Jay Kline

9.3

From a 1ha parcel of vines nearing 100 years old. If memory serves me correctly, Catherine and Pierre had introduced biodynamic practices the previous year (1994).

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 1995 Les Perrières pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of brambles, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, graphite, leather, a touch of horse blanket, some fine warm spices and gravelly minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, grippy and mineral laden. Delicious. I love where this wine is at today. Drink now but well stored examples will likely live well past 2035. — 6 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, licorice, light cedar, earth, cola, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, black tea and light garigge notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, oak, light licorice, spices, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, cola, herbs, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Elegant and complex, spicy and tangy.

Delicious now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

The alcohol is nicely integrated already, although not as high as typically from this region.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and this is not my favorite, by far.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$450. — 6 days ago

Rick Phillips

9.1

Not sure what’s up with Deletable. Can’t see who I’m following anymore and half the time my wines don’t post. Days later I’m able to post them! — 6 days ago

with Letha

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2020 vintage. Espresso crema galore. Front and middle 2/3rd's nice...back end/finish/last third just meh. Medium heavy body. 4.29.26. — 2 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I used to drink this producer in the late 90’s & early 2000’s. I’ve been revisiting older vintages based on recent price points. I think they sold a bunch of their cellar for revenue. It is out of need after the Glass Fires. They were somewhat consumed by it. The winery & part of their vineyards. Unfortunate!!!

Decanted an hour and enjoyed over 2-3 hours.

I was further inspired to acquire the 2006 by @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego who posted more than respectful thoughts of the 2006 not long ago. So, I acquired some winery stored bottles at $39. A more than fair price point. The cork had a millimeter or less along its side. The bottle neck showed trapped tannins. Extremely solid.

The nose is inviting. Slightly smoky & nicely ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries and pomegranate. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola/licorice-red vines, soft dry tobacco, used leather, very soft graphite, graceful herbaceous notes, whiff with black & white pepper, dark, rich soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms.

The entry is elegant, ripe, slightly rich with nothing bitty. Medium, softened, mushy tannins. It shows nearly perfect elegance at or just and I mean just the other side of its peak. Ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate hues. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola, soft dry, used tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, herbaceous notes, stem inclusion, some black & white pepper, dark spice box with mid intensity palate heat, layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & understated vanillin, dark chocolate, caramel, steeped teas, moist to dry volcanic clays, rich, dark, almost sweet soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms, very nice acidity, evolved, well-knitted, balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and long sets on spice and beautiful earthiness. This will drink nicely for another 5+ yrs.

A good revisit and perhaps the most elegant Cain Five I’ve had.

Photos of; the Cain Five vineyards, Chris Howell-Winemaker, pressed grapes and the somewhat unglamorous cleaning out of stainless steel tanks after initial fermentation. — 7 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

More of a suave & polished version of LB that is showing well at 38 yrs. Notes of red & black fruits, spice box, earth, cedar, floral, leather & tobacco — 12 days ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Inspire Napa welcome dinner
at Gamble Estates

VINTNER co-hosts
Dalla Valle ...2012 Maya
Harlan...2019 Harlan estate
Futo...2022 estate cab
Opus...2018 Opus
Screaming Eagle...2023 The Flight
Tench Vineyards...2023 estate cab franc
Vine Hill Ranch...2023 cab
Gamble estates...2022 reserve cab

FOOD
Hog Island oysters
Spring salad
Flannery beef striploin
Mustards Grill Alaskin Halibut
Sugar snap peas
Yukon potato hash browns
Mt Shasta porcini mushrooms
Burnt Basque cheesecake — 6 days ago

with Brenda

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Dark red color with subtle bricking. Seems modestly over the hill on the nose and palate. Could be in a weird spot. Lacked fruit and depth. Still very enjoyable. — 21 days ago

with Brooke and

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Dark rubi robe, no color evolution, reticent nose of cedar, tobacco and dark fruits. Its a small vintage but the wine is balanced and elegant, drinks well, with these more prominent tannins in better vintages, and lacking a bit of complexity. Its still one of the better 2002 bordeaux we had. — 20 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2023 vintage. $120+ a bottle resto cost. I mean it’s nice but for that pricing and what I’d hafta charge for it? Hard pass. The new Antinori stuff (don’t ask about the whites) not working for me. Praying that their purchased property-Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars-has current offerings showing better for the pricing. Not holding my breath tho. 4.29.26. — 2 days ago