Jay Kline

9.3

Celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary on the night of a lunar eclipse, this bottle seemed perfectly appropriate.

Poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 Eclipse pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and some rim variation. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of black cherry, licorice, leather, dried red flowers, inorganic earth and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A rather deft pairing with grilled spiny lobster tail and T-bone steaks.

While this is not my preferred style (16% ABV !!!) there was something about it that kept my total interest. Yes, it was a big boy but it wasn’t some ponderous oaf. It danced across the palate with discipline and sophistication. Drink now, with an hour in the decanter to allow it time to freshen up, and through 2030. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of very fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe with some tart and drying fruits: cassis, blackberries, pipe tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, leather, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the alcohol is medium+. FWIW, this is an impressive wine on the nose and the palate.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend there of) or Sangiovese-blend, or Tempranillo (or blend) from the United States, France, Italy or Spain. However, the shear generosity of fruit and lavish oak treatment leads me to Napa. Additionally, there’s a structure that gives me mountain fruit vibes. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, 2015. Perhaps I was trying to be a bit too clever but scoring lots of points nonetheless. Probably one of the more memorable, contemporary Freemark Abbey’s I’ve had. Really impressive. Drink now through 2050. — 4 months ago

Nicholas Cotton

10

With Jay and Ted — 7 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2016 | Opaque and dark. Multi layered bouquet to dream of: dark pepper, plum, leather, tobacco, Scottish pipe tobacco, everything in a rich, chic style. Chocolate in taste, rondeur as well as some unbending characteristics. A real treat. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

100% Zibbibo (Muscat), old vines planted in 1945. 13.2% ABV

Muscat done as orange wine in clay Amphora, and some time under Flor. Dried apricot, floral, terra cotta notes & texture. Dry, long finish. Very nice, fun & exciting. — 6 years ago

Tom Garland

9.0

1 hour decant (decent sediment). A splendid inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: notes of black and blue fruit, forest floor, truffles, mint, pencil shavings, black olives. Taste: blackberry/plum, cocoa, cedar, minerals, and a spiced oaky/graphite medium plus slightly astringent finish with some still there kicken tannins. — a day ago

with Brenda

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby with a Crimson rim. Aromas of red and black berries, chocolate, and smoked meat. Full bodied and muscular. From a single vineyard in McLaren Vale which was planted 124 years ago. Silky tannins. A great red on a cold night in Winter. Love the old fashioned label which probably hasn’t changed in 100 years showing the two Kay Brothers. Hope to have the patience to drink the last bottle in say 2028 to 2030. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Some petrol/diesel aromas and flavors in this lovely bone dry Australian Riesling, solid acid, some white stonefruits as well, great cut/acidity, medium-long finish, very good! — 6 months ago

with Jim

Mark

9.2

Big oaky flavor matched with strong tannins. This wine can cellar a few more years. Nice fruit with cherry and strawberry finishes. Nice wine that is pairing well with smoked pork tenderloin. — 7 months ago

with Jeron and Jessica

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with toasty aromas, aged in about 35% new oak. On the palate flavors of melon and peach with lemon citrus zest and nutty vanilla notes, good balanced with acidity. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, oak and mineral character. — 10 months ago

Fish Tony Fisher

9.5

Never ever disappoints. Beautiful wine. As good as you get for $30. — 5 years ago

George Hesse

9.0

This is another blend. But this time it’s Cab, Syrah and Mourvèdre. — 5 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

No specific notes but a truly good Douro red in a nice vintage. Lots going on under the hood. — 16 days ago

with Jamie, Jose and 2 others

Steven Moya

9.1

Love the Justin brand. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose and full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, toast, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, licorice, coffee, tobacco, light earth, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with nice complexity. Tangy and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

Still young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but already drinking beautifully.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 19 months in (32% new) French Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55. — 2 months ago

Diane Heyboer

8.9

Had the 2022 in February of 2026. Blackberry and dark cherry with a barrel forward character on the nose. Not super tannic- berry/cherry throughout. Short finish with hints of tannin on the end. — 7 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Vitaly Domnenko

9.1

Bm+. Tm. Am. Fm+. — 8 months ago

Jeffrey Ritterson

9.2

Touriga Nacional (40%), Touriga Franca (20%), Tinta Roriz (30%), Tinta Barroca (10%). Medium to deep purple. Medium body, medium tannin at most, medium acidity, dry. Some slight funk on the nose, in a very good way. Wet rocks, violets, light baking spices. Better after open for a day. Benchmark Duero for what I can find in the US so far. — a year ago

Edward Nelson

9.2

The other steak night bottle at Nolan’s cabin in the Dells. — 5 years ago