Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Located halfway up the hill dominating the principal valley of Barolo, supported by steep slopes lined by orderly vineyards, lies the 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and strawberry, lively spice, well balanced with savory fine tannins on a medium+ finish ending with mineral character. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

At one time, this area was know as a moonshiner site, subsequently planted by Charlie Chenoweth with Pinot Noir. Medium Ruby color with aromas of dark berry fruits with notes of herbs, citrus, herb and spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe strawberry and cherry, espresso, vanilla and herb tea spice, well balanced with acidity. Fine tannins on a long finish ending with cedar, baking spices and earthy character. Very nice! — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Our relatively new good boi Bandol is wondering when he’ll get a little treat tonight. In the meantime, this is a nice value treat for me. Think of it as the Napa version of a top-flight Cru Bourgeois. Nose has a lot going on. Vanilla, cedar, plummy fruit, graphite, dry gravel, new leather. Nicely balanced and round in the mouth. Tannins are quite soft. Not great concentration but loads of flavor. Some alcoholic pepperiness pokes through on the back half of the palate. But can’t complain at all at under $30 (except about the unnecessarily heavy bottle). — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Located halfway up the hill dominating the principal valley of Barolo, supported by steep slopes lined by orderly vineyards, lies the 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits with earthy herb notes, aged for 12 months on oak. On the palate flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry with sweet vanilla spice. Fine tannins, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with earthy fruit character. Good value, Barolo like without $$! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

History begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor in San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is 100% Zin! Dark Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, floral and spice! On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with peppery floral herb spice integrated with fine soft tannins, lively acidity. Medium+ finish ending with juicy fruit and spice. Nice! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 5 years ago

Flobaco

9.2

Lovely sweet fruit. Delicious — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

First of all Kudos to Ant Hill love the wax seal over cork! Deep Ruby with aromas of dark Berry fruits with notes of herbs, citrus, floral and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry, tea, vanilla and herb tones, well balanced with acidity. Firm fine tannins on a long finish ending with fruit and floral herb character. Very nice! Will age well! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Initial impressions - Earthy, Herbal, Soy. Cherry complex and long. Much intestinal fortitude ie. guts. Thankfully not overly menthol/eucalyptus (just a trace) as you often get with all Wendouree Cuvées. Amazing the intensity provided by those old vines going back to the 1890’s. Could easily last another 5 to 10 years but pretty much at its peak right now. This is as good as Australian Shiraz gets - up there with Grange and Hill of Grace and recognised as such by Langtons. With time in the decanter, like all great wines, they develop and change. I was getting raspberry and mineral after a few hours. An exceptional wine and in the top 5 or so wines I have had this year. In good vintages I don’t think Wendouree Shiraz should be approached at under 20 years of age. — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.5

Wowow. Salmon-ruby colored, packed with red fruit, pink-green just ripe strawberries, wild berry, and zingy minerality and acid. But with a leesy, buttery quality reminiscent of great rosé champagne. Intoxicating combination, leading with the nose. Excellent texture and mouthfeel, and a long finish. Great stuff; some of the top rosé, anywhere. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, underbrush, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, crushed, dry rock, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

The body is full, still youthful and lush. The palate & tannins are rounded but, teethe, tarry & a touch austere. The tension, structure, length and balance are very nice but, still have 7–10 years good drinking ahead. Brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, black licorice, underbrush, old, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, tarry notes, crushed, dry rock, dry top soil, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

One flaw, the first glass showed a little to much alcohol heat but, dissipated after. 14.5 ABV...seemed more like 15.5.

Photos of; our visit to Larkmead’s tasting room, the back courtyard and two aspects of their tasting patio. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Aromas of lemon, lime, mineral and white flowers ( the white flowers from an orange tree) - with a touch of paraffin (TDN). The light to medium bodied palate has intensity. Grown organically in the Polish Hill district of the Clare Valley. Definitely in the top 3 Rieslings in Australia - such purity. — 8 months ago

Mark Osmers

9.2

Wine Spectator rated the ‘21 with an impressive 93 points and this Merlot was featured as #25 on the Top 100 wines of 2024.

flavor notes include blackberry, dark, cherry cedar, and that earthy Napa finish

I recommend this read to anyone who can find the 2021 vintage. Perhaps other years too. — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 2 years ago

Ed Chin

9.4

I really enjoy FP wines. This bottle has aged very nicely not necessarily elegant but not an over the top bruiser — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Located halfway up the hill dominating principal valley of Barolo, lined by vineyards, lies a precious 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with complex aromas of berry fruits, oak and fresh floral scents. On the palate dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, espresso and fresh herbs give this full-body wine grace and elegance. Soft fine dusty tannins, with earthy notes, on a well balanced frame makes this hot vintage wine approachable today as well as have room to run over the next decade. Very Nice! — 4 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.0

Nice Magnum-dark berry fruit — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Part of their "Blue Series," Isabelle, named after the birth of Jim’s daughter in 1995, was first top end Pinot Noir that was a blend from different locations, 6 in 2015. Ruby, Aromas of berry fruits with citrus, herbs & floral notes, aged for 2 years in new French Oak. On the palate layers of gentle ripe fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry with citrus and oak wrapped in gentle spice. Wine has great depth, soft tannins, well integrated, savory, long ending with a nice mouthfeel. Very Nice! Last bottle! — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Dense ruby in colour. Blackberry and mocha aromas - Berry flavours with dark chocolate on the palate - Oak has integrated with the fruit finishing with chalky Tannins. Medium to full bodied. Excellent quality from the second cheapest Penfolds red wine Cuvée and good value - still with a good future. The Cabernet showing itself with a little astringency at the finish. At the Gold Coast. — 7 years ago