Norman

9.8

Name: 鍋島 大吟醸（Nabeshima Daiginjo） 
• Sake type: Daiginjo（大吟醸, highly polished; typically includes a small addition of distilled alcohol
• Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo, Grade A / specially designated) 
• Polish ratio: 35% 
• ABV: 17% 
• SMV: +5 (dry-leaning) 
• Acidity: 1.7 
• Brewery: 富久千代酒造 (Fukuchiyo Shuzo)
• Prefecture: Saga 
• Award note: cited as IWC Trophy Champion / flagship in at least one detailed retailer profile 
• Bottling date + lot: 2025.10, LOT 5732

This is built like a flagship Daiginjo: precision polish (35%), dry-leaning structure (SMV +5), and higher ABV that gives it torque and length rather than airy fade. The common lane is melon and tropical fruit on the nose, then a palate that feels tight, glossy, and more structured than most fruity Daiginjo, finishing clean but not thin.
Had this one again. Pricing was very fair compared to retail. This was my favorite of the two - it is silky smooth with a bit of weight on the palate. Aromatics are there and it doesn’t read sweet on the nose or flavor. Little bit of melon and super balanced. This is a great bottle and its freshness shines though it. Really like. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

If this isn’t the first commercially released vintage for Whitehall Lane, it’s gotta be close to it. With the help of Durand, I was able to extract the cork intact and decanted about an hour prior to service. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with some sediment. On the nose, the wine is surprisingly developing (still!) with a mix of ripe and desiccated fruit with brambles, tobacco, green bell peppers, leather, cocoa, earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and the structure is still firm but well integrated. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and a touch savory. What a lovely, surprising bottle! Well-stored examples can be enjoyed now and over the next 5-7 years. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Campbell Lane Winery StoneRidge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Oregon

Light burgundy in color with medium intensity. Pretty color.

Fruity nose with cherries, strawberries, blueberries, light oak, spices, licorice and milk chocolates.

Medium-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, raspberries, spices, light herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice and fruit forward Pinot Noir from Oregon. Nicely balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food.

Still young, as it was bottled only a few months ago. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 to 5 years, and see how it evolves in the bottle.

This Single Vineyard is tasty, engaging and easy drinking. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime.

A good everyday wine to sip on by the porch. I gave it a light chill and had by the pool, with cheeses and crackers.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 10 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36. — 5 years ago

Hayden B. Oothout

9.2

Wow. This might be the best 100% PV that I have had. Big bold and fruit forward. Inky dark as you would expect petit Verdot to be. On the nose there is oak and licorice, with a faint hint of black currant. It is complex on the palette, vanilla infused cocoa with licorice and black currant, nice tannic backbone to structure the wine. This is a great wine. Only 5 barrels produced. — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

Good fruit, but nice acidity to balance. Nice pair with a loaded Burger. Pulled off the shelf at 3rd Corner for less than retail, then just $5 to open. Love their wine program. — 8 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

Fully opaque ruby violet offering aromas of black cherry, cassis, cocoa powder, coffee, and cedar. Full bodied, soft, and fruit forward with incredible mid-palate density. The tannins are fine grained and alcohol is 14.6%. Made from a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot sourced from vineyards like Beckstoffer’s Orchard Lane and Dr. Crane and aged in 65% new French oak. Along with Duckhorn, this is one of my favorite California Merlots and is crafted by winemaker Benoit Touquette and consultant Michel Rolland to drink young. I favor a pop and pour approach. $95. — 8 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.0

#KWN Wine 5. Medium-bodied, blackberry fruit, lots of tannings. Tasting young. That was also the general consensus. We were stunned upon reveal. I love Bennett Lane and this is why. This is still going strong. — 9 years ago

Melanie Hogan DelBuono

9.6

2004 Silver reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. I had this in my wine cellar. The upper part of cork disintegrated. The cork had 1/4” that was intact. Absolutely delicious. I am so glad it wasn’t ruined. Full body California Cabernet. It still had texture. It still has tannins. I bet this could go another 5 years. — 2 years ago

Ming L

9.6

After some debates, I picked this well aged Napa cab to pair with American Wagyu zabuton and wood fired whole branzino.
An absolutely fantastic bottle. Vivid Ruby red with violet hue. Blackberry and plum linger around, commingling with cedar, pinecone, dried tea leaf, licorice, and leather. Not quite the plush palate I expected. Rather it’s delicate yet lively, with impeccable acidity and integrated tannins that still have baby bite.
The ‘92 reserve is from Morisoli vineyard in Rutherford with 5% Merlot and 3% CF. — 2 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Another winespies purchase that has proven to be a good purchase. Strong spice, blackberry and slight cherry, cinnamon, and more. Medium tannins. A 7 year old wine that likely could age another 5 - 10 years. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A blend of 56% Merlot, 36% Cab Sauv, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cab Franc, dark Ruby with aromas of berry fruit, sweet herb and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, ripe blackberry and currants with notes of cacao and sweet herbs. Long finish, soft ripe tannins ending with earthy mineral. Drink now & over next few years. — 6 years ago

Eric

9.5

Wow. Eye popping fruit and acidity. Just awesome even though I opened too early. Wait at least 5 more years. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Happy Father’s Day! Wonderful pull by my father in law.

