Absolutely loved this cab. — 2 months ago
Enjoyed while a bit run down with some sort of cold (not Covid, not yet..!), but that didn’t prevent this knockout old-school Châteauneuf-du-Pape from leaving a lasting impression of perfectly mature southern Rhône on my palate. A deep ruby hue with some bricking at the ages give an already youthful appearance to this 15 year-old wine.
On opening, the nose had a lot of brett which tamed after an hour in the decanter, revealing savoury scents of dry cherry, game, charred wood and leather along with the faintest sweet hint of cherry liqueur, which for the discerning blind taster would place the wine in this AOC. On the palate, the immediate sensation is the tannins - wow! - which are fine grained but by no means mellow, providing great power to the wine’s gamey body. Plum, cherry, vanilla and orange bitters are the dominant flavours here, with a woodsy finish showing reasonable length.
A one-off bottle for me, this is showing very well now and could be fun to try with a little more age still. But the great appeal of this wine was its interest value as a CNDP from a top drawer vintage holding up super well after 15 years.
— 2 months ago
Just right fruitiness, not very sweet, hints of oak taste good, very nice — a month ago
Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tar and sweet spice notes. The palate shows ripe raspberry and jammy cherry with sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 25 days ago
N: Caught between Burg and CDP.
Pepper, garrigue, souis bois, black and red, animalistic in the best way. it smells tarry, spice, dark fruits. ( so far, it’s giving the last Clos de Roilette a run for it’s money)
P: light textured and deep, ( ha) tarry, plums, liquorice, chalky blackness.
Amazing Fleurie!
thanks @firstbottlewines
— 3 months ago
Deep roots of berries and strong florals — 2 months ago
‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish ending with sweet oak notes. Nice! A Fav! — 3 months ago
Fruity medium bodied Pinot noir. Very tasty — 3 months ago
Devin Bostick
Blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, leather smell, magenta purple, boysenberry, leather, brown sugar, blueberries, blackberry, hot tannin with focused acid, slightly hot — 21 days ago