Tom Garland

9.3

Happy New Year Delectable!

Double decant and pour. A splendid tawny red color. On the nose: dark fruit, cigar ash, cedar, smoked meat, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: soft, silky, elegant, still fresh wine with dark red fruit, worn leather, graphite, loamy soil, spiced herbs, minty black tea and a dry medium finish. YUM! What a fun wine to end 2024 with. A wine bought at auction, and a cork which was not in the best shape, so not sure if this is a true representation of where this wine is at.

FOOD:
Island creek oyster and cavier
Lobster butternut bisque
Pan roasted duck breast
Braised beef short rib
Black forest chocolate cake — a month ago

with Brenda

Jane Nuss

9.0

Celebrating my husband’s 38th birthday with steak and cab — 6 months ago

Pat A

9.8

Really good, thick & spicy. — 8 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

A good, solid California Cab but what’s all the fuss about? I’m seeing ratings of 98, 99, even 100 from JS. Really? No way. This is a clear case of praise crossing over into hype. Granted, still a bit young and not at its peak but after five years in the bottle and an hour of decanting it needs to be more than just fine if it wants to justify stratospheric scores. This wine compares unfavorably to Ridge Monte Bello, Stags Leap Cask 23 and other peers. It lacked sophistication and poise—where’s the promised minerality, graphite, cedar shavings, oak, leather, blackcurrant, cherry, and complex balance of fine grained tannins, fruit, acid and alcohol? Where? We chose this wine for a birthday dinner at Lawry’s Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. Not a disaster but a disappointment given our high expectations (and the high price).
— 4 months ago

Peter James

9.0

Happy birthday Manny! — 7 months ago

Ron R

9.5

Hope I’ve selected the correct wine.
Birthday celebration for my soulmate. Cristal always delivers.
Coming up to room temp. Warm bread notes on the nose and palate. Balance personified on the mid palate. Soft bubbles combine with apples and mild peach. Grossly understated. Love it… — a year ago

with Anne-marie

Jack Krawczyk

10

happy birthday to me — 4 months ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.1

2002 Vintage. Soft. Lacks edges. But actually has come into its own. Drinking beautifully. Pretty. Birthday year and dinner for son. — 6 months ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.6

May 28, 2024. Happy birthday wine. 😁 so good. Tart cherry, earth, chocolate. — 8 months ago

Peggy Hadley

9.3

Still celebrating my birthday! — a year ago

with Jim, David and 1 other