leave/sage, dry, slightly candied to withering flowers framed in violets/lavender, excellent, round acidity with a finish that is well structured, balanced, nicely tensioned & elegantly polished finish that falls onto dry earth & lasts minutes.

This 2001 is still youthful & has at least another decade well stored. — 2 years ago

Karan Virk

9.1

Strong beer. Not sweet. A good full bodied Indian beer. — 7 years ago

Amy Erickson

9.0

We enjoyed this. Just drinking, no pairing. — 8 years ago

Yeis Eao

9.0

Sweetly scented with raspberry, lilac, and a hint of earthy funk. This supple, elegant wine is elevated by bright flavors of cranberry and West Indian orange peel dusted with nutmeg. Velvety grip and a lingering tart finish make this hard to forget. — 9 years ago

Scott Wren

8.9

A little sweet but perfect with spicy Indian dinner — 9 years ago

Sarah Gatti

9.0

Balanced. Nicely grapes. Would be perfect with cheese, Indian food, and other good bits. — 9 years ago