Jay Kline

9.6

Double-decanted the night before; enjoyed over several hours out of red Solo cups. It’s been several years since my last experience with the 2005 Blanc. The extended air treatment ahead of service is now customary for me with the Blanc and Rosé in particular. The entire bouquet has a chance to unfurl. The wine pours a deep golden color. On the nose, the wine is vinous and recalls my previous experience with the 2005 Blanc: redolent of ripe stone fruits, some dried citrus, wild flower honey, echinacea, marzipan and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with slightly bitter, testa/skin coat sort of flavor. Fabulous texture. At this rate, I expect well stored cellared examples to drink well beyond my original assessment several years ago. Drink now through 2045+ — 2 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

This wine is a lovely golden color. The nose carries plenty of lemon, citrus minerality, and a touch of oak spice. The palate has a good bit of acidity, lemon, stone fruit, and vanilla. It finishes long, full of citrus and a bit of apricot. This wine is made for seafood, but will also fit well with chicken or lemony pasta dishes. — 8 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) with the balance being a blend of Petite Verdot (12%), Malbec (8%) and Merlot (3%). Aromas of blueberries, kirsch, violets, forest floor and cedar wood. Well integrated flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, chocolate, tobacco, and graphite. Beautiful notes of vanilla, wild herbs and clay on the long and earthy finish. Amazing complexity and balance! Medium-plus bodied. Beautiful creamy texture and velvety tannins. So good for being so young. Looking forward to trying this wine again in a few years. Thank you so much for sharing this one, Keith S! — a year ago

KD

9.4

Med ruby with intense cherries and other red fruits, pepper, tobacco and a touch of vanilla and spice on the nose. Decanted an hour, beautifully integrated velvety tannins and well-balanced fresh acidity. Lighter and more subtle than the nose with a palate of red cherries and wild strawberries, candy cane with delicate notes of cinnamon and clove and an earthy tobacco touch. The finish is very long and goes on for minutes with beautiful notes of vanilla, dark chocolate and lingering strawberries. Delicious! — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 4 months ago

Ericsson

9.6

The closest thing to true Bordeaux style red blend from Napa. This wine really accentuates the vintage and the terroir, along with fruit and soil. The Dominus Estate manages the vineyard via dry farming, relying on nature for water, making a profound difference on great vintages such as 2016. Find a good vintage Dominus and you’re bound to have one of kind. Cheers. — a year ago

Brad Jensen

9.7

This was a surprise! The body and color were surprisingly light, with a light maroon/burgundy, and a Nose of sharpie and old velvet couch opening to notes of wet leaves, and then evolving into chamoy and a fresh bouquet of flowers. this is a wild and excitingly different wine. Like, wow, at first the palate was straight sweet jam, then it became vegetal, with pronounced freshness of prickly pear, with well integrated tannins and a slightly orange citrus finish. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Saint-Joseph V.2018
Northern Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Made entirely from 100% Syrah, this wine hails from one of the most celebrated AOCs of the Northern Rhône. The 2018 vintage was a powerful, structured year, known for ripe fruit and depth, making it one of the standout recent harvests in the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and spices (notably black pepper, nutmeg) with floral hints of honeysuckle.
Palate: savory notes of smoked meats, olives, herbs, licorice, chocolate, and a touch of oak, layered beautifully with rich black fruit.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, meaty, and concentrated with ripe tannins, round structure, and long finish. Balanced acidity ensures freshness while delivering intensity and elegance.

Winemaking & Style
Traditional Rhône winemaking highlights the terroir’s granite soils and classic Syrah character. The 2018 vintage is built for longevity, with the richness of fruit and structure to age gracefully for another decade.

Food Pairing
Ideal with duck confit, braised short ribs, lamb shank, venison stew, or wild mushroom risotto. Pairs just as well with aged cheeses like Comté or Manchego.

Verdict
A textbook Saint-Joseph: bold yet elegant, savory yet fruity, with the hallmark spice and depth that defines Northern Rhône Syrah. Aging potential of 10+ years, but already showing incredible balance and drinkability now. — 5 months ago

Nate Wall

Winemaker at Troon Vineyard

9.0

That’s seriously delicious. Fresh, vibrant, balanced. Wild red fruits with a hint of herbal, basil? Thyme? Really lovely. Light-med body, almost glou-glou - could def take a slight chill. Really lovely from Cos. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby/Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Stinky nose, as expected, and dry on the palate with nice complexity.

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

Showing black fruits with wood, earth, vegetables, spices, barnyard, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, tar, black tea and bitter herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a unique Syrah from Walla Walla Valley. Rich and extracted. Soft and elegant. Very much 'in your face' kind of wine.

This 7 year old is still young, and needs a few hours to open up properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced and complex with a nice mouthfeel. Not my usual style, but very tasty.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it always delivers.

Wine Spectator 94 points. Wine Advocate 96 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of Syrah with a touch of Viognier. Only 859 cases produced.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — a year ago