Aaron Tan

9.1

Not part of our little “Vosne-side of NSG” blind shootout, but it might as well have been. Opened earlier during dinner as a blind, I thought it looked very NSG. Why I had it there was mostly down to the elimination process in our blind options. Right on I was, but had it younger.

Very dark fruited on the nose, along with earthy, spicy notes and hints of dark chocolate and moss. The palate was quite pure and elegant, with grippy tannins and an earthy, lightly mineral (which didn’t seem to grow with air) finish. When drank side-by-side with the pair of 19’ NSG during dinner, it didn’t quite have the depth not intensity of the two. It certainly wasn’t as bombastic as the MG, nor had the obvious “goût de terrior” notes of the Grivot, but had a certain elegance I liked. — 3 months ago

Adam Kincaid

9.0

Blind tasting no2. We all immediately pegged this as old world Riesling. The tell tale signs of petrol and dried apricot gave it away entirely. But we all missed Austria. Probably need to learn more about differences in common Riesling areas.

Clear and bright straw yellow with powerful petrol fumes. Off dry but medium-high acidity with a low-medium body. Dried apricots with some slate completely dominate the flavors. It’s not complex, but has a good finishing length. Riesling for certain. Austria? Wouldn’t know! — 2 years ago

with Jillian

Aaron Tan

9.3

“Perfectly rounded” was what first came to mind when I drank this. Rich and opulent, yet incredibly seamless. Even in its youth, the mealy and creamy vanilla oak character did not feel out of place, especially against the preserve-like fruits ranging from lemons to apricots. Expectedly long with a dense glycerol-like texture, savoury finish, and energising acidity. Not typically a style that I’d rave about, but credit where credit’s due, the concentration, texture, and oak quality were all remarkable. CW even went so far to say that it was Monty-like, and I’m certain he isn’t the first nor last person to make such a claim. However, we too noted that the warmth and lack of verticality in structure was a dead giveaway of its Napa origin. A contemplative wine of great presence at this point, but probably needs another decade or more to be truly digestible. — 2 years ago

Brian S

9.0

For the price this is an extremely well made Napa Cabernet. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Medium + lemon yellow in colour. Aromas of yellow fruits (peach) with a honeyed note. Carries through to the medium + intensity palate with a certain texture from the oak maturation. As outlined in previous notes putting Riesling to oak doesn’t seem right although it is more integrated than previous tastings, but it is an old German thing - arguably the Godfathers of Riesling. Impossible not to like this. The GG quality coming through. Ready to drink. — a year ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Bright light purple dress. Pure explosive nose on fruits (red and black) and flowers, typical of carbonic maceration. In mouth the first is light, airy, confirming the nose; carried by a beautiful necessary freshness balancing the little terroir extraction. A modern, "natural" wine, on the fruits at first fond that does not prevent a certain complexity from expressing itself on a peppery and mineral finish. A very beautiful juice to drink from the aperitif, which blindly could pass for a rosé.

Robe légère violine éclatante. Nez pure explosifs sur les fruits (rouge et noirs) et fleurs, typique des vins en macération carbonique. En bouche l’abord est léger, aérien, confirmant le nez; porté par une belle fraîcheur nécessaire équilibrant le peu de terroir extrait. Un vin moderne, “nature”, sur les fruits á l’abord friand n’empêchant pas une certaine complexité de s’exprimer sur une finale poivrée et minérale. Un très beau jus à boire des l’apéro, qui à l’aveugle c’est pourrait passer pour un rosé. — 2 years ago

Kevin Cahoon

9.3

Not quite as good as my last bottle in 2019. Lots of red cherry, strawberry and pomegranate fruit accented with deft touch of oak and just a hint of sous bois. A touch compact at opening but develops nicely wine air. Bright red fruit tones on the palate with brown spice, baked stones and a bit of dried earth. Quite fresh with good extract that plays nicely with the tannins. Finish of red fruit and Corton minerality. This bottle is missing a level of focus and depth that would really elevate the palate.
Drinking well now with potential for more developed. Certain to be enjoyable over the next 5 to 7 years. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 7 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant(decent fine/cloudy sediment). A remarkable dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: certain vintages really embrace the brett on the property, this is on the milder side. Notes of red plum, nutty vanilla, pine, funky wet earth, old leather, some cherry. Taste: smooth, delicate, silky wine with savory notes of cigar box, currants, wet dirt, peppery, little dark plum, cedar, slightly meaty. YUM! A very good vintage for Cain, a little more intensity could have increased the score even more. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Michael Chelus

8.9

Apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach and honeydew melon. Bright acidity and great minerality. — 3 years ago