Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1992 vintage. Very, very close to Japanese auction market quality with fill, cork, capsule and label nearly immaculate. Decanted and tasted immediately and over the course of 3 hours. Expected amount of sed. What a ride! Having tasted this back in the day when first released, recalled an unusual (for this property) amount of richness in the frontal palate. Wasn't there initially but rolled in for a cameo approx 45 mins after decant. Then...vanished at the 1 hour open mark. First whiff of the nose was fresh, clay kitty litter. This morphed into graphite after 15-20 mins. Body was surprisingly light early on, then fattened up after 30-40 mins to medium status. Impressions were of a leaner effort, then things got positively jammy with unexpected fruit hither and yon. This remained for approx 1.25 hours, then the entire performance, body included, thinned out with their old-school, estate-expected, aged leather punch combined with dark-skinned fruit, mountain grip and a little touch of grey sea salt. No food involved during the experience. The 1991 Montelena Estate Cab is nearest and dearest but this following vintage was an absolute, palate-bending acid(ity) trip. Looking forward to the next trip...er...show. 11.25.23. — 5 months ago

David Kline

9.3

Medjool date color of reddish brown verging on ebon. Brief, solid, fluffy headmaster cameo, beige. Bowing slowly with brevity, leaving only a dark, inscrutable surface. Ripe bananas, and Ethiopian coffee, grilled and roasted beef, marinated in Port with edges of cracked black pepper. Fennel, rosemary and cocoa, raisins, cloves, ginger snaps all stirred in cast iron over slow flames of acanthus to make this dark story thick with candied deceits, smelling of dark chocolate delights. This one has sharp, sugary teeth of cubed ginger candy, lips of gingerbread, a tongue of dark brown sugar, caramel-chocolate, dark rum cake, eucalyptus, coffee liqueur, and sweet barbecue sauce before finishing with figgy treacle. Smooth and brooding; your destiny implied by its name. — 5 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.3

Only six days old. Excellent, but could do with a bit more diesel character. — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2007 vintage. Still plenty of color. Well-integrated nose. That old-school Napa flavor palette of black olive and eucalyptus riding atop the plummy cherry thrusters. Even a little cocoa powder showing up in a cameo appearance. Structural foundation holding up nicely with an easy 5-10 years of continuity. Drinking absolutely great right now. Reduced punch/grip but very harmonious. — a year ago

David Kline

8.9

Low-action top, and black black. Mocha coffee with a caramel creaminess, and a vanilla shot. Licorice, cocoa nibs, a motor oil sweetness with banana leaf, rosemary, s’mores, and burnt brownie. Here comes the vanilla as advertised, bordering on extract, with a licorice cameo, molasses, brown sugar syrup, heavy tobacco chaw/plug, into an exquisite date reduction. This one plays games with your mouth, plunging suddenly into darkness with feigned, scraping reluctance then rebounds into jimmying oak, giving it super strength. And a fiery melted candy house. — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.6

Briny lemon, dried apricot and hints of dried pineapple are eclipsed by ginkgo and light rye bread, cantaloupe and lime; Gardenia and white pepper with lillies. Exquisite mouthfeel, of tangerine, clementine, orange blossom, ripe lemon, creamy lemon panna cotta, white pomegranate seeds, olive cameo that dissipates into a sea spray and Northwest oyster with briny sweetness. #HappyNewYear #Champagne #growerschampagne #growersblend #bubbles #Palmerandcompany #Reims #brutréserve #brut #palmer #sparkler #frenchwines #france — 5 years ago

with Courtney

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2018 vintage. This is the red. Bright cherry and menthol in the nose. Light medium bod. Cocoa powder makes a cameo appearance early in the closing palate but that menthol is the stuff of good, classic horror movies. Chock full of pursuit und relentless. Best showing/vintage of the respective decade for this juice and that's saying something. — 2 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Opened tight and funky-- like the bass in the Cameo hit "Word Up". After 40 min, it's mellowed and relaxed akin to "Always and Forever", or something else from Heatwave. Cinnamon, white pepper, mild anise on the nose, carrying forward to the palate. It's still tart, but probably best enjoyed now. Nice round mouthfeel, medium plus alcohol, very supple tannins. I've had this before, but this is perhaps the best thus far. Love it!!! 1 more bottle.

Ps there is even a milk chocolate note on the very back that resembles a Brunello of comparable age. I'm adding the +

94+ points — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Glistening magenta. Displays expansive, spice- and mineral-accented red/dark berry preserve scents that take on incense and lavender flourishes with air. Juicy, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry, cherry liqueur and exotic spice flavors that show sharp delineation and back-end thrust. Finishes impressively long and smooth, with resonating red fruit, floral notes and velvety, harmonious tannins that make a cameo appearance. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, June 2019) — 5 years ago

Paul K

9.1

My buddy Keifer, sommelier, and now GM at Cameo in Rochester!!! walked us through how this Barbera was made in the Borolo style, oak and all. Great suggestion! Go try Cameo all MN peeps! — 5 years ago

with J