Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Special Club pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberry, apple, strawberry, peach, lemon curd, toasted brioche, almond, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Delicious. Drink now through 2042. Disgorged October of 2022. — 20 days ago

Suneal Vishnupad

9.7

Really excellent. Side by side w/ second flight. Both 2007s — 19 days ago

with Kimberly and Kayla

Seth Masterson

9.3

Vintage California Chard can be fun!
Livermore - which wasn't a populated suburb in 2001 - produced this. It's almost turning to white sherry,.Stewed pear, stewed apple, candied apple, dried dates, dried figs.
Very fun. Still has an acidity that keeps it present. Alcohol content is still there too which helps carry all of this down without being cloying. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 4 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

Very young. Still somewhat unstructured and tannins that need to mellow. But good potential. — 2 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Green apple and pear, salted lemon, baguette, med acid ✨ — 3 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.5

Magnum. 95+ — 4 days ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.3

One of the best 1er champs for the $. Best to get off the wagon too. — a month ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.5

40 y old | Tawny port heaven — 2 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

This was insanely good. So well balanced. Had with Thai food. — 3 months ago

Tobin Spratte

9.4

Bananas foster, Christmas fruitcake, with balanced gun smoke aromas. Much fruitier and more concentrated than the Warres. Fantastic. — 6 months ago

Ryan

9.4

Date, fig, apricot, almond, tobacco. Layer upon layer of flavor! Delicious! — 7 months ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Bruised apples and bread that was just fabulously balanced by the acidity. I would have scored higher if the bubbles were more present. — 2 years ago

Yoly Sardinas

9.5

Dinner at the Villa w The peeps from Mass. and chef Enzo — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.3

[8 hour decant] This is from a very fine lot of 1977 Graham’s I purchased in the mid-to-late 1990s from a small Napa importer, and is at the level of the 1977 Fonseca we drank last week, sweet, nice weight and balance, long, lingering finish, very nice!! — a month ago

with Jim

romo

9.2

Gained sweetness w air. - at Archer — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.9

Perhaps, the best 2007 Napa Cabernet I’ve had or can remember. From the first sip, it was a shut the front door moment.

The nose showed; dark cassis, blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries, and both plums. Dark chocolate to pudding, flowers that were dark, red, blue, wrapped in violets, caramel, softly, layered baking, spices, soft, cedar, leather, tobacco with ash, dark, cola and a circling sense of baking powder.

The palate showed me just how beautiful Cabernet fruits can be. A true example of perfectly ripe fruit, picked at exactly the right time. Beautiful, gorgeous blackberries, black, raspberries, dark cherries and black plums. An excellent barrel toast that created perfectly soft and layered baking spices, clays, wood shavings, leather cigar box with ash, perfect tannins that are M+ and sticky, soft, dry herbs, hints of mint, steep tea, withering, red blue florals w/violets, perfect acidity, excellently, knitted, softly structured, tension, balance for days and an amazing finish that goes on endlessly.

If there is one thing I learned tasting 6 Harlan’s is Bob Levy is one of the very best, if not thee best at managing Cabernet/Bordeaux blend tannins.

Tasting with Winemaker- Bob Levy & Managing Director-Don Weaver. — 2 months ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Absolutely excellent. Such a treat at 55 years. At first a real medicinal note which blows away with a bit of time and air. Incredibly deep and dense with great pruney fruit. Excellent acid hanging in at this age and the finish is very long. Nice wine for a weekend of Thanksgiving related meals! — 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Consistency is their middle name.

This has just started to shift from fresh to aging.

Bruised red apple/pear, lemon, lime zest, tropical melons, drier stone fruits, whipped cream, ginger, brioche, graham cracker, very light caramel/butterscotch notes, grey volcanics, limestone marl, sea fossils, gritty chalk, white & yellow flowers with greens, excellent lively acidity and a well balanced-knitted, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts near two-minutes. — 7 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

Broke out one of my cellared Raffaults for my homeboy who graced me with a home cooked Tuscan styled flank steak w rosemary & arugula, as well as Israeli cous cous w chickpeas, charred tomatoes, feta, & herbs. Light Cadmium red hued & strong color though ( good cork- not a guarantee w Raffault!); dense Hibiscus, fresh raspberry & some bramble on nose; on palate very clean & smooth mouthfeel, with the initial flavors repeated but a deeper blend of red fruits & a stronger presence of under brush. Super fresh & integrated. Elegant, & the Burgundy echo was hard to ignore. Not Uber complex but not monolithic either, which this line of Raffault can be in its youth ( or as it ages). Very impressive, & accessible now. Curious how my ‘02 & 07s will fare… — 2 years ago

with Owen