Dark berries. Prunes. Delicious. -2012 — 5 months ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, oak, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, dark chocolates and black pepper.
Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State is drinking very nicely now.
Elegant and rich. Fruit forward with lots of earth notes to compliment it.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years. Spicy and entertaining.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$80. — 5 months ago
This small Calistoga producer falls largely under the radar. I am thankful. The 12 vintage brings such fruit. However, this 12 Sisters rides the fence of 12 & 13. Shows dark currents, concreted mouthfeel in addition to its ripe, rich opulence.
The nose ascends with rich dark, purple, blue fruits, dark spice, violets framed in lavender for days.
The palate is ripe, ruby, lush, concentrated fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, very dark cherries, creamy raspberries, in & out strawberries & blueberries. Big, heated, dark spice-box, round, meaty, sweet tannins cigar ash, led pencil, tarriness, anise, moist, fresh tobacco, black licorice & cola, dark, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry, crush rocks/limestone, dry herbs-bay leaves, sage, parsley, notes of eucalyptus bark shavings, tree bark w/ hints of sap, touch of black sandalwood to barrel shavings, pepper, moist, volcanic clay, fresh & withering; dark, purple, red, blue floral bouquet framed in violets & lavender, excellent acidity with a lush, rich, big, round & meaty structure, still shows great tension, well balanced with endless polish & finish. 10 years of life ahead…properly stored. Wine post 4,600.
Such a deal at the Benchmark Bin Sale. @Paul T- Huntington Beach if you find any of this, just tell me about em, don’t buy em. 😂🤥 — 6 months ago
Perfect for warming you up over a special holiday.
Crisp and fruity with lots of pear and green apple — 3 months ago
2012 vintage. From the only other winery in Knights Valley besides that Peter Michael endeavor. This Beckstoffer To-Kalon/To Kalon/Tokalon/ToKalon (pick your interpretation-seen 'em all) goes for a older-school, much leaner approach vs the decided, new school, über-concentrated style as far as this vineyard is concerned. Goes even leaner than the older, vineyard incorporated Mondavi Reserves from the 80's/90's (which I would rate in the middle ground). All the way to the left for the history buffs. Tremendous concentration but on the dry, dusty, dirty side vs the biggie extracted ripe style in vogue the last decade+. Instructive and elucidating. Twere I doing a Tokalon Vineyard retrospective/blowout dinner, this wine would be first. 9.6.23. — 8 months ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I tasted this at cork pull and it looked & tasted a bit brickish. Waited to decant but it still needed a hour in the decanter. 97 a great Napa vintage. Well stored bottle bought from auction.
The fruits are lush, velvety & ruby; blackberries, black plum, plum pudding, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & blueberry hues. Dark chocolate, mocha, salted caramel, malt balls on the long decant, black licorice, there is a touch of v/a-bandaid but it’s not spoiling and dissipates some in time, dusty to slightly moist top soil, olive tapenade, herbaceous notes, soft, dark spice, half used, dry tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood, moist, grey volcanic clay, limestone, dry crushed rocks, notes of black pepper, candied, liquid, fresh & mostly withering, dark, red, purple flowers, very round acidity and a very well balanced, tensioned, nicely structured and a smartly polished, round finish that lasts two-minutes.
Second wine to pair with/ Allen Brothers Cover Ribs. — 4 days ago