Château d'Orignac

Pineau des Charentes

9.3

Perfumed, complex and beguiling. Golden syrup, toffee and nuts, citrus, raisins, Christmas candy—what a symphony! A glass of this delight was how I ended my recent nose-to-tail dinner at St. John Restaurant in Smithfield, London. — 2 months ago

Rémy Martin

XO Excellence Cognac Ugni Blanc

Byron Hewett

9.4

Excellent. Long, toasty caramel. — 2 years ago

Lyle, Daniel and 7 others liked this

Hennessy

X.O Cognac

John Malcolm

9.6

Pepper, orange, a hint of cinnamon. So smooth. Outstanding in every way! — 5 years ago

Beaulieu Vineyard

Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1996

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The BV Tapestry doesn’t show its real self and value until it approaches 20 years. When you open these inside 10 years, it’s an average to very good wine depending on vintage. I’ve said it many times, you simply can’t get this kind of elegance and flat gorgeous complexity with any amount of decanting. You cannot fake or cheat long bottle evolution.

The one quality I get from this bottling at this age is Cognac with deep caramel flavors.

The nose reveals, dark currants, deep blackberries, dark liqueur cherries, baked, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, baked rhubarb pie, poached strawberries, anise, heavily steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry, crushed, rock powder, sweet tarriness, soft leather, hints of graphite, dry twig, salted caramel, Cognac, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, dark, rich, turned earth, hints of mushroom, hints of; vanillin, clove, nutmeg, understated, medium, dark spice, saline, peppercorns, dark, red, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets and lavender. Floral heaven and then some!

The body is round & full. The mouthfeel is gorgeously sexy. The tannins are round, soft but, still show some teeth & tarriness. The structure, tension, length and balance are exquisite and still has at least 5 years of life ahead. It’s magnificently on the other side of its peak. Dark currants, deep blackberries, dark liqueur cherries, baked, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, baked rhubarb pie with golden crust, poached strawberries, kirsch cherries, figs, prunes, dates, anise, heavily steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry, crushed, rock powder, sweet tarriness, soft leather, hints of graphite, dry twig, salted caramel, dark chocolate, Cognac, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, dark, rich, turned earth, hints of mushroom, hints of; vanillin, clove, nutmeg, understated, medium, deep, dark spice with shades of palate heat, saline, peppercorns, dark, red, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets and lavender. The acidity is flat out perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, gorgeous, sexy, silky, ripe, lush, captivates the whole body, persists until you go to bed and even intrudes on your dreams.

While 94, no ordinary 94 with its age, complexity & beauty. It’s a WOW wine that rocks your mind, body & soul if you are deeply passionate about wine as I am. You want to slowly sip this all night.

Photos of, all the amazing scenery in and around BV...a Napa pioneer & legend. — 7 years ago