I’m a big fan of this winery as you don’t see them around very much. Such high quality with impeccable wine making. Slow ox for 1-2hrs. 95 merlot/5 CabFranc. Espresso and dark cocoa dusted black cherry, ripe blackberry and currant aromatics...intoxicating. So soft, yet ripe fruit, on the palate. Cherry swisher sweets, baked mixed berry figs, and still tart red and black fruit. Can’t believe how tart and ripe the fruit is even at 13yrs. Outstanding. — 7 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.0

This is the cedar lane la mariposa. 95% syrah 5% viognier. Cool climate syrah. — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

8.9

Bought a little under 3 years ago, this one was opened at a good time today for a great crowd. Initially opened and filtered into a decanter. The wine poured without significant bricking. The nose was green pepper, grassy, and earthy. It honestly had quite the same nose as a 1980's Pichon Lalande that was consumed a few months ago. This wine had a bit of funk for about an hour. But then after that, NOT BAD. Neither it nor the 99 Spottswoode were the best wines on the table, but this shows you the way it was done in old Napa. Picked at just under 23 Brix (per the label), this wine still had great structure. Even 2 hours later, the structure was still there although the wine had blossomed into more of a floral rich finish with a darker, ashy middle and herbaceous front with dried red fruits. According to CellarTracker there are 25 bottles in cellars. IMO it's time to start consuming these wines, although admittedly I feel this wine will probably stay right where it is, if cellared correctly, for another 5 years or so. — 9 years ago

with Benjamin

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Very fruity on the nose with black currants, blackberries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, cola, Indian spices, pencil lead, light alcohol and black pepper.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, ripe cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, peppercorn, chocolates, vanilla, espresso, cola and light herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, spices and cherries.

This delicious 5-year-old Napa Cabernet is drinking very nicely now. Nicely balanced with good structure. Complex and entertaining. Rich and elegant.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is very approachable right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime. Gets more complex as it opens up.

The nose really blossoms after 3 hours, with lots of cedar, chocolate and cola notes.

Will continue to age nicely over the next 10 years. Would be nice to visit it again in 5 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Really good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. I paired it with meats, crackers and cheeses. Paired very nicely with the French Blue cheese.

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged for 19 months in (55% new) French Oak barrels. Only 7,200 bottles made.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.

This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.

It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.

Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.

The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Tonight is a continuation of a walk down wine region visit memory lane. However, this one is a do over bottle. You see, our April 17 visit was ill timed, we visited when they were sold out of all good vintages. We were poured a lot of very green vegetal wines...a fair amount of 11??? I am happy to say this bottle is a substantially better experience. However, still at least 5-8 years early on the 05 and will last another 15-20 years properly stored.

The nose reveals; plumy & somewhat jammy fruits, alcohol vapors, ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruits, cooked rhubarb to pomegranate, anise/black licorice, mixed dark berry pie, steeped fruit teas, black pepper, dark spices, sandstone/limestone, dry crushed rocks, very dry herb presence, dark fruit jam, dry underbrush/stems, moist clay, cherry kirsch notes, dark fruit roll ups with fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed in lavender & violets.

The mouthfeel is simply, ripe, jammy, rich & lush. The tannins are dark, chewy, tarry with adolescent teeth. The tension & structure have just started their beautiful integration but, have some years to go. The balance & length are closer to their top yet, will also benefit from a few more years in bottle. She is a ripe elegant beauty with alcohol & dark spice heat. Stewed plumy & somewhat jammy fruits, some alcohol heat but, not detracting, ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruits, raspberries, cooked rhubarb to pomegranate, anise/black licorice, mixed dark berry pie, steeped fruit teas, black pepper, baking spices, fresh tobacco, used leather, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick with just the right amount of vanilla, salted caramel, sandstone/limestone, lightly grilled meats, dry crushed rocks, very dry herb presence, dark fruit jam, dark chocolate, sweet tarry notes, oak barrel char, dry underbrush/stems, dry top soil, moist clay, cherry kirsch notes, dark fruit roll ups with fresh & withering; dark, red, blue, purple flowers framed in lavender & violets. The acidity is near perfect. It is a fresh river stream on the palate. The long finish is; ripe, dark fruits, well balanced with dry earth tones, dark spice with heat, elegance, delicious and persists endlessly.

Photos of; their tasting room bar, old wood fruit basket press, entrance sign and a long view of the Estate and vines. — 6 years ago

Alec Jeffery

8.9

Full, juicy with structure, great value — 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

5 Vineyard blend of Chardonnay 14.5 abv, Kirk Venge project. Popped straight off the truck
Morelli lane
Dutton ranch
Floodgate
Bacigalupe
Ritchie — 9 years ago