Marc Fagelman

9.5

Wow! Jammy Fruit bomb, pure deliciousness. 14.3 horsepower — 3 months ago

Evan Roberts

9.2

I love these wines, lovely Grenache — 6 months ago

James Forsyth

9.6

Delicious. Intense. Savory. — a year ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.6

Stand it up for a week Major sediment Winery notes, composition
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
aging
21 months in 75% new French oak
cooperage
Treuil, Sylvain, Remond, Orion, Alain Fouquet


500 Chevaux is an automobile racing term; French for “500 horsepower.” Nellcôte founder and vintner Tyler Olbres is an avid car-racing fan, and has himself driven in the Monaco Rallye for Classic Cars. This wine is a high-horsepower Cabernet, meant to be sleek, powerful, and fully able to go the distance.
LAST BOTTLE Notes,

Nellcote was an uber-pricey luxury Cab that recently closed its doors, and, after extensive tasting through all the brilliant, incredibly fine-tuned Cabernets early last year, that none other than Phillip Titus (yep, THAT Phillip Titus, the legend behind CHAPPELLET and others!) made,


— 2 years ago

Josh Eichorn

9.0

Been reading reviews and I have to laugh. Drink up in 2014? Ha. Some definite brickishness on the edges, but like a good Barossa wine, this has horsepower to spare even 22 years later. Kept in my cellar. Color is still a deep ruby color (with fade). Had out of a Riedel red glass. Nose has some cigar box, mostly sweet red fruit still, some caramel, at one point there was a line of green (!) that came through, which was especially odd for a Barossa wine. Shortbread, cassis…a pinch of briar (the green streak evolves). Don’t get any of the funk some reviewers talked about. On the palate this is a full red, the oak has mostly disappeared, there are very fine tannins. Very little in the way of legs. This is a Shiraz, but the other grapes come through. This is an easy drinking wine, now. Probably its best days are behind it, but it’s a graceful, slow descent. The Barossa Shiraz shines through, keeping a nice, long finish. It may have been more “serious” a few years ago, but it’s great for sitting on the deck on a summer night. Delicious still. My date has never had good wine before and now she has. — 4 months ago

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9.7

The 2019 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is hauntingly dark and herbal in the glass, with masses of crushed rock and citrus-tinged blackberries forming its alluring bouquet. This is soft-textured yet vividly fruit-focused, with licorice-tinged black currant mixing with salty minerals and a hint of mint that lights up the palate. Brilliant acidity adds a lovely energy here, as nuances of sage and rosemary resonate on through the lightly structured finale. I love the contrasting mix of savory tension and sweet fruit that keeps me guessing at each tilt of the glass. The High Contrast Vineyard was planted in 2013 in soils that contain a higher percentage of sandy loam to rocks. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023) — 9 months ago

Marc Fagelman

8.9

I love it! Lush fruit forward wine, very approachable and pairs well with pizza and cheeseburgers! 13.3% horsepower — 2 years ago

Tim Crakes

9.1

The heat from the vintage has bowed out of the fight, giving way to the vibrancy and horsepower of fruit these vineyards are known for. I tasted David Abreu’s 2009 Madrona Ranch at Vinous’ Napa in the City two years ago and am being reminded once again how magical of a vineyard site Madrona and Thorevilos are. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Even as someone who loves the funk, I find these HP wines to need every bit of 10yrs to really unfurl and balance out. In my opinion, the Syrah with similar age shows a bit more dark fruit whereas this was more red floral.

Double decanted an hour, then consumed over the next 2-3hrs. Last glass was the best, but not overly different from the first. There is still signature funk, crunchy and green stems, peppered raspberries, olive, and iron, but the red floral/potpourri notes started to jump alongside a citrus/pomegranate flair. Great nervy acidity and tannin. Desperately needs food (went well with charcuterie board). If you enjoy these with some balance, this is starting to enter that window. — 8 months ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

Very minimal funk in comparison to the cayuse/horsepower but the minerality is nice. Great wine. Bacon fat, floral, gravely. — 2 years ago