Shay A

9.6

I feel like I haven’t opened a Napa cab (or any wine, for that matter) in recent memory that struck me the way this one did in terms of absolute peak drinking. Both fortunately (because I love the wines) and unfortunately (I was priced out of Realm a few years ago) this was undeniably in the zone amongst a table of ‘13 Bryant DB4, ‘07 Insignia, ‘12 Kapscandy Estate Reserve, and others.

Pop and pour. Extremely aromatic with dark fruits (more blue and black side of the spectrum) and dark florals (violets)…very Pritchard Hill. The texture of this wine is a modern marvel…how a 2013 100% Cabernet from PH can be this sexy/opulent but still so bright is beyond me. The rich and dark fruit is surrounded by graphite, espresso, dark cocoa, and sweet (not tart) cassis that carry the weightless yet flavor packed profile to a finish that lingers. Plenty of tannin and acid to keep this balanced for years, but this is absolutely the zenith of where it will be for balance of flavors. Don’t miss this window.

I haven’t been this star struck on a mid-aged Napa cab in a while, but this has it all. After opening the 2015 Realm Dr Crane earlier this year, this was more impressive (and DrCrane is my favorite vineyard). Wish Realm was still in my “realm” of purchasing! — 18 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This one is a 93+ at this stage with room for improvements with some more age.

The Farella showed a more savory character than the rest. It’s body thicker than the others. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries & raspberries. Herbaceous notes, soft minerality-rock powder, limestone, volcanics and just drying top soil, dry tobacco, sandalwood, perfectly executed baking spices, dark spice, vanillin, withering dark, red, blue and violets, nice round acidity, nice tension, structure, well knitted & balanced structure with an excellent full minute finish.

Pano photo of Pritchard Hill from the estate (what a stunning view), barrel room, the estates wine collection; which given the excellent producers in it (bottles of Petrus just one of very expensive producers), I’d be a little earthquake nervous & lay some thin wire over the bottles to hold them in place and their tank room. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. Medium body. Expressive nose. As always, plenty of blue fruit in attendance. A bit smoother than expected, yet still rocking. 1.10.24. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Strong nose of black and blue fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice and chocolates.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blueberries, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty GSM blend from Chalk Hill in California. Fruit forward and elegant. Spicy and entertaining.

Showing good balance with nice complexity, and a soft mouth feel.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine.

I had it before, and this time I gave it a light chill and had it by the pool.
Paired nicely with the French Brie cheese.

A blend of 66% Grenache, 21% Syrah and 13% Mourvèdre. Aged in Hungarian oak barrels. A small production of only 2,600 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$52. — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 2 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

Old style wine
I love the detailed description attached to the neck of the bottle telling you all about the site, the winemaking and how to deal with the wine

This is a Barbacarlo's brother, not minor though

It starts quite fruit orientated, but it does unfold over many hours in the decanter

At first you can mistake it for a robust sparkling shiraz(given that it has a fizz when opened).
Day 2 the blue mineral it's all over and it is smoother and more enjoyable too( the tannin is more digestible too)
Very long and to review again in many years

Ps after a battle in Marengo(Italy) Napoleon stopped by in the area and sipped on this delicious nectar; from there the vineyard hill is also called Napoleon's hill(as well as Montebuono hill). — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot and Malbec blended in. Dark ruby color. Aromas of cooked black cherries and blueberries. The palate offers a blend of jammy red, blue and blackberry fruit along with notes of mint, baking spices, coffee and orange zest. Medium-plus body and well balanced. Not overly powerful or rich but pretty harmonious. Velvety tannins. I think I enjoyed this one more than you did, Keith S! — a year ago

Mark

8.9

Blue Hill value purchase thet more than stood up to the ~$40 price. If anything a little too dry. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is 93-94 this young. I was a little surprised they slotted this last in the tasting. I would have led with it. However, it didn’t end up being our last wine. Leslie was kind enough to open another.

Both plums, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of dark berry cola, nice, soft baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanillin, grainy limestone, wet clay, dark, rich, forest floor, some dry herbs, excellent fresh & withering florals that are a combination of; dark, red, some blue and violets, nice round acidity, a smooth, elegant finish that softly structured, balanced and wire to wire smooth and elegant with a full minute finish.

Photos of; a pano of their stunning view of Pritchard Hill, Their dual sided wall of fame of bottles the staff at the estate have enjoyed and their tasting room table. They did an excellent job curating it. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Deep and sexy fruit. Powerful and punchy with lovely blue fruit. — 2 years ago

with BOT and Paul