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
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
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
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
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
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
Timothy Eustis
Wine Director, Red Lion Inn
Old school. Balanced tannins and fruit. Really great. — 3 months ago