Jay Kline

9.6

At this point, with this group, a Legends dinner simply wouldn’t be appropriate without at least one bottle of Chave Hermitage.

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1994 Hermitage pours a slightly hazy garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with perfumed notes of dried brambles, dried blueberry, dried purple flowers, black olive, mushroom, espresso, leather, stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly sanguine. Delicious with the 5 Spice Cured Duck prepared with marinated Bing cherries, crispy shallot and Olathe corn polenta. It was such a pleasure to taste the ‘94 Chave next to the ‘85 Gentaz. Two Northern Rhône Legends working with their respective terroirs. Where the Gentaz was all about the aromatics of Côte Rôtie, the Chave was brought more of the power from the Hill of Hermitage. Drink now through 2056. — 14 days ago

Mary Woolston

9.4

Sweet, not too strong. Def not getting drunk — 6 months ago

Ming L

9.2

Notes of black plum, blueberry syrup, fig, licorice, and sweet spice. Despite its hedonistic density, the wine holds balance, lifted by polished acidity and firm yet plush tannins. The palate is opulent, velvety, and long, delivering a decadent but controlled expression of power.

Had not tasted a Clio in a while. So delicious. Made me so want to pull the 19’ El Nido. — 8 months ago

Marc Melser

9.0

We had the 2012 Vintage on 7/12-13/25. With 13 Years of aging, all the tannins have been smoothed out. Tastes of blueberry, plum, leather and spice. Medium to full bodied. Still fruit forward. Very good — a year ago

Joe Christenson

9.2

Blackberry and blueberry, softening tannins and plenty of dark red cherry, vanilla, and oak. Delightful with a Christmas ribeye and mashed potatoes. — 2 years ago

Ming L

9.3

As one can expect for a Dave Phinney wine, this is rich and ripe, but it has so much more to offer at year 14. Blueberry, fig, tobacco, cracked pepper, dried mushroom, and slight hint of barnyard. On the palate it’s juicy yet soft and ultra smooth. The finish is long, candied, and earthy.
My 2nd and last bottle. At its peak. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Washington State Syrah from the Wahluke Slope AVA. Dark ruby color with a few black highlights. Aromas of cooked blue and black fruit, wet soil, purple flowers and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry/blueberry jam, black olives, dark chocolate, dried herbs and roasted nuts. A bit of black pepper spice on the long and deeply concentrated mineral laden finish. Medium-plus body with slightly chewy fine grained tannins. Well balanced acidity and a slightly creamy texture. Quite good. Memorial Day 2026. — 3 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.6

Well, this is my last 2015 and after 11 years it’s close to perfection. Ruby with aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, cedar, and chocolate. On the bud, it smooth, rich, and a long finish. Stewed fruit and a spice note tease the palate. Great with my 40 day aged Ribeye and Red Potatoes. — 6 months ago

Diane Heyboer

8.9

Had the 2021 in February of 2026. Lots of blueberry and vanilla with some spice with this one. Enjoyed this one more with food rather than sipping alone. — 7 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.8

This wine is dark ruby in color. The nose offers beautiful aromas of black fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, and anise. It’s lush. The palate is exquisite, with blackberry, blueberry, and plum flavors. There is some minerality, but it's the fruit that shows out. It is a magnificent Bordeaux, of a vintage that I'm told is much better than previous years. The tannic grip is remarkable, and the finish leaves one wanting another glass. Steak, as fatty as you can get it, is the pairing for this wine. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Mark S.

9.3

Blueberry red and aroma in oak. Sweet and spicy. Makes me crazy its balanced taste. Comfortable and complex. Acidity is changed a lot. Yogurt. vega sicilia valbuena 5 ribera del duero 18 @8500, X, 240607 — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby, aged for 18 months in French oak, about 25% new, aromas of red and blue fruits with spice and earthy scents. On the palate flavors of plum, cherry and blueberry with some spice and cacao. This full-body wine had velvety smooth tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy character. — 5 years ago

Amelia Mowry, CSW

9.6

Aromas of blueberry, black currant, lavender and rose petals. Earthy graphite and savory herb favors with hints of spice and cocoa powder in the glass. Creamy and fine grain tannin finish. Could have aged for another 20 years easy. — 6 months ago

with Lou, Cristian and 1 other

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v15. Don’t know why I still had this, but I’m glad I did. Toasted barrel and hand crushed fruit nose. Fresh, rich, dark, blackberry and blueberry fruit. Long, dry, pleasantly chewy, chocolate and black pepper finish. So good! — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2001 vintage. Sweet fill. Cork perfect (used a Durand) but more than a bit underwaxed so it was a positively Italian experience during the opening process. I trust those in the know completely understand what the hell imma talking about. Workout! Cork out in one piece and expected amount of sed. Medium body with overtures towards more. Blueberry, tobacco, plum and gravelly, wet earth impressions leading the charge throughout. Grippy tannins providing visible and raised guardrails during. A little editorial...the 2001's were generally emasculated/minimized after the supposed "vintage of the (which one?) century" in 2000. The 2000's have largely failed to deliver the anticipated goods whereas the "meh" 2001's (at vastly reduced prices from the 2000's) are rocking don't bother knocking now. Completely like the guy or girl that was always cute but totally caught fire after high school. A late(r) bloomer and completely underrated. This wine has an easy 20-spot of top-notch drinking ahead. 1.24.26. — 7 months ago

Bill Mowry

9.5

Subtle tannins with complex flavors of raspberry, blackberry, black currant, a little blueberry . Food friendly with low alcohol perfect pairing with rib eye steak with herb butter. — 10 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

I have always loved old world and some of the old vine Grenache examples coming from Australia recently but Priorat always remains a favourite. Red and blue fruits on nose and palate. The medium bodied palate shows spice, blueberry and raspberry (sweet). A robust yet flavoursome wine. Earthy, mineral, sweet and savoury. Finishes dry with persistence of flavour - very satisfying. We had a memorable tasting there in June 2022 with the family. — a year ago

Joe DAscoli

9.6

Wow. Closed nose but bright blueberry hits your palate first followed by a rush of dark and robust flavors to stand up to the ribeyes. — 3 years ago

Byron Hewett

8.9

A whopping 16.5% abv. The ripe fruit here hid it well. A lot of blueberries, blackberries and vanilla. Friends of ours loved it. For me it was too much blueberry liqueur. — 5 years ago