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. — 2 months ago

Anna Tracy

9.2

Nakedwines.com — 5 years ago

Jennifer Gray

9.5

Refreshing, easy to drink. A bit tart, but in a good way. — 5 years ago

Dennis Durkee

9.4

May 9 2020 virtual tasting at home — 6 years ago

Teresa Garcia-Reyes

9.4

Amazing - lots of fruit, smooth — 7 years ago

with Jeff

Charles Huff

9.6

Rangy and effervescent. — 7 years ago

Nathaniel Houston

9.2

Another gem from Chris Carpenter. Full bodied with concentrated mountain fruit. Silky tannins. Long savory finish. Enjoy now and years to come — 3 months ago

mik bafana

8.9

GSM. Fruit forward. Medium finish. — 7 months ago

with Shweta

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Deep ruby color. Aromas of black fruit, thyme, bell pepper and baking spices. Blackberry on the palate, herbs and earthy finish.

🏅97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅97 Points - Robert Parker — a year ago

Ming L

9.5

The darkest and meatiest southern Rhone blend I’ve tasted with tremendous complexity. Explosive nose of black lack, blueberry jam, cured meat, grilled herbs, black pepper, dark chocolate, sweet soy source, and hint of violet. There is just the sense of Unami. Rich palate but structured like a skater that’s smooth, precise, and effortless.
I had the fortune to taste the 14’ True Believer 2 years ago, and I don’t really know what constitutes a reserve bottling, but this has more Syrah (53%).
Chris Hammell is the long time Bien Nacido vineyard manager, and cultivated the True Believer vineyard on the western edge of Bien Nacido. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A joint venture of Jorge Ordonez, Bodegas Borsao and Chris Ringland, located in the town of Bulbuente (Zaragoza) Spain. Alto Moncayo is the flagship of the winery. A single-grape variety of Garnacha, from vines between 40 and 70 years old, aged in new barrels for 20 months. Bold aromas of fruit and spice. On the palate black fruit flavors, rich and full-bodied, with complex spice. Fine tannins, savory, good structure ending with a smoky character. Very nice! — 6 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

10

Light gold color. Beautiful floral bouquet, light citrus and biscuit aroma. Amazing bubbles, crisp and amazing! Cheers! 🥂 — 7 years ago

Penny Sadler

9.1

Chris Ringland 's wines are balanced and complex. I'd put them against any old world Syrah. — 9 years ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Clear, medium ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced intensity primary and secondary aromas of black cherries, red plums, raspberries, and dried herbs; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, full body, and pronounced intensity primary and secondary flavors of red currants, cherries, blueberries, black currant, and clay pots with a long finish. This wine is complex and intense. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 5 months ago

with Nellie

Timothy

9.5

20 años y como coco! Con mucha fruta por delante , mega impresionado con el trabajo de Greg La Follette y su equipo. — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Owned in collaboration with Chris Ringland, Jorge Ordonez, Miguel Gil and others, located in Valley of La Aragona inside the Murcia district of Jumilla. Very dark Ruby, purple edges with floral fruit aromas & floral spice. On the palate blueberry & sweet black cherry flavors, savory with great mouthfeel, 24 months aging on French & American oak, the 70% Monastrell & 30% Cab Sauv has fine soft tannins, well integrated with oak, long finish ending with mineral tones, Will age well! — 2 years ago

Joe Roth

9.3

Delicious Chris Figgins wine. — 5 years ago

with Michael and Jeff

Roy Goble

9.7

Zoom call tasting with owner Bruce Phillips, plus master sommeliers Chris Blanchard and Jack Mason. Really fun, and such great wine! — 6 years ago

Peg Hanssen

9.9

“Chris makes a dazzling comeback with this rendition of his Pinot Gris, a follow-up to his highly-rated 2017 PG that took Gold at the San Francisco Wine Competition. Chris’s second round is seriously refreshing and bursting with tangy lemon, ripe peach and juicy melon that make this wine a little too easy to sip and even harder to put down. The wine blends grapes from three top-tier vineyards across the Willamette Valley giving it complex layers of flavors and aromas. Chill, open, and enjoy. It is an easy drinker on its own, but also has enough structure to pair with almost any food. Especially great with a roasted fresh picked beet salad, or spicy Thai food.” – Naked Wines — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Our favorite Figgins blend. 2011. A tough year but Chris Figgins turned it into a gem. Minerally. Full body, rich mid palette with a sweet edge, evolving into a dry, grippy finish with with minerals edging the experience. Perfect with aged Gouda cheese. — 7 years ago

with Tammy and Chris