Ron Siegel

9.4

Youthful that will need more time but a great future — 2 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

PNP way too young I know. But holy cow what a funky nose right out of the gate. All sorts of green and brown vegetation, very weedy, but tons of dark fruit underneath. So soft in the mouth — which surprised me since I was expecting it to be way too tannic. Deep savory flavors. Great balance. So much character packed and stuffed into this one. Will update as it gains air.

UPDATE: As this gains air, the initial vegetative, weedy notes are being replaced with very pure blackberry liqueur scents and whiffs of smoky sandalwood.

Several wineries take fruit from the old, sandy vineyards in Contra Costa. Some make wines over 15% and the jammy fruit overshadows the other complex earthy notes. Others try to pick artificially early to get dry cranberry juice cocktail. This wine nails the sweet spot. Balance, complexity, and drinkability. — 7 months ago

Matt

9.0

Structured, shut down right now, needed some serious air to get going. Love the sinew and chewiness that it had, wish I could revisit at 15 — 2 years ago

Hanli Su

9.8

hou yummmm — 5 months ago

with Lanli and Nicolette

Henry Fuseler

9.2

3/2024. Full of flavor and nice on the palate. A little “chewy”. Would like to try it again in 5 years. — 10 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

A nice Bordeaux and a bunch of mesquite-grilled lamb chops. This Cantemerle is quite dense and youthful. Color shows almost no sign of age. With air, nose slowly unfurls to show lots of graphite, menthol, tight cassis fruit, underbrush, and crushed rock. Medium bodied, the flavors are tight too, and there is nice concentration, but it’s mostly promise for the future. Tannins are nicely managed and there is good acidity. 9.2+ — 2 years ago

James Everhart

8.9

Lovely label. $21 as a future — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Cassis and oak - the latter quite noticeable. From a ripe year where the fruit should be apparent but at the moment the oak dominates - mocha notes, but then again still has a huge future. Amazing what a solid core of self contained full body this has for 16 years of age, but still of profound intensity - dark chocolate and black currant. Will go on for literally decades - only have 2 left. Penfolds “Rewards of Patience “ say through to 2050! That is not as crazy as it sounds. This wine is close to immortal Next one in 10 years. — 5 months ago

Erik Longabardi

9.3

The Zin Professor — a year ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

2015 | Sauvignon Blanc
Claude Riffault; Les Denisottes
Loire Valley, Sancerre, France

3H decant, then double-decant for service.
Really coming into the zone (for my palate) with reduced acidity and secondary dry-ish fruit notes starting to peek out, dried lemon peel, candied tangerine; dried peach, day-old lemon wedge. Note to future self, drink remaining stock 2025-30. 🤞 — 2 years ago