Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2021 “Date Night…” Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby purple with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of black fruit: blackberries, black plum, black currants, purple flowers, some tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. While this is meant to be their workhorse wine, it’s got plenty of stuffing for aging and I think this vintage would appreciate some cellar time. Already tasty though. Drink now through 2036. — 2 months ago

Ludovic Anacleto

9.3

I love this vintage now. Cedar, camphor and pine as well as dry roses and pot pourri. Long finish full of elegance. The marker of Pauillac for me is blood sausage/iron/cured meat and here it was just exploding. Great bottle, classic, perfect for a blind tasting. — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 1999 Latour has a dark garnet color with little aging on the rim. The nose is closed initially and demands coaxing, eventually revealing blackberry, cedar and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, displaying some secondary notes of clove, white pepper and a distinct earthiness that comes through on the finish. [Post-script: this is one of the few vintages I identified correctly!] Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 “Date Night…” Sauvignon Blanc is made more in the Sancerre style than the Bordeaux Blanc style. It’s bursting with grapefruit and verbena; herbal and grassy. There is some lovely acid and minerals too. This is a very strong example of this style in a New World way. Drink now. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2011 vintage. Decanted with some sed and tasted after 1 hour. Bigg structure with plenty of tobacco, underbrush and dark fruit. A complex kid. Lots of moving parts but really unified currently and moving towards a common goal. Total BDX ringer in a pricey blind. This has miles to go. 8.2.24. — 5 months ago

Kamall

9.3

10yrs from vintage date and Cathy’s favorite spot. I wouldn’t disagree. More aromatic now but fruit still deep with velvety tannins. Kronos up next! — 9 months ago

Beth Petros

8.9

Very good blend for a good cause! Delicious fruit bomb 😊 — 3 months ago

Joe Weinberger

9.5

Tasted blind. Everyone was at least 5-10 years off. Hard to believe a 1986 could taste so fresh. Library release. — 8 months ago

Shay A

9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty. — 8 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark tawny color, mostly opaque. Eucalyptus nose. Also notes of black fruit, dusty earth, some wood and sweet spice. Well balanced in the mouth, with fruit and structure in harmony. I guess 78 HMV. Great wine! One of the best Cal Cabs I've had. — 2 years ago