Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

From the Far Niente winery. Medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruit, floral, spice and citrus. On the palate apple, melon and pear flavors, with lemon zest, vanilla and toasty notes. Nice balance with bright acidity on long finish, savory with spicy rich oaky mineral ending, slightly creamy, very nice! — 14 days ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Could age longer. On the fruitier side of Syrah. Spiced plums. Dried banana. Smoked meat, tart cherry. — a month ago

Rima San Pietro

10

the perfect light chilled red!! got it from arlequin - get it again even tho a bit pricey! — 2 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Surprisingly good! — 6 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry, cola and floral notes. Bright, cherry and cranberry on the palate, with a black tea finish.

🏅90 Points - Vinous — 25 days ago

Joseph Barsky

9.5

Singing now. Loved it. — 23 days ago

Karilyn Lesassier-Van Oosten

9.3

Nice varietal of the Pinotage — a month ago

Deborah Fontaine

9.0

Drank with Susan in Braga. Quite lovely. — 5 months ago

Jacqui Hogans

9.2

Another great Cabernet from Far Niente. Full bodied without being flabby. Smooth, not spicy. — a month ago

with Dave

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 16 days ago