Earthy and not giving away much initially, was worried after 20 mins. By 30 it blossomed, full on cassis and vanilla tannins, undergrowth. Dark red fruit, Rutherford dust. Notwithstanding a Bordeaux vibe there was no mistaking this for anything but a high-end Napa cab. Awesome one at that. I wouldn’t wait much longer… — 3 months ago
Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 Grange pours a deep purple color with an opaque core moving towards a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: blackberries, raspberries, Fig Newtons, tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, coffee, some mint and other green herbs as well as earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is so long and there is remarkable density. I would say this is entering its early drinking window, but just barely. I find these wines need decades to shed their fat and really start to strut. Regardless, this is delicious now with a healthy decant and should drink well through 2057 without breaking a sweat. — 23 days ago
Simply beautiful. Wish we had more than 1 bottle in the cellar — 2 years ago
What a treat opening this 27 year old Napa Valley Spottswoode Cabernet! A deep purple garnet color with some bricking. Nose - dark fruit and wet forest floor initially standout followed by subtle notes of blueberry dark chocolate, fennel and a touch of tobacco & spearmint. Taste - cherry and dark plum stand out giving it a luscious smooth feel. Well integrated with secondary notes of dark soil, crushed rock, espresso, cedar and a medium finish — 9 months ago
I would say this bottle sold on release for either side of $25. At this point, stunning with Chateaubriand.
This is at its peak. Excellent integration & evolution. It’s in its stupid faze.
The nose ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, baked dark cherries & strawberries, pomegranate. Baking spices-clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, dry herbs-sage, thyme, anise to black licorice, bight red, blue, purple florals,
The palate is ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, plum, strawberries, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, dark spice, dry twig, dark cola, black tea, anise to black licorice, crushed limestone, withering to dark, red flowers, perfect acidity, excellent tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on spice & earth.
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 🎅 ❄️ ⛄️ — 2 months ago
13.5% Mondavi reserve from 1997. What a lot of fun to try. Not sure what kinda year this was in Napa, but this is delicious. Perfect pairing with prime steaks on the grill - tons of dark red fruit with great refinement and acid on the finish. Really excellent. — 3 months ago
Takes the reins as best ever Dunn Cabernet for me…needed 45 mins out of Magnum, nose all Bordeaux of cedar and cigar box with a touch of cassis. Velvety palate, layers of red cherry and chocolate espresso bean, long, long finish. Find and drink now if you can. — 8 months ago
Nagib Nasr
Little old but still have a lot of character. Enjoyed it. — a month ago