Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby with a Crimson rim. Aromas of red and black berries, chocolate, and smoked meat. Full bodied and muscular. From a single vineyard in McLaren Vale which was planted 124 years ago. Silky tannins. A great red on a cold night in Winter. Love the old fashioned label which probably hasn’t changed in 100 years showing the two Kay Brothers. Hope to have the patience to drink the last bottle in say 2028 to 2030. — 5 days ago

Brett Banfield

9.1

Solid but don’t wait to drink it. 2008 on March 20th, 2022. Dusty leather on the nose, nice age. Dark fruit flavors w a hint of cherry in the finish with some late acidity. — 4 years ago

with Bobbi and Darby

James Rosenheim

9.0

With Nathanael. Bottle #2 of the case from brothers Dan and Andrew.
Wonderful with pasta and a medley of eggplant, onion, green tomatoes, and garlic, sautéed in olive oil. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

In 1879, 2 brothers decided to set up a wine business, C.V.N.E., Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (Northern Spanish Wine Company) or la Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, was created and still kept in traditional neighborhood of Haro station today. Deep Ruby with ripe berry aromas and complex spices, 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo. On the palate blackberry, cherry and sweet currant with herb, leather and pepper spice. Fine tannins, well balanced good depth and structure on a long finish. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

If I am having an Allen Brothers Ribcap, I am also opening a good bottle of Bordeaux.

The 08 Bordeaux vintage goes down in the record books as good not great. This is not nearly as good as the 2000 I had a few years back...one of the few 10’s I’ve scored since starting to write notes. However, it does drink better earlier than 2000.

Ten years in bottle was just the right amount of time to check in on this 08. It will continue to improve over the next 5-7 years and hold another 8-10 years with proper storage.

With the first sip, it was elegant, refined and showing it is Latour’s close relative. My next thought was how good it will be with the Ribcap. Good on its own but, even better with steak.

It shows classic Bordeaux style. Just ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, hints of blue & purple fruit. The tannins nicely round and velvety. The structure, tension, length & balance are just starting to hit their groove. Black licorice, black tea, stones, dry loamy topsoil, dark rich earth, less pencil shaving, soft leather, understated baking spices with withering; dark, red and blue florals. The acidity was nicely executed. The finish is; stunning, elegant and very well balanced with excellent persistence.

Photos of; Chateau Latour, iconic building that since in the middle of their Estate vines, barrel room and wide shot of their estate.

Side note. Having visited Latour three times, it has always been the most clean & pristine winemaking facilities I’ve seen in my many world wine region travels. You could eat off the floor. For me, they are the “King of Kings” in Cabernet. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani. A blend of Sangiovese, Cab Sauv & Syrah. Aromas of fruit herb and spice. On the palate chewy red fruits, leaning towards jammy currant like, tangy spice and lively acidity. Tight tannins took a while to open, medium finish ending with fruit and spice. Good now but a few years in the cellar with reward. — 7 years ago

Dean Butler

9.2

What a wonderful Napa Cab should be.Had in the mountains with friends paired wonderfully with a New York Strip.Made even better by a perfect crisp fall weekend with fall colors at their peak. — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Pop n pour. Given that it’s 70% Mourvèdre, the color is surprisingly light. (There’s 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah too.) Medium color saturation. Inviting nose of a melange of ripe berries and a smoky embers note. Crushed rock behind that. Soft and intensely flavored in the mouth, with the berries less prominent, jousting with dark earthy and pleasantly vegetal notes. Soft but balanced acids and tannins almost silky. Really nice. Terrific value at $25 from WTSO. — 7 months ago

Ericsson

9.3

Proper Napa Cab in all senses. — 3 years ago

Eric

9.4

My last -05 went with an Allen Brothers dry aged bone in roast. Incredible wine with plenty of road ahead. Bright rusty red fruit. The roast was amazing and blew more funk than any meat I’ve ever had. Great pairing. — 6 years ago

Luciana Barros

10

Loved with the soul!!
Full body, thick and juicy, deep in colour...
Deep and ruby, pronounced aroma, dark berries, plum, spices!! — 6 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.0

Cherry raspberry tones and still some acidity in 2014 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite.

Saskia told me they are buying an existing property or starting one in China.

The nose reveals; ripe and slight stewed fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid=VA, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers.

