David Shaw

9.0

Purple red, very good clarity, medium pigment extraction. Cherry, raspberry aromas with some barrel wood. On initial pour, cola, black pepper and sour plum. Soft mouthfeel but slightly bitter finish. Needs time to open. After two hours, flavors resolve into tart plum and some cola with slight pomegranate finish, mild skin astringency, good balance, almost no bitterness. A different take from previous vintages but solid rendition of the variety. — 3 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2019 Ausone was picked September 20-27 for the Merlot and October 3, 5 and 7 for the Cabernet Franc, then matured for 20 months in new French oak with light toasting. This is very refined and focused on the nose, less opulent compared to recent vintages, and very sophisticated, with hints of Montecristo cigar interwoven through the red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine but quite firm tannins that frame the lightly spiced black fruit. Touches of pencil lead and white pepper appear toward the prolonged finish. This very composed Ausone might actually drink earlier than other vintages but unequivocally has the substance to age with grace in bottle. There is an abiding sense of completeness here. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 2 years ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.9

Mag,
2nd day is essential, opened yesterday & decanted 4 hours today. This is right there with the 2005.
Its been 4 years since my last 07, it still has plenty of life but why wait when you can decant🤷🏼‍♂️
The 29 Estate vineyard is situated on the east-facing hillside at the base of the Mayacamas range, a couple miles north of St. Helena and just above Highway 29. The soil here is clay loam with gravel deposits, deeper at the bottom of the slope and shallower and rockier toward the top (the Sauvignon Blanc is planted in the rockiest spot, followed by the Cabernet Franc and then Cabernet Sauvignon). The slope and soil content ensure good drainage, while the rocks and gravel allow the roots to penetrate deep, ensuring more stable vines and more consistent ripeness. Average yields here for Cabernet Sauvignon are a moderate 2.8 to 3.2 tons per acre, held down by the vine stress associated with steep vines.

Vineyard 29 is located in the narrow hourglass part of Napa Valley and benefits from consistently good air flow. Even in 2008, there was just a touch of frost at the bottom of the vineyard, according to McMinn, who noted that his Aida vineyard just two miles to the north is typically six or seven degrees warmer. The site also benefits from its eastern exposure, capturing early morning sunlight but with the mountain above protecting the vines against the most intense afternoon sun. The result is slow, consistent ripening of the grapes and healthy sugar levels with much less risk of desiccation, which in turn means rounder, more integrated tannins. Although St. Helena is a very warm region, day-night temperature variation at Vineyard 29 is among the widest in Napa Valley, according to McMinn.

Thanks to Vineyard 29’s well-aerated site and protection from the hottest afternoon sun, the estate Cabernet always has sound acidity; it has never been acidified, according to winemaker Emerson. The pH of the Vineyard 29 estate wine is typically between 3.75 and 3.9, and alcohol levels are moderate by Napa Valley standards, almost always in the high 14s (with 2009 the only vintage to have exceeded 15%). The wines are frequently characterized by black and blue fruits—cassis, blackberry, blueberry—and notes of chocolate, licorice and spices. Compared to the Grace Family Vineyards wine, made from a vineyard barely 200 yards to the north from the same plant material, the Vineyard 29 wine is characteristically a bit less floral and delicate but riper and denser, combining power with typically plush, ripe tannins. Emerson noted that Vineyard 29 is typically harvested at least a week later than the Grace site, noting that the tannins “take a long time to lose their chalky character and come around.” Luckily, he added, “the fruit here can hang for a long time without getting too crazy with sugar.” And the estate routinely picks in two passes, typically seven to ten days apart.

— 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2015 vintage. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Excellent wine from a Cru Classé that remains very much under the radar and, therefore, the prices are very reasonable for the quality. This is also the smallest Margaux Cru Classé with 16 hectares of vines. Tasted at the Château alongside the 2017. While the 2017 is a very good Classic Margaux, it doesn't have the concentration and depth of the 2015, the first produced in the new winemaking facilities. It combines grace and power with impeccable balance and a very long finish. Also tasted the first vintage of an attractive new white wine ( 2022 vintage), produced at sister estate Château Labégorce, an intriguing blend from Chardonnay, Albariño and Petit Manseng (label is not finished yet). — 7 months ago

Jason Sliwa

9.2

Rich and elegant. Such a nice find in an excellent wine list. — 2 years ago

Rachel Mulholland

10

Aerate this vintage and enjoy! The taste is silky, jammy, velvety and delicious from start to finish. This pairs well with a spicy / salty charcuterie board, including fruit. Love. — 3 years ago

I Nell

9.2

Highly delicious, pyrazines, just enough acid — 2 years ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

10

Vision, power and grace — 2 years ago

Karen Tripson

9.2

Love this! Buy again. Nice hosts gift. — 3 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

This has such a aromatic nose of alpine strawberry pie..

Medium to heavier bodied this mostly Cab Franc shines with boysenberry, the slightest hint of vanilla, herbs of thyme, saffron. Little acidity, and the tannins have faded as well. A very clean wine, and a winery worth stocking.
Another winner from Washington state. — 4 years ago