Old School Lane

Philip Togni Vineyard

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Timothy Eustis
9.3

Old school. Balanced tannins and fruit. Really great. — 3 months ago

Tom, Lyle and 3 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 4 months ago

Andrew, David and 18 others liked this
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

I always wish i have more Lopez de Heredia in my cellar evertime i look at your reviews. Cheers!
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Ceccherini Cristiano lol…I think the same thing. I certainly have some in the cellar but not nearly as deep as I would like. I guess there’s always time, right? 🤣 Regardless, thank you.
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline there's always time, agreed!
You are most welcome

School House Vineyard

Mezcolanza Zinfandel Blend 2018

A most beautiful ethereal Zinfandel that hearkens back to the old Napa Zins back in the 60s and 70s. A mixed black field blend of Zinfandel, Carignan, Petit Sirah. Vines were first planted in 1895, 1995 was the first vineyard (as John O didn’t care for any grapes other than Pinot Noir…) Barrels passed from from the Pinot Noir program. Aged for 18 months. Medium concentration. Pale bright ruby. Red crunchy cherry, white pepper, bread dough, blueberry pie, cedar, pencil shaving, hints of stony characters. Elevated acidity and medium-grained tannins. Med++ finish. I love how light it is on its feet and I would have never called it a Zinfandel if given in a blind tasting. — 2 years ago

Shay, Ira and 4 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Nicely matured and ready-to-go! Very old school Napa Cab nose with weediness and cassis wrestling for top billing. So velvety in the mouth. Tannins nearly all gone. Nicely concentrated, there savory and fruity flavors are in a nice equipoise. Lots of length! Very nice. — 3 months ago

Bob, Pooneet and 18 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

Delectable Wine
9.2

The 2004 Léoville Barton is less opulent on the nose than the Langoa but offers a little more refinement and terroir expression. A touch of seaweed develops with time. The palate is fresh on the entry. It is one of the most saline Léoville Barton that gets the saliva flowing. It is classic old-school Anthony Barton with a judicious dab of black pepper and menthol furnishing the finish. Excellent. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 7 months ago

LM and John liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

1997 vintage. Still dark as all get out. A quarter century has thinned out the massive body to medium body but the unified nose/flavors are full of chaparral/scrub, cassis, baking chocolate, gravelly dirt and blackberry reduction. Tasted approximately two hours after decanting. Miles to go before this one sleeps. In the zone now and likely so for another decade before any noticeable drop off in this old school Dunn experience. — 2 years ago

Ted, Paul and 15 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Love those Napa 97's, agreed they will be long lived!

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Rustic old school styled Bordeaux with black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, graphite & cigar box. A wine I have had many times that is just hitting its prime with many years ahead — 3 months ago

John, Shay and 19 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Youthful, full bodied, old school style of Bordeaux with sweet black fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, graphite, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco notes. No rush with many years ahead — 7 months ago

Severn, Shay and 20 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

Old school Napa 👍🏼
Took an hour to unfurl in the glass, but once it did! Perfect with some coffee crusted New York Strip
— 10 months ago

Juan, David and 19 others liked this

School House Vineyard

Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir 2010

Ruby in color with a wide reddish/brick rim.

Pretty nose of black currants, black cherries, raspberries, spices, light earth, light oak, wild flowers, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet raspberries, earth, light oak, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and black pepper.

Long finish with very little tannins and sour cranberries.

This 12 year old Pinot Noir from Napa Valley is delicious now. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Actually, it feels more like a Burgundy Pinot Noir. Interesting stuff.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. Nicely balanced and good by itself.

This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir is peaking now. A great sipping wine.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

I had the 2014 a year ago, and this is even better. Delicious wine.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered and unfined.

13.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$210. ($65 current vintage).
— 2 years ago

Scott McNamara
with Scott
Shay, Trixie and 12 others liked this