Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

One of the very best QPR’s in Napa/Sonoma. I have had all the top tier Napa Cabernets. On the secondary markets, I pay in the $70 to $90 range. I enjoy this producer more than many of the higher-priced Napa Cabernets. Including; Realm, Maybach, Phelps, Outpost, Lakoya, to name a few.

This 2007 is right around the top of the bell curve. It delivers everything you expect from the 2007 vintage and yet, it’s a Sonoma producer, which lends itself to the expression, don’t judge a wine by its region.

My 5/24 note remains. To that end, for me, this is not a producer to open young if you’re looking for its best self. You can open a wine whenever you want to, but I would pushback that you’re not getting its best self. This 07 still has a fair amount of teeth. The integration and evolution is incredible. It’s flat out near perfect as to when to open your first.

The short notes on this are perfectly ripe/ruby fruits that are;, blackberries, black raspberry, black plum, haunting raspberries, dry earth, cinnamon stick for days, endless far east spices, dark chocolate, caramel, black licorice, mid berry cola, dark & red flowers with violets and hints of lavender, excellent round acidity, a well-made balanced finish that is the definition of elegance with earth and spice on the long set that goes on and on.

In a QPR Napa/Sonoma Cabernet race with the higher-priced Cabernets, it is not even close.

— 6 hours ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

My last of three.

The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…

This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.

The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals — 7 days ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Poised and cool. Great balance. A bit understated but that isn’t a bad thing — 21 days ago

with Paul and Ara

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.5

2018. Absolutely gorgeous on nose. Cigar box, dark fruit, beautiful development. Bit of a tannic behemoth. But backed with ripe and fine tannins. In palate complexity and a long finish. Brilliant. — 20 days ago

Ira Schwartz

9.0

@Doug Powers as promised . Dry leaves and plums on the nose. In the mouth spices, cherry , earth and good acid . Certainly the magnum format kept this alive. However for me it had not become complex and had a very clipped finish. — 6 days ago

Martijn

9.4

The ten years release of this 2015 vintage is drinking very nice now.
A bit overdone on the toasted wood perhaps. — 7 days ago

Patti Gamboni

9.2

Exactly what I want from Zin. Fruit with restraint and finesse. Not hot or jammy. — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min before and during dinner. The 1995 pours a straw color with a gorgeous, persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with apples, ripe passion fruit, fresh brioche, lemon curd, toasted marshmallow and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A freaking delicious Champagne. Drink now through 2035. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, capsicum, leather, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The label is beat to hell but the condition of the wine inside the bottle was perfect. Classic, old school Bordeaux from a classified growth. Drink now through 2043. — 14 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Beautifully poised and calm. Sea shells and a hint of apple. Fleshy supple fruit. Some red Pinot notes. Excellent — 13 days ago

with Bex and David

Jason Gelman

9.7

First time trying a first growth bordeaux. did not disappoint. beautiful aromas, richness of flavor, extremely long finish. wonderful. — 6 days ago

Ed Chin

9.0

Appearance didn’t seem to be for a 60yo. No orange hue clear rim. The bright red fruit faded within a half hr and died within the hour. 11.5% was a nice surprise. — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.4

+1 hour decant(some sediment). A gorgeous dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: mesmerizing areomatic notes of dark red fruit, currants, forest floor, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings. Taste: velvety, vibrant, fresh wine with brambly dried blackberry/cherry, earth, graphite, wet stones, and a cedar gamey raspberry long finish. YUM! What a treat to drink, and a success for 03...not too ripe, hot, or roasted. — a month ago

Rick Phillips

9.7

Just peaking in my estimation. May sill have a couple or three years before its decline starts. Opened and sat in the bottle for 2 hours. Poured a glass which sat another hour. Bold forward fruits. Blackberry, Plums, Black Cherry, hints of spice herbs that quickly fade into a smooth, luxurious taste of velvety tannins. Backend is just as the Front, Luxurious Bold Fruit but just a touch of old earth, lite tobacco and chocolate/cherry. — 5 days ago

with Letha

Ray Vanderhoff

9.5

Blend of Chardonnay (55%) and Pinot Noir (45%). Pale gold color. Aromas of freshly baked bread, toasted nuts, white flowers, citrus zest and a chalky/smoky note. Flavors of grapefruit, green apple, tropical fruits, roasted nuts, and a lovely note of brioche. Long and lingering mineral driven finish. Vibrant acidity along with wonderful tension and complexity. Creamy mousse and texture with a steady stream of fine bubbles. So beautifully savory. Thank you Jason B. for sharing this beautiful wine (and storing it so well) to toast Matt A’s 50th Birthday! — 7 days ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.7

80% new oak, more “Parker”, full throttle! Not there yet…, what a nose!👃🏼 — 10 days ago

Sharon B

9.5

A gift I thoroughly enjoyed! — 21 days ago

Winston Jones

Host OrganicWineReview, Assistant Buyer Savvy Cellar Wine Bar

9.3

What a fun lineup. — 16 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.0

Strange….
Evolved bouquet, plummy, balsamic notes, mocha, touch of sweetness, dark fruit, low acidity. Made me think 07 chateauneuf.
Although this was certainly enjoyable and intriguing, I couldn’t get past the impression that this was not a representative bottle. — 16 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.0

Fill was 3cm below the cork and there were signs of seepage, so I assume this was better a few years ago, — 19 days ago