Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A wondrous still dark garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: beautiful savory notes of black cherry, graphite, sandalwood, chocolate, pine. Taste: elegant, polished, layered wine with dark plum/cherry, dark chocolate, dusty earth, sweet spice, leather and a nice long finish. YUM! Drinking well now with some time to go(unlike the 02s which seem to be fading faster). — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots of chunky/fine sediment). A monumental dark purplish crimson red color. On the nose: expressive perfumed notes of cherry, sandlewood, smokey vanilla, sweet dirt, licorice, and raspberry. Taste: elegant, soft, smooth, creamy, silky elixir with black cherry, currants, minerals, crushed gravel, and a smokey spiced tar long semi dry finish. YUM! Still has some time to go, but drinks well now with the decant. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

James Mosman

8.9

Very sweet. On the verge of too sweet. — 3 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

A rustic tawny color. Nose - initial aroma of cherry and funky earth followed by a musty herbaceous, and vanilla nutmeg. Taste - elegant and juicy coating the mouth with dark cherry, pepper spice, wet earth and crushed rock. Secondary notes of orange peel, cedar and sweet currants. Is still drinking well indicating it’s aging ability. Could lay down for a few more years, — 2 years ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other

Jeroen Koenen

9.6

Stupendous stuff. Soft, sweet and sexy in the nose. Structured, sultry and cedary on the palate.
Black cherries, Crème de Cassis, vanilla-caramel-mocha swirls. Topped off by some whiffs of earth, ink and soysauce.
Spectacular.
Dive in now or any time in the next decade. — 3 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of purple , just a bit cloudy. Nose of blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, a bit honey and spice, a bit hickory, and a bit bourbon note indeed. Taste is quite sweet from dark fruits, with some zest and warm peppery feeling. A bit grassy tobacco and bourbon woody note again. Aftertaste shows some more ripe grapes. Quite interesting. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1 hour decant (decent chunky cloudy sediment). An astonishing dark ruby red color still, with just a little bricking. On the nose: that sweet aged cab perfume, old leather, menthol, eucalyptus, touch of plum, little funky earth. Taste: smooth, soft, rich, precise and structured wine with dark fruit, smoke, chocolate espresso, pencil lead, cassis, spice, and plummy cedar long finish. What a delicious representation of aged Cali cab!!!!! YUM. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots of chunky/fine sediment). A fabulous dark crimson color with just a hint of bricking. On the nose: subtle notes of dark cherry, smokey oak, vanilla toast, sweet tobacco, cedar and green veggie. Taste: smooth, layered, dense wine with a hint of blackberry, smokey, pencil lead, mocha, pepper, and a earthy cedar finish. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant (lots of very fine sediment). A fabulous tawny ruby red color with decent bricking. On the nose: expressive aromatics of cassis/currants, forest floor, delicate aged Bordeaux perfume, sweet spice, tobacco, touch of creme brulee. Taste: A soft, smooth, delicate, refined, supple tannin wine with savory notes of pencil lead, crushed gravel, leather, brambly red berries, touch of cinnamon. Interesting to see where it goes over the next couple hours. Wonderful bottle for a celebration tonight, and then onto Napa for an event filled weekend. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Rob Brobst III

10

2018 Materium comes from the Weitz Vineyard in Oakville and is all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in mostly new barrels. It's a very different wine than the Amoenus release and has more elegant, seamless aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, flowery incense, and sandalwood. Château Margaux-like in its elegance and complexity, this brilliant wine has loads of sweet fruit, flawless integration of its tannins and acidity, flawless balance, and just a heavenly overall profile that I wish every reader could taste. This extraordinary effort can be drunk today or cellared for 30 years or more. — 3 years ago