The closest thing to true Bordeaux style red blend from Napa. This wine really accentuates the vintage and the terroir, along with fruit and soil. The Dominus Estate manages the vineyard via dry farming, relying on nature for water, making a profound difference on great vintages such as 2016. Find a good vintage Dominus and you’re bound to have one of kind. Cheers. — 5 months ago
94-95
My first Gonon StJo…unfortunately, I loved it. Wish these were easier to find at good prices!
At 8yrs, this was so perfumed out of the glass. At 90% whole cluster, it shows typical green/stemmy aromatics but it’s not the dominant note, trending toward green peppercorns, violets/potpurri, olive, and black cherries. Mineral notes, pepper, mix of red and black fruits, mocha, and so much verve on the palate, absolutely buzzing both days. This wine is floral and herbal but with so much power and balanced fruit…kind of a wild-ness to it that I loved. What a beautiful expression of Syrah. Killer.
Day two showed the whole cluster aromatics fade a bit, but it also showed the palate bulk up. So good. — 9 months ago
Private Dinner on the beach to celebrate my wife birthday. The Ritz went out of their way to find this 2008 Opus One. Flavors just burst open after decanting. Fruit was smooth with hints of blackberry and cherry. No earthy or leather just smooth fruit front to back. — a month ago
Minerality, crispness, mostly dry…a profile I love. I was pleasantly surprised by this find at Fred Meyer!
— 5 months ago
Dry, smoky, hint of leather
— 2 years ago
Crisp wine - paired well with Thanksgiving meal — 2 years ago
Bit more lightening on the rim , more garnet . Touch more herbal on the nose with cedar , and grafite, much more lean and mineral on the palate. This takes quite a while to find its feet and benefits from quite a lot of air . In some ways a little unfortunate to be served between the 2000 and 1990 , which are a fuller , and more showy in style . However after a while this does show quite good length and balance , refreshing acidity . This is quite lean and mineral , focused and still pretty young . From now over the next 10 years. A little austere in style , reminds me a little of the 2005 in that aspect , though without that vintage’s intensity or density . — 4 months ago
Solid wine. Always a good one — 6 months ago
What a joy to find this bottle at a NYC steakhouse. It’s been a while. Initially turned on by these ancient Lebanese vineyards and organic practices. And blending fruit that we are Las Jaras use. Drinking well for being a ‘16. VA a bit high but reminiscent of some wilder Barolo — 2 years ago
Fred Dugach
Must be aerated! Totally different and MUCH better. Nice dry tones perfect with a nice filet. Dry to the palette and a smooth finish. Some dark cherry. Works for me! — a month ago