Ira Schwartz

9.1

Stopped off at a lifelong friends apartment. He likes wine but it does not go beyond that. Says to me after pulling several bottles ( including 2 Rockford BP) from the corner of a very warm room, “What should I do with these wines?” Trying to remain calm, I said , “I think you need to open one.”
Surprisingly, the cork was intact, but totally soaked to the top. What we encountered was a red/purple wine that looked like it was bottled a few years ago. The nose was big and full of dark fruit along with some oak but zero alcohol Taking a small taste I was absolutely taken back by the juiciness & deep plummy flavors swirling around my mouth. I noted very little secondary flavors but the level of acidity shocked me. Tannins were soft and the fish was modest. — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Bond 2001 Cab. The color shows little age —a bright dark red crimson. Nose floats with dark black and red berries, wet earth cedar and sweet honey spices; a minty menthol lingers filling the senses with utter satisfaction. OMG! a very sensual experience in the mouth —full body flavors coat every corner of the tongue with raspberry and blackberry flavors. A minerally, pencil lead, caramel mocha sweetness follows ending with a grippy tannin long finish. Can definitely age another 10-15 years. What can I say, WOW! — 4 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Enjoy this with a nice rock and simply sip. — 2 months ago

Adam Baker

9.5

Very smooth. Caramelized pear, plum, marzipan, dark chocolate - according to the bottle. I get all but the chocolate. Long finish. — 2 years ago

with Brud

Jamie Lauder

9.0

2016 vintage…a warm, well balanced vintage in the Okanagan Valley.
Ruby red in the glass.
Dark red fruit…plums and raspberries with milk chocolate, tobacco and fine grained tannins, This wine spent 14 months in French oak.
Absolutely beautiful with grilled lamb on the BBQ.
— 2 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Great wine. Dark, inky and concentrated. Definately in the Modern Corner of the Brunello-ring. Wonderful tannines, lovely acidic core to keep it palatable, versatile and interesting.
To drink now and in the next 5 years. — 4 years ago

Monica Molina

9.5

Love it. Juicy, sweet-ish, great with dinner — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

One of the more accessible 2000’s right now, it is rounding the corner towards maturity flaunting a deep dark fruited profile with herbs, spices, tobacco and truffle. On the palate the tannins are integrated and its texture is elegant, layered and seamless. 2000 shows a truly great balance between power and elegance. Excellent. — 2 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.5

Holy sweet mother of Moses. The 2016 Royal City is a truly spectacular wine. Full speed on all cylinders with a broad and evolving complexity with new features found in every crook and corner. 
Dark concentrated, ripe but fresh fruit profile, cassis, blackberries, blueberries, plenty of lavender followed by meat, iron and a very integrated oak spice and a pronounced crushed stone minerility that gives further dimension to the nose. There is of course a bit of resistance on the palate with its pronounced tannins, but it manage to shake it with its intense concentration on the palate with an expansive mid palate and bottomless finish. Outstanding.
Please give me a napkin and a bloody steak, sorry vegetarians but you could always pair it with a bearnaise only, accompanied by a large spoon.
27 months French oak (65% new) — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A complex nose of red and black berries (raspberry) with mocha, dark chocolate and coffee beans. Medium to full bodied rich earthy and berry flavours on the palate with soft yet persistent tannins. An amazing inner core strength even at 18 years which will go on for at least another decade. Richard Hemming MW had a drinking window of 2010 to 2042!! He could well be right. I have been collecting Penfolds Bin 389 for many years and the best practice is to buy at least a dozen, put it in a cool dark corner of your cellar for at least 15 years. I have 8 bottles of this 2002 left. This was a cool vintage with a long hang time for the grapes making it exceptional. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz. — 4 years ago