DAL 9000

9.4

This was the Elizabeth winemaker for 4H project. Bouquet of sour cherries. Upfront cherries, plums and other dark fruits. Complex layers. It was the decanting, aging and aeration but this was excellent. — 11 days ago

Michael Herzog

9.6

Probably the best Aubert Chard I have ever had. The way it evolved and the balance between oak, acid, fruit, and mineral was special. Toward the end of the night it was leaning into a grand cru Burgundy. It was new world, but had those leanings. A special wine for sure. — 4 months ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Hearty with backbone! Complexity in a delicate yet full-bodied way. Oaked cherry and lively minerality. — 7 months ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.6

A really impressive showing, a textbook and among the best aged new world Pinots I have ever had. It is a benchmark for willamette valley Pinot and a screaming application for the mount pisgah ava

Fresh, lifted, energetic. Evocative nose with fresh black and some red cherry, florals (lavender with some rose I think) cinnamon, that Dr Pepper thing, forest floor, freshly filled soil Also some notes of mushroom, leather, roibos tea, and exotic Asian spices But the power of this wine is In the texture and structure, which is world class. Dramatic tension, full mouthfeel, the slight graininess of an well built unfiltered wine - more clean water form a sendimentary river than any real sense of true sediment; vivid acidity that refreshed but also commands attention. In that way reminds me of a chambolle. I am floored. Maybe not the endless layers of flavors. But still Grand cru stuff. Not going anywhere. Not right to say this is or has peaked. This wine has come of age rather than peaked — 2 years ago

Tonya Perna

10

Very good, if you like concord grapes you'll love this wine. — a month ago

Norm

9.3

This is the Reserve Barrique Select, less than 50 cases. Outstanding — 3 months ago

Steve Somermeyer

9.1

Initial SO2 bite but very enjoyable once it blew off. — 5 months ago

DAL 9000

9.0

Meranda Nixon collaboration. Bouquet of dark dry cherries. Light dusty cherries with a hint of leather at the finish. Perfect on a summer day. — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Dessert Steak Wine that follows the St. Emilion nicely. Allen Brothers Ribeye just pulls apart with a fork.

Certainly one of the very best Napa vintages in my lifetime.

The first thing I would say is...the 97 has not achieved its peak. However, it is grand.

The nose reveals; cinnamon stick, dark currants, ripe, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plums, dark expresso grounds, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit tea, limestone to sandstone, incense, fire ambers, moist clay with amazing, yet understated, ruby, candied florals that are withering; dark, red, purple & blue framed in an equally divided field of violets & lavender.

The palate is; full, round, velvety, sexy, glorious and flat out elegant. The silky tannins are seriously round and tarry/meaty. The structure, tension, balance & length are in the realm of “walk off grand slam.” Dark currants, ripe, ruby, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum that is skin dominate, dark expresso grounds, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, dates, figs, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, steeped, dark fruit tea, limestone to sandstone, river stone, incense, fire ambers, notes of savory seasoned prime rib, moist clay with amazing, yet understated, ruby, candied florals that are withering; dark, red, purple & blue framed in an equally divided field of violets & lavender. The acidity is dead on. The finish is; juicy, lush, rich fruits that slide into mid spice and grippy balanced earth.

There is nothing about this wine that says tired.

Amazing follow up Allen’s Brothers steak wine.

Best Napa Cabernet I’ve had this year. — 3 months ago

with James and Christina

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9.8

Bright full ruby. Very dark nose combines black fruits, violet, graphite and river rock, plus subtle hints of molasses, tobacco and leather; less relentlessly primary than more recent vintages, but then 2010 widely produced explosive, complex, soil-driven aromas. This wine, too, shows a slightly liqueur-like quality yet seems less evolved than the Roberta's. Stunningly silky yet penetrating too, with its dark fruit, mineral and floral flavors conveying terrific vinosity and cut. A firm tannic spine gives this savory wine terrific grip on the palate-staining back end. A distinctly European style in the context of Napa Valley, with its outstanding flavor complexity aided by alcohol below 14%. (100% new French oak). (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2020)
— 9 months ago