Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry, pomegranate and cola. Always a score from Kota Browne- perfect Pinot. — 7 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

First Summa Vineyard from my allocation. It is quite nice. Still needs a few years.

The body feels thicker than other Pinots I’ve had. Plum pudding, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, highlights of pomegranate & blueberries, mix berry cola, licorice nibs, dry herbs, moist volcanic clay, limestone marl, dry twig, dry crushed rocks, some grilled meats, dry tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, fresh & withering, dark, red, flowers, excellent round acidity and a well balanced, tensioned, structured with a well polished finish that lasts a minute. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose with black fruits, cedar, licorice, chocolates, light vegetables, wild flowers and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, currants, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley is already delicious.

Rich and engaging. Powerful and dark. Still a little unforgiving. Spicy and fruit forward.

Much earthier on the nose than on the palate. Only after 2.5 hours it balances out, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years, and has good potential to become a 94+ point wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

I Had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. Grapes were handpicked and aged for 18 months in mostly French oak barrels.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$95. — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Just stunning at this phase. Peaking!

Tart dark, red cherries, poached to stewed strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries, blue fruit hues, salted caramel notes, limestone minerals, dry crush rock powder, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, red cola/licorice, sun fruit tea, dry twig, dry top soil, dry herbaceous notes, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple flowers, rainfall acidity, elegant, balanced, well tensioned with polish for days that lasts 90 seconds.

13.6 ABV. 👏 — 7 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Medium Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits with floral and wood spice notes, aged for 11 months in oak. On the palate flavors of strawberry and cherry with tobacco, oak, tea, cola and herb floral notes. Well balanced, savory fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and an oaky earthy character. Nice! — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is beautiful, elegant, lush, ripe but it lacks some depth and definitely destintive character.

The fruits are; blackberries, sweet & sour, dark cherries, black raspberries, blueberries, dry cranberries, strawberries and creamy raspberries. Mixed mid/dark, berry cola, fruit tea, light, dry, crushed rocks & top soils, very soft spice and baking spices, (some caramel notes, dry herbs, moist clay, dry tobacco & leather as it opens up after three plus hours) dark, rich soil with dry leaves, withering & fresh, dark, red, blue & purple flowers, excellent acidity and a nicely balanced & polished finish.

If you are having this now-ish, I would give it a three hour decant for it to better reveal itself. Still has another eight or more good years of drinking properly stored.

Photos of, Aubert fruit/vineyards & Mark Aubert. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Martinelli family has been farming in Sonoma County since 1860. Deep Ruby color with aromas of red berry fruit and sweet spices. On the palate ripe cherry and blueberry flavors, with some dried fruit notes, oak, cinnamon spice and cola tones. Fine mouth coating tannins with balanced acidity carry this rich wine to a long finish. Good now will age a bit! — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cherry, oak, and cola over plum. Good but a little tighter than the last one I had, maybe needed more time to open than it got. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I compare the Heitz Napa to the Joseph Phelps Napa in many ways. I believe the Phelps is slightly less vintage dependent than Heitz. But, this 07 like the vintage in Napa, sensational.

This 2007 is peaking. Perfectly ripe & juicy; brambly blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries/kirsch, blueberries come on late and poached strawberries on the edges. The tannins are still dark and tarry. Rich, sweet, dark soils, mid & dark berry cola, anise, steeped black tea, dry tobacco, used leather, cedar/sandalwood, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry crushed rocks, limestone, mid spice, hints of grilled meat, some fresh/dry herds, a tad of eucalyptus, stewy/tumble weed, fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, excellent round acidity, the scope of the finishes encompasses; balance for days, nice structure & tensioned, elegant, polished and lasts two minutes.

Photos all taken around their tasting room on Hwy 29 when their tasting was still the last free tasting in Napa. Still not over the family selling to a corporation that has no wine experience. — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I may have posted close to a hundred Williams Selyem’s. These are just ok young. It is when they hit 10-15 years they shine. This one is really good tonight after nearly two-hours decanted.

Nose of floral; dark cherries, black plum, blackberries, black raspberries, plum with hues of blueberries. Softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, baking soda, black cherry licorice nibs, red cola, steeped black tea, sandalwood to cedar, sandstone-limestone mixed marl and brilliant, bright, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets and lavender.

The palate is, rich, lush and juicy fruits of; dark cherries, black plum, blackberries, black raspberries, plum with hues of blueberries. Softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, baking soda, dark spices, black cherry licorice nibs, red cola, steeped black tea, sandalwood to cedar, sandstone-limestone mixed marl, dark, rich, turned earth and brilliant, bright, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets and lavender, cool, spring shower acidity, excellently; structured, tensioned, balanced with a brilliantly elegant & polished near two-minute finish. Impressive & impressive style. — 4 months ago