Severn Goodwin

9.4

1991 | Cabernet Sauvignon
Freemark Abbey; Sycamore Vineyard
Napa Valley; Rutherford, California, USA
(93-95; Drink 2023-31)
Decanted 8H, more time appreciated.

Bought winery direct about 15Y post vintage.
We've always found the Sycamore as the more understated of the FAW Cabernet trifecta, but mostly over delivering each instance, and today is no exception. Some funky raspberry/cherry lead the nose, fruit leather, rich garden soil, shaved tanned leather; palate extends with dried Bing cherry, tobacco, dried raspberry, faint cedar notes. Tannins banished.

Possibly an ultimate burger wine when gratuitously paired with USDA Prime ground beef from Allen Bros. — 8 months ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.2

Opens with orange peel and white pepper, cider, tea, all sorts of florals. Oxidative, tart and perfumed. Perfect trifecta in this beautiful amber wine.

Day two it is more prominently mineral, more lemon-focused citrus, and showing an aroma of brown bread. Really quite wonderful. — 4 years ago

David Peifer

9.7

So yummy. What’s better: Lone Tree, Acacia or 2012 - the trifecta for the win. — a year ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.3

Coche, Ente, Roulot; the trifecta — 3 years ago

Andy Hall

9.4

Wow, what a night!! The Diamond Creek trifecta (Red Rock, Gravelly Meadow and Volcanic Hill) and Masseto. Oh my. They are all great! Masseto has to be one of the strongest Merlot’s made. The Red Rock Diamond Creek is a such a strong expression of terroir with a strong iron minerality. The Gravelly and Volcanic are much softer and approachable. Much like trying to pick between your kids! — 4 years ago

with Jerry

misong k

9.8

big like cab! — 6 years ago

Billy L.

9.2

Excellent w/marinara pasta entree; pre Turkey 🦃 day wine. QPR
Hi-Times Costa Mesa Note:
“Every once in a while, a wine walks through the door (not literally, but you get the idea...) and just blows the room away. This is definitely one of those wines. Our Hi-Times-Italian Wine Buyer, Patty Quick, believes this is the best Brunello she's ever had in terms of quality-to-price ratio. The juice is outstanding, the price reasonable and the critics are effusive in their praise— creating a fortuitous trifecta for those with access to it.” — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2015 vintage. Herbs, soy sauce, mocha, raw beef, dark cherry and blackberry in the nose. Light/Medium body with the wine exhibiting a little pinot/burg style with introductory leaner tannins and then fattens up with the plum/cherry/cassis trifecta. A Burgundy drinker’s Bordeaux that finishes earthy and herbal. Deliciously different. — 3 years ago

Jenny Hanniver

9.0

Less aggressive than I was expecting, but still had some nice acid and the tobacco/berry/stone trifecta of yumminess. Tannins were pretty shy. Pretty a jewel-bright. — 6 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.1

A Pinot trifecta: Noir, Meunier and Pinotage, the South African grape. The wine bubbles up vigorously, but the festive nature disappears quickly. The nose is earthy, but fairly muted in that respect and in that of the red fruit. Palate-wise, the wine disappoints a bit. It does have a tasty, savory flavor and a nice shot of acidity, but I wanted a little more fruit expression. Maybe I should stop complaining and just enjoy what is a thoroughly drinkable, but slightly underwhelming bubbly. — 6 years ago