Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have waited nearly 20 yrs to have this with a steak. Tonight is the night. It’s still early, but a good first look. I would have the next of 3 bottles in 5 yrs and another in 10 yrs.

After a 3 plus hour decant, it still has brawn. With the Ribcap, more than the dark core showed up. Some blue fruits, ripe strawberries and raspberries came out to play.

This still has not hit its precipice.

This is classic Bordeaux & Latour in a grand vintage.

The palate has a dark core of black currants, brambly, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum with strawberries & raspberries & a touch of blueberries as it sets. Dry tobacco & leather, plenty of graphite, moist grey, volcanic clay, dark rich soils with limestone & pebbles, dark spices w/ some palate heat, hints of caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & faint vanillin, dry twig, mid berry cola, dry herbs, dry & withering, dark & red florals framed in withering violets, round acidity with still big tension/struture, balance is almost there as is the finish that goes on and on settling on dry earthiness & spice. Better in 5 yrs and drink well for 15 yrs. — 18 days ago

Brett Vanderbrook

9.5

Sitting on the precipice of primary and tertiary. Still has bright fruit notes with high acidity and just enough tannins that it would still pair well with food. But it also has forest floor, mossy stone, leather, cigar box. It will probably age longer knowing Mussar, but this wine has definitely hit its stride and is absolutely singing right now. — 2 years ago

with Raina and Michael

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

More advanced than other 97’s I’ve had. Still grit with flowers. Always get a touch of Cognac from the mid 90’s BV Tapestry’s. Less on the 97. Beautiful, ripe, foral fruits with spice, barrel toast with evolution & integration. Incredible structure, balance. Violets for days. Still has 5-8 years.

This bottle on auction are more advanced than my bottles or others bought at auction. This is just around it’s precipice where other bottles I’ve had required more time. Another 8 years. This is more within 3 years. I would add that a 1997 94 points rating greatly over shadows a young(ish) vintage of the same. Just gets better and better with each sip.

1997 the vintage of our modern times. This wine was about $25 on release, give or take. Today, it drinks like a $100 plus bottle of Napa Cabernet. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.

It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.

Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.

The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.

This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 25 days ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

This is the wine we opened yesterday evening the 2009 Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. From Walla Walla, Washington I have always been very impressed with this winery. I have not had a bad wine from here since Gary Vaynerchuk reported on the 2007 a number of years ago and I rushed out to buy it on his recommendation. I have several vintages in my cellar and I believe at least one more 2007.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black currant, licorice, leather, menthol, herbaceous notes and dark soil.

On the palate is black cherry blackberry, black currant, green bell pepper, spice, herbaceous and dark tilled earth.

This wine is full bodied smooth full mouthfeel medium+ acidity and medium + well integrated fine grained tannins the move seamlessly into a long dark fruit herbaceous dark soil finish. Here we are again on the precipice of our nations birthday. It is time to reflect on where we are in our lives and where we are going as a nation. I wish everyone a wonderful 4th of July long weekend since the 4th falls on Tuesday this year and I am sure many of us will be taking an extra long weekend. Enjoy yourselves and please be respectful of one another. Stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 2 years ago

Marianna Reilly

9.1

Floral nose, red fruit, light/mid body, great Sunday afternoon wine on the precipice of Spring. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This was one of the treats of the festival. It was in perfect shape and somewhere around its precipice.

The comment made by the women representing it was, she stopped pouring it to many as they simply didn’t appreciate and or understood what they were just poured. If you understand how this is made and the extra process to make good examples, you develop #respect

Not a wine for everyone, but amazing with this kind of age and older.

@Pebble Beach Food and Wine, From The Cellar event. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured and wheeeee!!!! Petrol, tropical fruits, lemon/lime citrus, super acid and a precipice of chiseled minerals. Some serious energy. Still primary but already quite compelling. It’s hard to imagine these losing steam anytime in the next decade. I expect a very long life for the 2015 GG’s from Lauer. — 2 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

Fully mature, dried fruit, leather, herbs, balsamic. Not over the hill but overlooking the precipice. Highly enjoyable with the bistecca fiorentina of a lifetime courtesy of chef Paolo — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

For those of you that don’t know Jones Family, you should. This 10 is so different from their 09. The 10 is wine candy and the 09 is a bit more rugged & structured. Not that the 09 is rugged. Just a relative comparison.

The nose is candied, floral, perfumed, lush & ruby, slightly bramble fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, and blue florals framed in violets.

The palate & mouthfeel is full, lush, ruby & glorious. Candied, lush, ripe, ruby, slightly brambly fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, boysenberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, lavender and blue florals framed in violets for days. The acidly is about the best I’ve had in a Napa Cabernet. The finish is extremely well balanced & structured. It goes from ripe, ruby, lush fruits that falls gently on to well softened earthiness that lasts minutes. This is an outstanding wine. Perfectly soft, well integrated with amazing evolution. Still has another 5-8 plus years but its approaching its precipice. Beautiful, beautiful Napa Cabernet.

Great pair with the Allen Brothers Cowgirl Bone-in Ribeye.

Photos of the Jones Family and their property. Their glorious fruit at harvest. Jones Family Vineyards was founded by Rick and Sally Jones. Unfortunately, Sally passed away in 2005. — 2 years ago