Mark Howard

9.5

Selected for a 10 year anniversary celebration. Well aged bubbles; soft and supple. Great choice for the occasion; duh!!! Aromas of Asian pear and green apple front and center; with citrus and tropical fruits gaining on the race to overwhelm the senses. Round and toasty finish. Elegant, soft , supple, with power and finesse. Yum!! — 2 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.1

A true Russian River pinot. The vineyard and producer suggested exceptional potential in the glass. Red fruit aromatics, followed by soft tannins and an elegant finish. Overall, I expected more. A solid wine with much to offer. I was left asking for more. I like it; it just does not knock me off my feet. Am I expecting too much based on pedigree? Possibly and yet yes. From this vineyard and this wine maker - ABSOLUTELY! We have a few more bottles to enjoy and see were the evolution takes us. — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.4

A preferred house fir Corton Charlemagne and a favorite vintage from this house over the past decade. This bottle is spot on, in my humble opinion. Aromatics show tropical fruits of coconut, oak, acacia, and more. Mid palate of big bold resins and viscosity. Finish lasts more than a minute. Wish I had more bottles to pull out of the locker to enjoy!! — 4 years ago

with Blake and Richard

Mark Howard

9.8

WOW! One of the best pleasures in life is enjoying a spectacular wine at its pinnacle. Tonight was one of those nights. Dining with life long friends we enjoyed this wine. A dear friend selected this bottle as a backup for dinner. A definite case of Wally Pip taking the day off. This wine is not just peaking, it sings from the glass. Everything you expect from a classic Napa Cab with the style, elegance, and finesse of a First Growth in spades! You want aromatics, here is red and black fruits, cigar tobacco, lavender, anise, scorched earth, Asian spice…okay so we drifted into mid palate yummy flavors. A finish that lingers while dancing over the palate for more than 30 seconds, titillating the taste buds into pleasurable submission. Did I mention the WOW factor? This wine has it! Where can we find more?!?? What a spectacular selection! — 3 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.5

Wine and friendship are often synonymous. This bottle shared with Dino is a continuation of a journey many decades in the making. Dino introduced me to the magic of Cristal during our 20’s. Dino describes this as “liquid silk”. My comments begin with Toasty, brioche, Granny Smith apple, Asian Pear. Rich and lovely, young and elegant, nice now, but capable of more with time and patience. Why wait, our friends are here now. Cheers!! — 4 years ago

Mark Howard

9.6

Fully mature Napa Cabernet. Aromatics show blackberry, plum. Mid palate of saddle leather, tobacco, lavender. Soft tannins that finish big, bold & elegant. Nice long finish, typical Napa. At its peak. Glad we chose this to celebrate our anniversary. Thanks Bart & Daphne! #Intermezzosantabarbara; — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

8.9

Hints of spicy citrus as the glass swirls. The typical minerality in the forward flavors pushes the tropical fruits to the background. Nice and clean. — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.6

Aged Cabernet from Napa is enjoyable. Aged Cabernet from one of the few New World Bordeaux producers can be a heavenly experience. This version is hitting all the notes in its solo performance. Blackberry, currant, leather, tobacco, smoke and a giant YUM! Deep thick rich elegant expressive. Yes, something to enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years. — 4 years ago

with Renegade and Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.3

A big and bold version of Russian River pinot. We have worked our way through the better part of the the case by now. Dark black fruit aromatics with saddle leather on the back side. Tannins have finally softened and integrated into a single profile. The color shows a tinge of cloudiness as appropriate for its age. The wine is in a great place of integrated flavors, tannins, and a terrific finish lasting over a minute. Interestingly, as the finish continues the front palate flavors morph toward the red berry fruits- raspberry, cherry. A wonderful presentation of the terroir of the vineyard. Yes, I can call this a classic wine from the Bacigalupi vineyard! — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Mark Howard

9.5

Where to start? Ridiculously good says Elizabeth. Floral aromatics reminiscent of perfume dance you towards the mid palate extravaganza of flavors - Asian pear, fresh lychee, elegant tropical fruits that move towards mid palate of small elegant bubbles with a lovely full body; effortlessly sashaying into a long finish that keeps giving. This wine is at its peak. Glad we have more! — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth