Brad Jensen

9.3

Very rustic and musty, from what I hear this amount of time must have really softened its rough edges because this has some refinement to it. Amber red color, with slight coppery hints, the nose is musty like an old felt book binding, or some velvet church pews, with prominent fruit as it’s allowed to open up, and even some hints of dusty bubble gum and deep floral notes towards the edges. Looong legs on a medium body, the tannins are well integrated and grippy, with a strong foundation, but melt after a little while. There’s serious graphite and minerality here, but that opens into some savory notes, black currant and olive, as well as some balsamic, but after the tannin let go you get some serious cacao or dark chocolate notes, even some tobacco smoke, with fig and blood orange at the finish. I don’t know why people dog on this wine, it just needs time to mature, more than folks realize. Paired with spek, sheep’s milk cheese, and the film “A Prophet”. — a year ago

with Tiva

Kirsten Spalding

9.4

I really like this one. So smooth, similar to the viscosity of water, with a black pepper finish that sits on your tongue long after you drink. Dusty black currants and plum. Bay leaf, sage, and thyme lightly hit the smell and taste. The color of the 1999 is a cloudy ruby. Pair with a super elegant dog like a Irish Setter. Beautiful and memorable. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I bought this bottle about a year ago from K&L. The bottle was in pristine shape. Like the 1985 last weekend, the neck fill today was as high as the day they filled it.

I purchased two bottles. The first, I didn’t post. It had waned. Tonight’s bottle is giving me everything thing I expected when I purchased it.

The nose reveals a little barnyard (v/a) that blew off fairly quickly, slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, caramel & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice, peppery notes, tree bark/sap, mint, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets.

The body is just full, fresh & lush. There is still a decent, tarry, slightly chewy tannin structure even after a little over 22 years in bottle. For me, the length, tension and balance are perfect. This bottle has another 5 and perhaps 7 years of good drinking ahead. It’s really delicious tonight. Slightly baked, stewed & ripe fruits of; blackberries, black cherries, blackberries that pop on the palate, black plum, strawberries, dry cranberries, boysenberries & blueberries. Steeped, black tea, dark berry cola, sage, bay leaf, dry, crushed rocks, limestone, sandstone/dry top soil, anise, some black licorice, soft; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, melted, salted caramel, dark baking chocolate & liquid mocha, vanilla, dry twigs, understated, mid dark spice with perfect palate heat, tree bark/sap, mint, savory meats, peppercorns, rich, dark, slightly sweet earth, dry tobacco & leather, French oak barrel shavings, with bright, fresh & withering; dark, red, some purple & blue flowers weaved into late blooming violets. The acidity is round, phat & perfect. The long finish is delicious, an elegant lady, well balanced settling into some of the nicest, dark spices I can remember in sometime.

In terms of pleasure, I would give this wine a 94 but, in technical terms, just misses it.

Once again, I really love the 13% ABV. I wish Napa Cabernets had never risen above that level.

Photos of; the Estate of Flora Springs, long view of their beautiful barrel cellar, happy dog running through their vines and their very modern tasting room on Hwy 29. — 6 years ago

Brian S

8.9

Peat, burnt coffee, old campfire, old black cherries, charred jerky. — 8 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.1

Despite being from younger vines this was far less ready than the regular Cornas from ‘01. Floral and herbal aromatics, a bit of wet dog, red currant and black cherry syrup, copious chewy tannins. Could use a bunch of time but as an accompaniment to a hearty meal it’s mighty fine now. — 9 years ago

Thomas Brenner

8.9

Starmont by Merryvale: Blueberries, prunes, green bell pepper, cedar, violets and funk of wet dog/black olive...In a good way. — 9 years ago

Kurt Schuster

9.1

A nose of fresh, cool melon without too much sugar or underripe tanginess in either direction. On the tongue is fairly thick with a bit of honeysuckle and light ginger, very smooth and viscous with a bit of Black beech honey on the tongue.  — 2 years ago

with Denise

Kamila

9.0

A bit chocolate-y? Black berries has a bite to it. — 3 years ago

William Paley

9.3

black cherry dirt. animal, delta, sassafras, bourbon street coffee, plum syrup, black marker, dog run, not particularly strippy but carries a soil burden. brown rhubarb candy and lake effects. mica echo. — 4 years ago

with Abbas and Jess

Chris England

9.3

2nd wine of Haut Brion @ £120 in top year that I grabbed as a bin end last week for £77 💥 boom - like walking down the street & not stepping in the dog 💩 result 😁

📍 Le Clarence De Haut Brion 2009

🏵 93+ points & should still improve 😉

🍇 46% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon & the rest dollops of Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Flint, mineral & gravel in soggy earth through blackberry soaked in smokey oak w/ plum, cracked pencil, dark cherry, herbs, cocoa, raspberry & wet leaves

👄 Med body of smooth rich black berry/currant, dark cherry, plum & raspberry in rock minerals w/ a mocha liquorice undertone

🎯 Med+ dark & red fruit silky mineral kiss w/ a mocha liquorice spank
— 7 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

Unblelieveably delicious. Cooked black cherries, red currant, salted smoked meat, sasparilla, bitter chocolate, fennel, licorice, soy sauce, balsamic, wet dog. Structure, Umami. — 8 years ago

Steven Carey

9.1

Revisiting this one and glad I did. Ruby red and orange around the rim showing a little age. Lots of red fruit on the nose, cherry & strawberry + wood & leather. To taste: lots of harmony with fruit (plum, cherry candy, black currant) up front with an oak & coffee finish. Apparently my dog Finn is a big Bordeaux fan, he was staring this glass down. — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

I was really impressed with this for such a young En Chamberlin vineyard. Fox fur and raw hot dog aromas rise from the decanter, dark herbaceous flavor profile—black olive, licorice, bay leaf. Thank you for hosting in your gorgeous cellar @Mike R you provided ear to ear smiles in your cellar — 9 years ago

Catherine Leith

9.3

Full bodies with a long finish. Definitely needs to be aged and aerated to bring out the complex flavours. Notes of cassis and pepper with smooth undertones of vanilla and oak. — 2 years ago

Kirsten Spalding

9.3

Iron and blackberry right off the nose. There is airy clove and black current quality to it that seems to disappear on the tongue. It reminds me of super fine, dark chocolate. The image that comes to mind is a living oak tree— it tastes alive. Pair with pets for a Beauceron, a loyal, intelligent, devoted dog breed that is known for guarding livestock. Sit in front of a fire, drinking this wine while eating some dark chocolate. Or better yet, a hearty filet mignon that you can share with your new Beauceron best friend. — 3 years ago

Ron R

9.4

So, Anne-Marie wanted a rescue dog, and after two weeks, I require a rescue. He goes by Miller, and he’s a little Jeckel and Hyde, but every day we see forward progress. He likes Napa cabs, particularly Outpost. Miller’s notes were that this 16 is drum-tight. Nose presents coffee, spice box and overripe black fruits. The palate goes on for dog 🐶 days, woof! The finish is intense, tannic and ripe. Do I detect a smidge of Pup-Perroni doggy treats? 🐶 — 6 years ago

with Anne-marie

Alok Sharma

9.0

Great, slightly sweet taste! A notch less than Johnny Walker Black Label! Had it with ice & a little bit of water! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Conjuro translates to what you might assume, Conjurer. This wine is blended and made differently year to year.

On the nose, dark, ruby, floral currants, lush; blackberries, blue fruits, black plum, black raspberries, creamy raspberries on the edges, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, lite herbal notes, black licorice, saddle-wood and lavender & violets.

On the palate; the body is very full. The tannins, big, meaty and sticky. Ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, blue fruits, black plum, black raspberries, creamy raspberries on the edges, cherries & strawberries as it opens, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, light herbal notes, black licorice, huge dark rocky minerals that hard grip the palate on the longer set, dark rick semi-sweet soils, tough leather, dry stems, some graphite, dark spice and lavender & violets. Nice round acidity with a rich, ripe, well balanced finish.

Photos of; Tango lobby barrel, tank tasting with Juan and the Bressia semi-adopted stray dog taking a nap out front. — 8 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Micro-mousse with pixilated lace. Nearly black, brown and opaque. Chicory coffee, near-burnt and boasting mesquite, cedar and extracted vanilla. Bitter entry softens to darkest rye. Burnt s’mores, intensely creamy, tobacco-leaf sweetness, Madagascar vanilla bean, oak tannin, burnt Boston baked bean. Throughout there is a bitter chocolate core and an over cooked-coffee, but it is not unpleasant, but a pleasant contrast to the striking creaminess. #thirstydog #imperialstout #stout #beer #dank #beerbeerbeer #abv — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Jeffrey Long

9.8

At the distillery. Astounding nose of volatile aromatics with a complex fruity earthy palate that finishes with black tea. Extremely viscous and coats the glass with a dark brown film. Absolutely unique. — 9 years ago

with Guangshan and Chris