Douglas Frye

9.4

Have to agree with the other ratings here. Great wine ! — 9 days ago

Shay A

9.4

On my first trip out to Napa (2015), Jarvis was one of the favorites, and so we went back in 2016 and again in 2018. We go to Napa every year, and it’s one of the only wineries we have visited multiple times.

This was part of a retrospective on 2012 Napa cabs, alongside Shafer HSS, Scarecrow, Morlet CdV, Bryant DB4, Dominus, Pulido Walker Melanson, Kapscandy, Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen and others. Definitely the most restrained.

For some reason, I always get a streak of green peppercorn on all of the reds from Jarvis. It’s not off putting, just a signature of the winemaking. I’ve never found these wines to be overblown/high alcohol. They aren’t quite Bordeaux like, but they are clearly in between current Napa style and a restrained bridge to Bordeaux. This 2012 was true to the above. Aromatics here has green peppercorn, tar, underripe black fruits and a very fragrant potpourri note. Even after being open a few hours this was strong with zippy acidity surrounded by pepper crusted blackberries, mocha, black cherries and even some leather (not Brett driven, though). Blind, maybe someone takes this to left bank Bordeaux in a ripe vintage…but the kiss of sweetness is hard to take away from Napa. Wonderfully delicious and complex Cabernet starting to enter a great drinking window.

— 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Another try at this one after a few years and mostly the same result for me. Solid if not spectacular. It needed an hour to open and significantly improved but it was a less impressive mix of earthiness and mature fruit than I have been expecting based on reviews. — 21 days ago

Doctor No

9.5

Incredible. Had low expectations and this was as good as Dominus easily — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This wine was our unanimous winner in our cult Cali blind tasting held back in 2012 against some big hitters, Dominus, Shrader, Shafer Hillside etc. Med bodied in an opulent style with good balance & length showing notes of blackberry, creme de cassis, forest floor, graphite, licorice & violet. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Friday...time for a break from the war on the coronavirus...and time for a WINE WAR! Both bottles have practiced years of social distancing in the cellar...there is no vaccine to stop this wine war either

2008 Hundred Acre...a true Napa modern style of rich tannins, liberally oaked, and picked late and ripe at 15.5% alcohol.

2008 Dominus..more old world style with firmer tannins, prominent acidity, more earthy and herbaceous...not as approachable young..at 14.1% alcohol.

Let the decanting begin...check back later tonight for the winner!

We have a winner! 9.4 for the Hundred Acre and a 9.3 for the Dominus....though if compared again in a few years, I believe the Dominus will be on top.....it just needs a few more years to fully come together.

Hundred Acre..dark ruby red color. Nose: sweet cherries, spice box, graphite, plum all jump from the glass. Taste: ripe cherries, espresso, cinnamon, plum..with a nice long finish and no reason it could not go for 10 more years.

Dominus..deep dark garnet color. The nose is a bit muted but the palate is singing. Nose: cherry, charcoal, floral, creme brulee. Taste: A creamy smooth mouthfeel of black fruit, chocolate, licorice with nice round tannins. Not over the top, drinking well, but a wine I believe will be even better in a few years. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

LM Segal

9.7

Pure blackcurrant perfectly articulated with dark chocolate, blue fruit and pipe tobacco. Mostly cab that made me think older Dominus, a Bordeaux style in Napa. In a perfect place with a few hours in decanter. — 5 months ago

Tobin Trevarthen

10

One of the best wines I have ever enjoyed. Just wow. It surpassed my 1994 Dominus benchmark. — 3 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

By Dominus. All Napa Valley fruit. — 3 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

WNH Zoom tasting #3 on 4/5/20. The theme was “10 years old or more” and I opened this after what I’d call a false start with a ‘96 Dominus Napanook. The cork was a bit soggy and difficult to extract and a sour nose greeted me as I decanted to remove a fair amount of sediment. But once the air hit it this wine spread its wings. It comes off as a hypothetical Volnay/Rioja blend as if there were such a thing. Mature warm red fruit, strong notes of rhubarb, cranberry preserves and sour raspberry mash. Very slight green notes but not in a negative sense. There’s still youthful exuberance here. This isn’t one of those “it’s drinking great for its age” wines it’s straight up exceptional. Great house. Great wine. Hell yes. Happy Bicentennial 🇺🇸🍷 — 4 years ago