Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Dark Ruby red color with aromas of ripe dark fruits and an array of spices from cigar box to spice cake. On the palate flavors of black cherry preserves and blackberry jam, layering in some licorice, leather, tobacco and black pepper spice. Savory tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy character. Nice! — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

A robust Zin and multilayered Zin from the best tasting barrels this winery produces. A truly artisan wine, hand-harvested. An array of red fruit flavors, ripe cherry and plums, rich and bold, intense and spicy, some earthy notes and needs time to open up. Tannins are medium-plus, and the finish is long and elegant. Each bottle is hand numbered. This was bottle #3183 and they produced only 4138 bottles for the 2021 vintage. Lovely! — a year ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.8

Voted WOTN for good reason. This has been a bucket list wine for me. Some sections of this famous vineyard were planted in 1860 but all of the vines are ridiculously old. It’s bombastic and really stands out from the crowd. Very expressive both on the nose and on the palate. Full bodied and multi layered. Creamy and rich texture. Dark berries, plums, coffee, cigar, orange peel, eucalyptus, soy, cigar box and an array of oriental spices. Probably at a peak right now, such a joy to drink. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Third generation grower Jim Maresh launched his own brand in 2007. Maresh Vineyard was first planted in 1970 by grandparents Jim & Loie. Medium Ruby color with aromas of aa array of red berry fruits with a touch of cooling mint. On the palate cherry and berry fruits, well structured, with a touch of rustic spice. Fine dusty tannins, balanced with acidity, medium-bodied, long finish ending with earthy mineral character. Very Nice! — 6 months ago

Vino Joe

9.4

Okay … cork completely fell apart on opening. Wine seemed unaffected though. Deep color but not yet dark. It was not as thick as I would have expected for 16 years. It was a bit underwhelming vs expectation. Not lengthy in its finish and missing the array of tropical flavors but was still good. Just not great. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Showing just as well as the bottle some weeks back. The first vintage of Dauvissat’s MDT, with just 2 barrels made and hardly any came to the US. It sits in a great place, super giving and ready to drink. It’s seamlessly balanced and finely detailed showing a complex array of yellow fruit, lilies, wildflower honey and hazelnut with lemony acids and a stony minerality. It fills out with air and continues to gain volume and focus. Great bottle. — 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.8

Ripe in flavor, with a vivid array of black currant, blackberry, violet, black tea and black pepper aromas and flavors that zoom through to a long, expressive finish. Shows subtlety in the layers of complex flavor against a refined structure. Tannins are present but nicely contained. #1 Wine of 2009, Wine of the Year* — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

When I’m not drinking a Napa Cab, I reach for a Jordon. Blend of 80% Cab Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot & 2% Malbec, aged 13 months in 100% French oak (35% new). Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruit, floral and an array of herb spices. On the palate flavors of cherry, blackberry and fig with oak, vanilla spice, leather and cacao notes. Rich fine tannins, well balanced and integrated with fruit and oak. Very Nice! Will age well. Just had this with a fillet mignon, Nice! — 2 years ago

Matt

9.6

In a great spot. Appears to have really shed some baby fat, the sucrosity of the fruit diminshing and the mineral and tertiary notes coming to the front. Lavishly textured, great length, a wonderful accompaniment to an array of vegetable dishes. Pineapple upside cake, roasted nuts, cooked yellow plum, marmalade, garrigue, cruahed stones, yellow blossoms, marzipan and honey, cream, olive oil. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.

It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 5 years ago