North Coast, California

Rombauer Vineyards

Carneros Chardonnay 2013

Flavorful and fruit forward, pair, honey, and a little hint of lemon — 21 days ago

Shay liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1978

Shay A
9.5

After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.

The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.

Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience!
— 6 hours ago

Severn, Vanessa and 6 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

These are awesome totally forgot which back vintages i had.

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — 2 days ago

Tom, Jan and 16 others liked this

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Made a big family dinner last Sunday night, not often we get everyone around the table with travel and sports, so kicked it up another notch with a lovely wine — 9 days ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — 7 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 19 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

With a fantastic personal story our host Berry M shared this fantastic 33 year old bottle of Napa Cab. What a treat and experience. The wine still so pure and powerful. Lacking a bit of fruit but steady and gentle tertiary notes kicking in softly (leather…..).
Thanks for sharing!!
— 2 days ago

Eric Hoepelman
with Eric
Eric, Berry and 2 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997

Earthy and not giving away much initially, was worried after 20 mins. By 30 it blossomed, full on cassis and vanilla tannins, undergrowth. Dark red fruit, Rutherford dust. Notwithstanding a Bordeaux vibe there was no mistaking this for anything but a high-end Napa cab. Awesome one at that. I wouldn’t wait much longer… — 19 days ago

Ira, ESF and 23 others liked this

Austin Hope

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Don’t get the hype. Good wine. Very California, but nothing out of the ordinary. Not worth $80, worth $40 — 15 days ago

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2012

Has some fight, bite, and spice. Dark persona, firmly structured with a core of sandy salinity, a little weight and tannic tension. Wild sour green strawberries, unripe raspberries, cedar lining.

Reserved, but punchy.
— a month ago

Shay, ESF and 12 others liked this
Jay Kline

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😋
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Buy this year in year out. A benchmark Pinot for CA.
Ely Cohn

Ely Cohn Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas agreed. I bought these on site a decade ago. Beautiful place too

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

13.9% 1995 Caymus - wasn’t sure what to expect, this is drinking beautifully. A window into a past era of Napa in a great way. — 12 hours ago

Lyle, Bob and 2 others liked this
David T

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When Caymus was Caymus!!!