David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

93 that is beginning to lean into 94. This 14 shows nice evolution but still needs 2-3 years before it hits the beginnings of its full stride.

This 2014 “The Sisters” is rich, lush & ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark plum that stretches into pudding, dark cherries, black raspberries, some boysenberries. Dark chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, mocha powder notes, melted, salted caramel, mid berry cola, light; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark, rich, sweet earth with dry leaves, some dry herbs, dark spice w/ some palate heat, limestone powder, dry stone, soft leather & slightly dryish tobacco, sandalwood to barrel shavings, hints of lead pencil, touch of dry stems, fresh & slightly withering flowers that are; dark, red with lavender framed in liquid violets, excellent round acidity and a very well balanced, mid structured & tensioned finish that is elegantly polished and lasts a little more than a minute.

Paired with an Allen Brother’s Filet Mignon. A good, well aged Napa Cabernet works well with a less/near no fat cut of meat.

Photos of; the Jones family, staff harvesting, tasting room and Jones vineyard. — 7 months ago

Severn Goodwin

9.4

Nose has ripe plum, cedar shavings, dried blackberry, over-ripe black cherry, crushed black currant, menthol syrup and dried violets.

Palate has dried black currant, moist soil, cedar shavings, moist cigar, ripe blackberry, dried black cherry, rose hip tea with light tannins.

A beautiful cork, almost no soak; pulled clean with a standard screw. This is really in the zone tonight after a 6H decant. Drink 2022-2028 from proper storage.

Paired to Allen Bros USDA Prime Hanger with Dijon/Rosemary/Garlic/Lemon Zest marinade. Grilled to great 130° centers, 10m rise/rest to absolute perfection.
(I was honestly fighting with two cats to eat dinner tonight.) — 2 years ago

Steve S

9.0

Nice with tapas. Allen street — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

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. — 7 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Such a beautiful wine on its own and with the Cover Ribs from Allen Brothers. Beautiful fruit and earth. Merlot from any other place barks up St. Emilion ass. Pardon my French. Crazy outstanding for the $25-$30 I paid upon release. @ChateauIsbel — a year ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.3

Too young for optimal drinking yet, but still enjoyable with very strong long-term potential. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has ripe plum, cut red cherry, black currant, dried blackberry, shaved milk chocolate, old pipe tobacco, moist leather, dry oak firewood, wet oak barrel with fading volatile acidity on the initial attack.

Palate has blackberry juice, over-ripe plum, dried black currant, over-ripe black cherry, wet garden soil, dried tomato with a lightly drying finish and still showing mild tannins.

A recent acquisition, provenance is good but this bottle seems lightly undeveloped on the palate still, decanted 3H.

Paired to Allen Bros. rib caps, cast iron pan oven pre-heated then 1/2 stick of non-salted butter over the stove with constant basting, 5M to a beautiful medium rare. Served alongside our garden smashed potatoes, nothing finer than the vegetables we labor.

Wine Spectator: 97 points
Top 100: 1989, Rank: 2 — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Rounding up from 91.6.

Allen Brothers Lamb Lollipops and the 05 vintage from Bordeaux. 🤔 😋

The 2005 vintage was magical w/ star producers. Very good with the lesser regions like Caronne.

Pretty sure I paid around $25 for this give or take.

The entry is round, lush & rich. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries and poached strawberries. Dark rich earth, moist clay, lead pencil, tobacco/cigar ash, used leather, dry river stone, dark chocolate cooking bar, black licorice, limestone powder, dry herbs, very light baking spices, dark, red, purple withering flowers, round acidity, balanced, highly structured & tensioned finish that lasts a minute.

This could actually use some more time in bottle, 3-5 yrs. — 8 months ago

Krisstopher Nesbit

9.5

An amazing wine! I had the chance to sample the wine during a wine tasting at the winery. Great place, wonderful people, and all amazing wines. Notes of plumb and fig up front that blends into a bit of a jammy note, and finishes with a good dry note with hints of leather and tobacco. — 9 months ago

Eric

9.2

Needed a big gun to tame this dry aged beast from Allen Brothers. — 2 years ago