Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep garnet core , medium wide garnet rim . This shows very well still with some sous bois , dried herbal hints and cherry . On the palate this shows good freshness , red cherry again, freshly cut herbs , touch of tobacco and black tea . Balanced acidity and lightly dusty but resolved tannins . Good length and presence on the palate , with enough fruit still , good balance and a black tea stained finish. This is at peak , and will probably stay here for a few more years , so no immediate rush, but is unlikely to improve further . — 16 days ago

John Malcolm

9.2

Lovely wine. Paired with venison. Decanted for a couple of hours. Full-bodied. Dark cherries, blackberries, a hint of dark chocolate, and Smokey. Very satisfying. — 4 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 7 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

This wine hits with massive brightness and blueberry flavors. But it also has excellent acidity to avoid it being sweet or fruit bomb like.

Pretty good with some age on it. — 2 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

This really leans into the darker aspect of Cab. Dark cassis, loads of dark crushed stone, baker’s chocolate, dark iodiney savory notes. Intense in the mouth, but with surprisingly nice acids for its 14.9 frame. Rich, but bone dry. Still tannic, but it’s soft. — 4 months ago

with Rebecca

Jake Hajer

9.4

Aged wonderfully. Fruit holding. Could easily drink glasses of this. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

As a wine professional, there are few greater pleasures than a bottle that surprises. All too often, our prejudices influence the experience which is why it’s so important to taste wines in double-blind fashion, and often. This bottle of 2005 Terlato Family Vineyards, “Cardinal’s Peak” blew me away. I don’t know anything about the wine making or fruit source but what was in the glass was simply beautiful.

Poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and then enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2005 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe, but also some dried black and red fruits: blackberries, black cherry, black plum, raspberry, pipe tobacco, the purple Now and Laters®️, oiled leather, purple flowers, dark chocolate, coffee, dried forest floor, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and overwhelmingly satisfying. A somewhat, no scratch that, remarkable wine. End stop. Drinking so well right now and absolutely in its prime. Don’t think twice to drink now to enjoy at its very best, but this will continue to drink well through 2030 if you must. 13.8% ABV. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep garnet with a terracotta rim . This has some sous bois , earthy tobacco , coffee grinds , herbal touches , cedar and dried currants . On the palate this is quite dense and classic in profile , still quite a lot of tannin , sous bois , cedar , some cassis , tobacco and a little herbal. Quite stocky and chunky . Medium length , and balanced acidity . This is still quite dense on the palate , with grippy , slightly rustic tannins . Probably just past peak , but will hold over the next 5 years or so . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London …. No label on the bottle ! — 3 months ago

Abbas Zand

9.2

Dark ruby color, aromas of dark cherry and blueberries. Full body, high alcohol 14.8%.
Flavors of dark cherries and plums/blueberries. Notes of cedar and dark chocolate. Well integrated tannins. Ready to drink. Medium+ intensity, medium+ finish. Well done.
$30 sale ( regular price $65) — 4 months ago

Stephanie Carnegie

9.1

Good smooth red — a year ago