Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.2

The 1999 Latour has a dark garnet color with little aging on the rim. The nose is closed initially and demands coaxing, eventually revealing blackberry, cedar and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, displaying some secondary notes of clove, white pepper and a distinct earthiness that comes through on the finish. [Post-script: this is one of the few vintages I identified correctly!] Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— 8 months ago

Neil Blaze

9.1

A fine saperavi. Aromas and flavors of dark fruit, spice, a bit of cocoa powder, and a hint of tobacco leaf. I've noted a bit of Georgian script on the label of this bottle, otherwise it's all in French! 100% Saperavi. 7/29/22. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Classic Cabernet descriptors of Cedar, Tobacco, Red and black fruits and a herbal note. Lovely on the palate, drinking at its peak with excellent balance - smooth, fluid, resolved tannins. One could easily pick this as a Left Bank Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Shows more French restraint than the full blown Napa style for me. Medium + weight palate with balance and concentration. Probably my favourite Napa Valley Cabernet though admittedly I have not tried some of the big guns like Harlan. Post script: A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. No Merlot was used in the blend for 2004. — 3 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Rim to rim color density. Red and black cherries poke through cedar and sweet tobacco on the nose with dark chocolate chunks, plum, prune and date, toasted sesame, cinnamon, rose petal, and cardamom. Chewy tannins that roll satin-smooth initially, then cassis, black currant and licorice flip the script. Graphite and blackberry frame dark chocolate and mocha-tobacco, oak and black bread.


#dunn #dunnvineyards #howellmountain #howell #napa #angwin #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #cab #cabsauv #2014 #2014napa — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; no formal notes. This vineyard was planted in 1886. Bright cherry and bruised strawberry fruits with some orange curaçao, espresso a light kiss of spices. Overall, there’s an impression of freshness that’s super attractive. Forget what you think you know about Lodi; wines like this flip the script. A lovely accompaniment with burgers on a summer night. Only 5 barrels produced. — 2 years ago

Jason Gelman

9.2

beautiful and rustic. red plum, rose petals and chalky earth on the nose. palate is very earthy, gravelly to go with the fruit notes and a touch of pepper. lovely texture and balance.

post script. pencil shavings. lots and lots of pencil shavings. big miss the first time around. — 4 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.0

Not a bit of Georgian script anywhere on the bottle, but a big square of marketing copy on the back label. Ok, great—these wines need more exposure! Medium amber (amber—so much nicer than “orange”), light tannin, apricot, great acidity, and refreshing in a brilliant way. Perfect with a range of foods. A stunning value. #georgianwine — 4 years ago

with Alsu

Bob McDonald

9.4

See previous note from March 2022. Very dark Ruby in colour- impenetrable. Blackberry, smoky notes. A rich full bodied dense palate with a tarry note. Dusty. Granular persistent tannins. Again, Thomas Matthew’s drinking window is way too early (to 2025). This wine will cruise to 2030 with ease. When you taste this wine you have a new appreciation of the allure of Tempranillo, in this case old vine Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Post Script: The next day - aniseed and a crushed ant note. — a year ago

Jason Gelman

9.2

very honeyed, apricot, a bit candied, dried pineapple, a mix of sweet and savory. prefer higher acid styles but a very nice bottle of wine.

post script: somebody else ID’d ginger / gingerbread and they’re absolutely right. very gingery. great call. — 3 years ago

Evgenievna

9.7

I’ve been scripting the life philosophies of those closest to me:
1. My parents’ determinist universe: born into a predetermined script, Can’t veer too far from you class, status, culture, genetic talents. You still have to work hard to attain what can be yours. You can fail, become an alcoholic, waste your birth given place in life. But you can also ease in to life knowing things were meant to be certain ways for everyone.

2. I see life as a pinball game. You get spat out like a ball. Bump up against various circumstances. Some can keep the game going by feeding it more quarters. Others learn the rules or teqnique better. Some enjoy it. Some just float through. In the end we all end up in the same hole.

3. Ivison’s are in an action adventure. No plot. Typical characters. Loads of special effects and a ride.

4. Tim? He has a strong sense of right and wrong, fair and unfair. His life philosophy comes close to a balance board.
— 4 years ago