ESF

9.1

continuing in the vein of unusual Italian wines, we thoroughly enjoyed this 10 yr old Teroldego from Tuscany of all places: pouring a deep rich ruby, partially opaque with copious quantities of red fruit on the nose, some dark berried fruit as well, licorice, dirt & soil, peppery goodness some dried herbs and so on. complex and engaging, med bodied on palate, more fruit & spice, fleshy mild tannins and smooth finish - other than color, not showing its age. — a year ago

Ron R

9.3

Flinty and crisp on the nose nose and palate. A nice and typically French personality with lemon rind and copious amounts of salinity. Nice weight and texture with more brine than sweetness. Drinking well right now, but will sail on for another 7-10 years, with ease. — 2 years ago

with Anne-marie

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9.3

The 2017 Cantenac Brown is always a strong performer in this vintage. Here, it has quite an opulent nose that you could easily mistake for a 2018 with copious black cherries and violet scents. The palate is fleshy, rounded and fairly sumptuous with pure black fruits that disguise the backbone. There is a welcome marine influence with hints of shucked oyster shells developing on the finish. Give this several years in bottle. Tasted at the Cantenac Brown vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago

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9.7

The 2016 Angélus has an intense, powerful bouquet with copious black cherries, boysenberry, orange pith and iodine scents that threaten to overwhelm the senses. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a dash of black pepper and impressive detail and persistence on the finish. This is an outstanding Angélus that clearly requires several years in bottle to realize its full potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The ‘Amoneus’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Maybach is sourced from a hillside vineyard located just west of Calistoga. A dense, glass-staining purple, this wine needs a two hour decant to be fully aroused. Once awakened the wine yields copious and layered dark fruits that are woven into shades of dark chocolate, roasted dates and creme de cassis that all shine brightly in the glass. Dense and decadent on the attack, the ‘Amoneus’ provides a luxurious mouthfeel. Chocolate covered espresso bean, tar, blueberry compote and suggestions of black currant cordial flavors all march together on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will only get better with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 97

— 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

An outstanding showing, the 2017 ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir opens with an inviting nose of copious red and dark fruits that mingle with peat moss, and wild mushroom tones on the expressive nose. The palate reveals a marvelous texture and beautifully coats the mid-palate. Bright red fruits dance with citrus rind and volcanic earth undertones on the palate. While exceedingly delicious in its youth, this stunning new bottling will have decades ahead of it. Drink 2019-2035- 94 — 7 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.3

A delightful BDX with a restrained finesse exhibiting copious amounts of graphite, licorice, loamy earth, dried rose petals, and ripe red fruits. — 7 years ago

with Krystal

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Intense but way softer and fruitier than expected, likely due to vintage conditions. Intensely mineral on the nose but vying for primacy with copious amount of deep orchard fruit (greengage?). Rich and intense in the mouth. Lowish acids. Very very good but seemingly atypical (or maybe this is global warming typical). — a year ago

with Rebecca and Angelo

Matt Perlman

9.1

Nabbed the restaurant’s last bottle of this. Not the riserva but the regular Taurasi. Dark blackberry and plum, tobacco, copious earth, mushroom and leather. Still quite structured but drinkable. Felt like it was maybe drying out a bit at the end but could have been getting the dregs. — 3 years ago

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9.3

The 2015 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the first vintage vinified with 100% infusion, including 55% whole bunches. This has a much more intense bouquet compared to the 2014: copious blackberries, blueberry and crushed violet scents, hints of blood orange and a light cassis touch with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine density and precision, good grip, edgy tannins with clearly more mineralité percolating through the finish. Excellent. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago

Eric

9.3

Singing on day two 🎶. The antidote for copious levels of stress. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

Sourced from the Loess, Seven Hills, Holly Roller, Serra Pedace, Mill Creek Upland and Leonetti Old Block Vineyards, the red blend was aged for 22 months in French oak before bottling. The final blend is a smaller than usual portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (73%) and an unusually high portion of Malbec (22%) with just a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%). This wine needs a two hour decant before enjoying. Once aroused, this slowly unveils green bell pepper, blueberry compote, creme de cassis and sagebrush tones that fill this highly perfumed nose. The palate is decadent, revealing an exceedingly plush texture. With bright acidity and serious weight, the wine expresses copious dark fruits with sweet pipe tobacco, blueberry compote and dark chocolate shaving flavors. Seductive in its youth, this stunning new bottling will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2020-2045- 97 — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2017 ‘Earth’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection wine made by the talented Brian Marcy. Needing a one hour decant to be fully aroused, the wine slowly unveils copious red fruits that dance with peat moss and shades of white truffle on this expressive nose. The palate reveals a wonderfully silky texture that coats the mid-palate. Red currant jelly, wild blackberry cordial, peat moss and suggestions of cigar ash all mingle brilliantly on the palate. While downright delicious now, this seductive, yet well-balanced effort will cellar marvelously over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 95 — 7 years ago

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9.4

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier has aged impeccably. A dark, sumptuous wine, the 2007 is endowed with copious dark cherry, plum, gravel, bittersweet chocolate, crushed rocks, sage and lavender all meld together in this potent Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. What a terrific debut this is. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2024)
— 2 years ago

ESF

8.9

Took some time to unwind & unfurl: showed copious aromas of black fruits, mocha, smoked meat notes, leading to generous mid-palate w/integrated tannins. There is clearly concentration here, great extraction without being overdone, ABV in check, pretty solid - not elegant or refined now, but has potential. A workingman’s wine. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

This wine is massive. Intense and deeply balsamic nose, Worcestershire sauce and iodine, very savory. Some dark berry fruit extract underneath. Dense and intensely mouthfilling. Again, little discernible fruit but copious savory flavors. Massive body. Lengthy finish. A Shrek of a wine. (But the label is awful, very ugly.)

UPDATE: Night 3, this is softer and more in balance, with more ripe fruit peeking through to balance the previously inky savoriness. Upping from 8.9 to 9.1, but for the next few years, make sure this gets plenty of air. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

One of the great wines from Raphet. Sadly my last btl of 2 cases where again this btl over delivered offering up copious amounts of black cherry, berry fruits with sweet almost Leroy like spices, mineral & violet. I wish I could find more wines that drink this well at this $$$. Consistent with my many prior notes — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

Fresh, lively and full of life, the 2017 ‘Arthur’ Chardonnay is another fantastic effort from this storied Oregon estate. On the nose this takes on gooseberry and fresh herbs that mingle with baked apple and shades of Challah bread on this distinctive nose. The palate is both bright and plush, showing a soft texture and delivering copious orchard fruit flavors that dance with shades of cinnamon infused sourdough bread. A delight to savor in its youth, enjoy this over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 92 — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2018 ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose by Big Table Farm was aged in neutral oak barrels prior to being released in mid-April 2019. Showing off its rich, dark hue, the 2018 ‘Laughing Pig’ opens with serious aromatic range from shades of honeydew melon to citrus rind and copious ripe red fruits that all connect in the glass. The palate shows a silly texture and weight, yet retains a wonderful sense of elegance. Bright guava, nectarine, and cran-pomegranate with red cherry candy flavors collide with the bright sense of minerality. The exceedingly long finish accentuates this simply gorgeous new Rose. While delightful in its youth, this will cellar well for the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 93 — 7 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

Exactly what I expected and exactly what I wanted. Intense and expressive with copious amounts of brooding dark fruits, graphite, anise, eucalyptus, gunpowder, and violet on the nose with juicy plums, blackberries, spices, and cedar on the palate with silky tannins and big structure. So good. — 7 years ago

with Krystal