Shay A

9.2

I don’t have much experience with the Bin 407 from Penfolds compared to others in the portfolio, but I was curious to see how this was drinking at 20yrs after recently getting locally for a steal.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Even knowing this is cab, I still expected a Penfolds Shiraz type aromatic, and while I didn’t exactly get that, the American Oak in the background alongside the ripe fruit do help bring Penfolds semi in to focus. This needed about 90mins in bottle to wake up…initially I was concerned I had missed a window as it was very stewed and fig dominant (not much fruit). The American Oak notes started appearing (faint coconut and dill) and then high toned red fruits. After 90mins, the palate bulked up and showed some black fruits, cassis, espresso, and even some Andes mint at the finish. Plenty of tannin too.

I’d open soon if you have any left, but give it some time to wake up. (Yes, the ‘94 Monte Bello was insanely good, as was the still young ‘06 Unico). — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2016 Pagani Ranch pours a deep ruby with near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of red and black brambles, toasted coconut, dill, wood, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and tart. This is in a lovely spot yet, it still exhibiting quite a bit of freshness so I expect this will be quite long-lived. Drink now through 2031+. — 5 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Not sure if reviews of the Crianza got mixed in here, but this is the Riserva from a great Rioja vintage & is a solidly medium bodied wine. The nose alone is worth the cheap price of admission: ripe cherries, leather, all the classic barrel aged notes of dill & vanilla. Very very fresh though on the palate. Those ripe cherries, dark chocolate notes pick up intensity. For a rich wine ( which is not to my taste) & producer I never tried I was impressed — 9 months ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

Always a solid Sonoma cab. Some anise and dark fruit, dark chocolate and anise. Slight bit of dill and vanilla. Drinks young, this could go for a bit longer. Good strong tannins but smooth enough to balance my prime rib. — a year ago

with Jillian

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days; consistent throughout with very little evolution. The cork basically disintegrated when trying to open. The 2009 Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core, moving gradually towards a rust colored rim. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits: Bing cherry, mulberries, spiced plum, cumin, dill, Balsamico, chocolate chip banana bread, toasted coconut, leather, cigar box, dry earth and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory and super delicious. What a drop dead gorgeous Gran Reserva from Hermanos Pecina. This drinks well from the pop and pour opens up considerably with air so decanting 30min before would be advisable. Enjoy through 2039+. The cork was doing its job as it was only partially saturated, it just came apart in little pieces. I have several remaining bottles and I’ll plan on using an Ah-So or Durand with the next bottle. A stunning, ultra-traditional Rioja Tinto. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

After an initial smell and taste, I felt the wine was a bit shy and some air would do some good. Additionally, there appeared to be quite a bit of sediment so I poured into a Riedel Amadeo decanter about an hour before service. The 2009 Reserva pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core with some slight rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark dried cherries, sage, dried/cracked leather, dill, tobacco, anise, a touch of furniture varnish and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some added mint on the very long finish. This is a very lovely, traditional leaning Reserva that’s just beginning to show secondary characteristics. Drinking well now and should continue to do so well past 2029. — 10 months ago

Daniel veit

9.3

Delicious, bing cherry, dill and leather. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark cherry, brambles, fig, toasted coconut, dill, cedar, olives, leather, earth and baking spices. There seemed to be quite a bit of wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish was long, delicious. Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with other Bordeaux varieties), Syrah (or a blend with other Rhone varieties), Zinfandel, or Tempranillo from France, Italy, the United States, Australia or Spain. However, the amount of coconut and dill suggested this was American oak which had me rule out France, Italy and Australia and while this had some very lovely fruit, I felt this leaned more towards its non-fruit characteristics. So, final conclusion: this is Tempranillo, from Spain, from Rioja, Reserva 2011 from a high-quality, traditional producer like Lopez de Heredia. Ohhhh so close! I love this producer. The wines have so much character. Drink now and through 2033. — 8 months ago