Jamie Lauder

9.1

2020 vintage….a warm vintage in Tuscany.
Gaja from Tuscany.
Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah.
Dark plum, violets, black cherry, sandalwood, dark chocolate and earthy.
Great acidity and refreshing on the finish.
Just a baby…it will age well.
— 3 days ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

The odd duckling of the night, yet quite good. Dusty cabinet, roasted chestnuts, and baking chocolate. Hard to place secondary notes taking the lead here. — 17 days ago

Natasha Langton

9.1

A gift from Malin. So much vanilla it tastes like a red and white chupa chup lollipop 🍭 and in a very good way. Hints of orange peel. Smooth but with a dry finish. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Before I get into the notes, Flora Springs “Trilogy” is one of those wines from my formative years in this wine journey. Subsequently, it holds a special place in my heart. You can probably imagine how excited I was to enjoy the 1994 a vintage I likely drank long ago, out of a double-magnum no less! Giddy.

Popped and poured from double-magnum into red Solo cups and enjoyed her the course of an hour. The 1994 “Trilogy” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, currants, plums, tobacco, old leather, dusty earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. The large format has no doubt had an effect on this wine’s nearly evergreen properties but what a treat! Drink now regardless of format and enjoy this in its full maturity. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured into red Solo cups. The 1995 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some decent sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe and some desiccated black and red fruits: black, currants, blackberries, black cherry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, old leather bound books, dried purple flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. I sometimes feel like Cardinale is an overlooked label in the Jackson Family lineup. It’s been around for decades and these wines always impressed me, especially with age. Drink now through 2035. — 14 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2014 vintage. Last tasted 07.04.25 (9.3) and 01.30.25 (9.3). Decanted with some sed and tasted after 30 mins. Consistent with previous tastings in 2025. Hint of richness up front, then very businesslike afterwards. Fairly dry but began to fold a modicum of fruit into the proceedings a spell ago. Quintessential, affordable BDX with a decade of service tendered out in the boonies but back in town again and starting to hit the hot spots. Lean but not mean. Strike up the conversation in the next year or so and you two just might hit it off. 09.25.25. — 7 days ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

Dark rubi robe, nose of asphalt, tobacco, cedar wood and a hint of blackcurrant. Very balanced and fresh in the mouth, complex, with a slight dry port note on the finish. Much better than the first bottle. Good stuff even if we prefer more classical vintages. — 16 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Henry Fuseler

9.1

9/2025. Nice nose. Full flavor. Sits well on the palate. Paired well with the dry aged rib eye at Halls Chophouse. — 4 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant, black plum with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently Outstanding vintage after vintage. — 3 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Silky smooth and very balanced but missing a bit of ompf and flavor. Maybe too young? Seems to be the point of a second wine though... — 18 days ago