Bob McDonald

9.0

From half bottle. Generally regarded as Australia’s best “sticky “ (dessert style). Colour getting darker (burnished copper). Drank some with plum pudding on Christmas Day and finished it yesterday with Duck Pate and crackers, having returned from a week in Mossman and the Daintree in FNQ. Aromas of Apricot and over ripe pear. A generous mid palate with diminished acid. Time to drink this. Only 10.5% ABV. — 15 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1996 vintage. Multiple (6) bottles tasted 1hr, 2hrs and 4 hrs after decanting. Sleek and linear. Not gratuitous and giving just yet but close. Needs another 5-7 years to absolutely ingratiate itself into your psyche/cellar/glass if you're a robot/AI or actually have patience. Sexy af. Decided and dedicated temptress throwing out just enough historic, Lalande-styled love currently to seduce completely if your patience is lacking. Total siren song. Fill those ears with wax and watch your bank account. Beware. This just may be the longest lived Lalande vintage I've ever hit. Discounted the 1996 vintage big-time initially but deffy mistaken with this specific/particular wine. Hard to locate but if you do, it's a go to. Been trying to source since tasting this vintage, without luck, since this visit. Number one on the Most Wanted BDX list currently. Pray for me. 4.4.23. — 3 years ago

Andrea Wilson @farmforthesoul

9.1

I absolutely LOVE this Merlot. Not my usual go to grape varietal, but this one has some big characteristics & depth on it, which gives it the taste of age. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Lemon gold color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with citrus, sweet floral and complex spice, no MLF. On the palate flavors of ripe melon, pineapple, apricot and honeysuckle notes with lemon zest and biscuit notes, delicate, complex and well balanced, big and full Chardonnay. Long finish, savory, ending with mineral tones and fresh finish. Will age well. Outstanding! While I usually do not decant whites, this one will benefit to breathe a bit! — 4 months ago

Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 5 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.0

Always good and I’m a big fan of Duckhorn Merlot. But this one tasted a little more mass produced. Could need some time to blossom. — 4 years ago

Peter Collins

9.4

A little young but a really big, full-bodied cab. Deep inky color. — 6 years ago

Chris Buggy

9.1

Raspberry, blackberry, currant, big thick mouthfeel, long finish, tannins for days, but put together…you need something big to eat with this one, and luckily I had just the thing-pigs foot stuffed with sweetbread and foie gras — 5 months ago

with Jennifer

Shay A

9.4

Forgot I opened one of these earlier in the year. Whoops. Wish I had more.

Hour decant, then consumed from decanter over the next 3hrs.

My note here is fairly similar to the 2014 note, but there is more concentration and power going on. Dark purple in the glass, with aromatics of both sweet oak as well as a kiss of whole cluster stem inclusion. Loads of dark floral notes, ripe blackberries, and smoked jerky. Large-scaled mid palate depth and richness of blue and black fruits with plenty of herbal flair and spice but it’s more iron fist in a velvet glove style. There’s black peppercorn and iron, as well as big central coast Rhône style with its rich and textural palate.

I love Syrah in all expressions. It’s natural to compare these wines to SQN (and Andremily), and rightly so. These are dialed up to 9, but pull back, whereas the others aren’t afraid of going to 11. No right/wrong answer, just style preference. I happen to love both. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a beautiful one from California.

Dark inky in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of cooked blackberries, sweet cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, chocolates, cola, mocha, coffee, peppercorn, earth, leather, tobacco and light alcohol. Delicious nose.

Full bodied, big and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked black cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, mocha, coffee, peppercorn and earth.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Cabernet blend. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Delicious and yummy.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins.

This 7 year old from the great 2013 vintage, still has so much fruits, that it needs another 5 years to relax. Rich, elegant and extracted.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$55. — 6 years ago