Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep, dark Ruby with a big fruity nose and lots of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. Nice! — 10 days ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

Very pleasant, mild tannins, some fruit. Went well with pot roast meat. — 21 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. Early on, this was a probably my favorite of the three Moutons and showed well throughout the course of the evening. Expressive red and dark forest fruits with tobacco, leather, earth and baking spices. The structure was still showing its tensile strength. This has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2040. — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 6 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

Big wine. Very ripe red and black fruit, but of minerality. Very expressive. Very easy drinking. Tannins have softened nicely but still give a grippy mouthfeel which leads to a long finish. — 11 days ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Medium ruby color. Aromas of dark chocolate, brick, plum, blackberry and lead. Fantastic wine from South Africa! Full of dark fruit and minerals. — 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 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/brick rim.

Very fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, tobacco, spices and black pepper. Still smells fresh.

Full bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, dried fruits, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5-year-old Zinfandel is drinking very nicely now, and displaying good aging characteristics, likely due to it being a 375 ml bottle. Complex, with a soft mouthfeel

Peaking now, so drink up. Good right out of the bottle and better than I expected.

Good by itself or with food. Stood up pretty well to the strong French Blue Cheese.

A blend of 85% Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20 (375ml). — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Complex, spicy and tangy. Rich and elegant.

Showing a great mouthfeel with good balance.

Needs 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent, although not as good as their Estate Cabernet.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

A nice sipping wine, good by itself or with food.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. This was stunning and to my palate, on this night, seemed to show the best of the Napa flight. The 1992 shows classic Dunn Howell with ample dark and red fruits, tobacco, earth, leather and fine baking spices. Stout structure. Everything in beautiful balance. Drink now with unmitigated glee and through 2042 because just like Barry, this has Staying Power. — 3 days ago