Jeffery Heavner

9.0

Not one to drink a lot of white wine but this is a very well balanced wine . Good fruit, acids, minerality , and a bit of cream on the finish. Definitely a great white wine — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me, double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears, and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of ripe and desiccated, mostly dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, plum, mixed brambles, old leather, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (that is mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, Tempranillo (or based blend) or Grenache-based blend from France, Spain or the United States. I feel like this leans more towards its fruit than its structure, even though it is a fairly well balanced wine in both regards. As a result, I am calling this a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain from a producer like Dunn, 2006. Shiiiiiit. To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised since this is Cos and from a warm vintage no less. Drinking well now and should through 2050+. — 6 months ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

ripe, delicious, nice acids, lighter side of dark, holds together well, big fan of blends. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

93 that leans into 94 and will see another point or two with 10 years in bottle.

Sofia and I used to go to their futures luncheon for many years. This vineyard consistently yields fruit that makes one of their best Cabernet’s.

It’s lush as it enters and falls onto dry, meaty tannins. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries & purple fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, limestone & volcanic minerals, moist clay, dry tobacco, new, raw leather, still very woody, mixed mid & dark berry cola, plenty of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark spices with some heat, some dry herbs, dark melted, chocolate, cocoa powder, caramel notes, bright, fresh & candied florals that are dark, red, blue and framed in violets & lavender, ver nice round acidity with a highly structured, tensioned, well balanced and polished finish that lasts 90 seconds but still lands squarely on wood. — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Tropical fruit mixed with such harmony. Absolutely delicious. Very good to Superior vintage. — 4 years ago

paul custer

9.1

fresh squeezed grapefruit on the nose and palate upon opening. tightly wound out of the bottle but opened up after an hour in a decanter. time reveals a kiss of cherry and an underlying salinity mixed with a trace of iron. light to medium body and color. not a cocktail wine, but EXCELLENT with food. paired perfectly with black pepper chicken. definitely a go to for weeknight meal pairings. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you like Ca Chardonnay with firm wood-warmer climate backbone structure, this probably isn’t for you. It is closer to white burgundy, which is why I buy it occasionally. It reminds me of the a leaner, less viscous, 2014/16 Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet.

The palate is perfectly ripe; green apple, lemon/lime juicy pulp w/ zest, grapefruit with pith, tropical melon, white stone fruit, marmalade as it warms & opens up, Bosc pear w/ skin & lychees. Honey notes, but less than Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet, caramel, milk froth, vanillin, dry limestone powered, toast crust, some white spice, grey volcanics, saline notes, yellow lilies, white flowers, jasmine blossoms, mixed in greens, very pleasant acidity, well; knitted, balanced, good tension, medium structure and a smarty polished 90 second finish that settles on spice and minerals. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

From magnum. Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby purple color with a near opaque core; medium plus viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, red and black fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, black pepper, leather, dry earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium plus. Still pretty fresh and considering this is one of the more long-lived examples of Zinfandel I can think of, there is almost no end in sight. Drink now through 2043. — 8 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Presently surprised as I never know what I’m going to get with a Bedrock wine. Very dark color to the edge, nice dark fruits throughout and nice long smooth finish. Busy evening with friends over for dinner and everyone enjoyed the wine. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

1998 not the best Napa vintage. This defies that a bit. If I rounded up, would make 9.4. From their original winemaker, not TRB as in latter vintages. This is a little the other side of its peak but really delicious. On the first few sips, a touch a tomato w/ leaf. There is even the faintest of bandaid-v/a on the nose.

But the nose reveals slightly, liqueured, stewed fruits of blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, and creamy raspberries. Limestone, dry brush, mixed dark berry cola, black licorice, dark, rich earth, mid dark, spices, clove, some ruby, lush, fresh & withering dark, red and purple florals.

Slightly, liqueured, stewed fruits of blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries & blueberries on the long open/finish. Limestone, moist, volcanic clays, dry brush, mixed dark berry cola, black licorice, warm, salted, caramel, dark fruit tea, dark, rich earth, some fresh tobacco, sandalwood, light, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark spices, clove, vanillin, ruby, lush, fresh & withering dark, red and purple florals framed in violets, round acidity and a well structured, tensioned, balanced, well polished finish that lasts two-minutes. — 3 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.1

Decanted and really opened up in little more than half an hour. 54 years and still has vitality. There’s still some fruit but it is mixed with subtle acidity and soft tannins. A delight to drink and share with friends. Our friend was given the wine and wanted to share it. We all were quite happy.👍🍷🍷 — 5 years ago

with Joe

Brandon T

9.0

Mixed feelings on this - one one hand, it’s solid, on the other, there’s just nothing exciting going on. Also, Caymus using clear bottles really pisses me off. Overall, meh for the money. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. Last tasted 10.8.25 (9.2). Light-medium bod this visit vs medium bod previous go round. Fantastic nose still redolent of dark fruit-infused graphite, blood, night time riverbank mud and dark chocolate-covered cherry. Finish currently that artificial, grapey cough syrup mixed with espresso...a veritable ayahuasca potion flavor (don't ask me how I know) and fairly bitter. Wine all about the approach and handshake vs the actual transaction but still very interesting and worth the super affordable price. Not the biggest BDX so you could easily bounce into Rhône or Burgundy or Bandol to keep the party going. 1.6.26. — 6 months ago

Scot Walker

9.4

Mixed berries in the nose with dark fruit and black tea in the palate. Paired well with cheese and salami — 6 months ago

Tom Heckert

9.2

From the cellar. Big jammy zin. — 10 months ago

David A.

9.0

Light but at the same time very flavorful — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2020 vintage. General manager Laure Canu states that Cantemerle has never followed trends and will always be a wine of elegance, never showy. And that is exactly what it is. After 15 minutes in the glass, it displays bright cassis fruit, mixed with flowers and cedar wood. Medium-bodied, fresh, and elegant, with more complexity and more refined tannins, compared to the 2018. Very good length too.This is the finest Cantemerle I have ever tasted. Incredible value too. Abv. 13,5 %. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.

95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Grabbed another bottle, keeps getting better with age. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Fruit from vineyards in warm Oak Knoll and cool-climate Carneros with just a touch of Roussanne. Pleasant aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. Fresh flavors of peach, apple and lemon zest, well balanced, vivid acidity with nice mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with mineral notes. wow! — 7 years ago