Doug Cranmer

9.3

A Barolo in all but name (“No Name”). A beautiful expression of Nebbiolo. — 15 days ago

with Mary

Ira Schwartz

9.5

While not as intense as on release this is no where near a shrinking violet. The nose is starting to strut with scents of apple , brioche and nuts.That first taste still makes you recoil and salivate. Lemons , limes , biscuits, and a touch of butterscotch. Very long finish . Developing into everything I hoped for. — 19 days ago

David Shaw

9.0

Peach, dried apricot, lemon and orchard fruit flavors. Mild fine-grained skin astringency on finish. Decent acid, well balanced. Nice stone fruit aftertaste with length. Fine to sip or match with food not requiring high acid wines. — 3 months ago

Rufus King

9.0

Columbia Valley Merlot with medium tannin and high acidity, with notes of plum and tobacco, at Coastal Alchemist wine bar, Ogunquit, ME — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Showing a beautiful nose, once it opens up.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, cola, peppercorn, vegetables, spices and black tea.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla Valley is drinking very nicely now.

Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. I had it 3 years ago, and it is drinking very similar.

Needed 30 minutes to open up, and remove some of the bitterness.

The nose is very complex at this point. Really beautiful.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 18 months in (35% new) French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45 (current vintage). — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite deep ruby garnet core and medium ruby garnet rim. This is showing more development, with cedar , cigar box , cassis and blackberry richness , aromatic and enticing from the very beginning . On the palate with is well balanced with a good mineral backbone , grafite and blackcurrant hints , really good symmetry and balanced , refreshing acidity , polished fine tannin . Long finish . Showing well now , in a really good spot where this has development on the nose but no lack of fruit of backbone on the palate . Will certainly continue at this level for another 10- 15 years . — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. The 1985 is lovely and came more than willing, with a mix of tart, ripe and desiccated red fruits, Montmorency cherries, red currants, graphite, toasted coconut, leather and nuts. There was a slightly sherried character early on the nose but the structure seemed to defy age. No need to cellar further as this is delicious now and well stored examples should continue to be through 2030+. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Drinking well showing black fruits, graphite, leather, wet earth, savory spice & sweet tobacco. No rush with plenty of years ahead — 16 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. No formal notes due to the setting. The 2018 is a fairly classic expression of Beaucastel with a mixed bramble fruit set, underbrush, herbs and spices in lovely balance. Good structure. While still on the youthful side, the 2018 is already showing well and was an awesome accompaniment with a wagyu burger. Drink now through 2038. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

10

A physically pristine example from a well established cellar, the cork pulled clean and without so much as a hint of compromise. It was subsequently double decanted several hours in advance. The 2000 Margaux pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. The nose: developing and simply stunning. A cornucopia of cassis, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, new leather, cocoa, fine woody notes, dry gravelly earth and gorgeous baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid; the structure acting like the flying buttresses of Notre Dame. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is forever long and impossibly silky. Sensationally balanced.

To my palate, this falls into the very small category of wines that require no additional inquest. It is utterly complete. And, when I consider the company and circumstances, perfect. Drink now with a healthy decant and through 2100. — 2 months ago