Tom Garland

9.3

Pop and pour from MAG. A splendid light gold color. On the nose: apple, honeydew melon, banana, crushed stone, floral. Taste: still young at 11 years. Fresh, chalky, with depth and character. Notes of pear, nectarine, lemon & lime, and a white pepper minerally long lean finish. YUM! — 6 days ago

with Brenda

Troy Dupuis

9.0

Had 2020 at Wine Spectator event and it was delicious. $15 a bottle — 4 months ago

Rick Castaneda

9.0

Black currant, black raspberry, gentle earthiness, black pepper, and slight star anise at the end. Lovely example of a Willamette Pinot. Medium to full body with medium tannins. Performed even better after decanting. — 6 months ago

with Kimberly

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on March 15, 2024 at Richland Country Club in Nashville]

49% Cabernet Sauvignon; 21% Malbec; 17% Merlot; 8% Petit Verdot; 4% Syrah; 1% Carmenere. Chalk Hill AVA is a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley AVA and is known for its chalky white ash soils. Restrained red currant fruit with mineral and graphite notes. Balanced and Bordeaux-like. — 7 months ago

Meghan C

9.4

Purchased while visiting the winery in August 2023. Enjoyed at home August 19, 2024. — 12 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. Clean and pure with concluding gravel/mineral influences. Leaning more towards Chassagne vs Chablis, mostly because of the medium + body, but you be the judge. 8.28.24. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Light yellow in colour. Paraffin notes with Toast and Honey on the nose. Good refreshing citric acid (lime and lemon) - still very youthful at 12 years of age. On the palate, purity and power with amazing flavour persistence. Regarded as one of Australia’s Premium Rieslings with good reason. — 19 days ago

romo

9.4

Even more reduction with higher octane acid. Cocktail Chardonnay at its finest. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 6 months ago