The body is full and thick. This wine is just coming out of its infant stage and just starting to stretch it arms & legs. The tannins are firm, rounded and powdery. The structure, tension, length and balance show the beauty of the vintage but, the drinking window on their 2000 is somewhere between 2035-2080. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, lots of graphite, crushed rocks, limestone, dry crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry herbs, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is very good now but, if you don’t cellar it 35 years from birth, you are cheating yourself out of something truly special. Its well balanced, rich, ripe and persists for days. 95 now with more to come in 16-25 plus years.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another bottle, Wow! Laura Catena, 4th gen winemaker, grew up in Argentine-Italian winemaking family in Mendoza. Wines, named after her children - Luca, Dante & Nicola - background of the label is the McDermott coat of arms of her American husband, Daniel McDermott. Single-vineyard wine from land belonging to the Laborde family. Deep red with big ripe fruits & smoky oak. Palate plum & jammy blackberry, spice with nice earthy character. Tannins are a bit rustic, lingering ending with toasty oak & spice. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See several previous Delectable notes for this wine. They still apply. Trademark raspberry notes with an earthy twist. Quite a sweet palate. Have a bottle left which I’ll probably have in the next year or two. From McLaren Vale which I believe is the best district for Grenache in Australia. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

For those of you that don’t know Jones Family, you should. This 10 is so different from their 09. The 10 is wine candy and the 09 is a bit more rugged & structured. Not that the 09 is rugged. Just a relative comparison.

The nose is candied, floral, perfumed, lush & ruby, slightly bramble fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, and blue florals framed in violets.

The palate & mouthfeel is full, lush, ruby & glorious. Candied, lush, ripe, ruby, slightly brambly fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, poached strawberries, boysenberries, ripe, baked rhubarb, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, heavy, beautiful spices, dark, fruit cola, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, hint of mint, dark, rich, moist earth, fresh herbaceous notes, dark chocolate with caramel cake with ruby, candied, dark, purple, lavender and blue florals framed in violets for days. The acidly is about the best I’ve had in a Napa Cabernet. The finish is extremely well balanced & structured. It goes from ripe, ruby, lush fruits that falls gently on to well softened earthiness that lasts minutes. This is an outstanding wine. Perfectly soft, well integrated with amazing evolution. Still has another 5-8 plus years but its approaching its precipice. Beautiful, beautiful Napa Cabernet.

Great pair with the Allen Brothers Cowgirl Bone-in Ribeye.

Photos of the Jones Family and their property. Their glorious fruit at harvest. Jones Family Vineyards was founded by Rick and Sally Jones. Unfortunately, Sally passed away in 2005. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When things are great, they’re worth redoing!

The Wagyu Ribcap & Rib Cover steaks comparison from Allen Brothers. The sell only the top 1% of beef.

The Barton is 100% steak wine.

Classic Caret even in a marginal vintage...Anthony to the rescue.

The body is medium to full & sails on the palate. Ripe & ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, uncooked rhubarb with hue of raspberries. Cedar, sandstone/limestone, tobacco, leather, graphite, dry river stones, dark, rich, earth, licorice, dark cola, dark spice with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, moist clay, melted caramel & mocha, dark chocolate bar, black pepper with bright, candied, fresh, dark, red, purple & blue florals. the acidity is a gentle, cool to warm rain shower. The finish is, all St. Julien elegance, well intergraded, balanced, landing on earth & spice that is persistent for days. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We had the 2000 with the Allen Brothers Ribcap’s. Might have been the most tender cut of meat we had. Even more tender than their Bone-in Fillets. Allen Brothers is currently selling to consumers during Covid-19 as most restaurants are shut or barely open. Order online before the go back to restaurant only sales. You’ll be glad you did. You can see on their site what revered steakhouses they sell their beef etc. Cooked them in the Green Egg. 👌

Perhaps the first 2000 that I’ve opened that was truly ready. Yet, it will improve for another 5-7 years and hold for another 5-10 years properly stored.

The tannins were round and supple...like velvet. Good balance fruit & earth. The structure, tension, length and balance just hit a good stride. Dark, rich, but, muted fruits, dark chocolate, mocha powder, touch of caramel, nicely layer baking spices, dark rich earth, clay, stone, fresh, soft tobacco notes, saddle-wood, soft graphite notes with fresh & withering dark flowers. The acidity nice & round...definitely shows the strength of the vintage. The finish, well balanced-knitted, plush, velvety, flat out elegant & smooth.

Photos of, Chateau Belle-Vue, living area shot of inside the Chateau, perfect fruit ready for harvest and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Dan R

9.3

Killer white burg. Made in a reductive style, needs a decant. Smoke, lees, and minerals at first, opens up to green herbs, apple, pear. Very tight, racy, super precise. Ripping acid. Delicious! — 7 years ago

Sam Scarpari

10

Stunning 2012 Patricia Shiraz. Best of the best fruit used in this one. Balance of deep dark concentrated blue fruits, savoury spice, meaty spice, hint of cocoa and a plushness of length — 8 years ago