Jae Cho

9.1

A very serious return to a cool vintage taste profile I don’t recall since the ‘14. Lavender, herbs, mineral in addition to the sweetly ripe blackberries and stems. Appreciating the 13% abv. — 24 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Powerful and complex! Dark ruby color. Aromas of bramble berries, violets, lavender and fresh thyme. The palate is full of cherry/bramble berry/fig fruit with hints of smoked meat, baking spices, tobacco, black olives and tar. Tannins have softened beautifully. Concentrated and wonderfully balanced. Thanking Ron B. for this excellent bottle. — 4 months ago

Chris Buggy

9.2

Strawberry sunshine, lavender day dream…every year — 8 months ago

with Jennifer

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A first look in on 3-4 bottles purchased from Rob Brost at just over $30.

Nose of nearly overripe floral fruits of; blackberries, creamy black raspberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, boysenberries & plum. Dry twigs, sandalwood, undertones of crush rocks/limestone, mid berry cola, dark, red florals framed in liquid violets & lavender.

The palate shows nearly overripe, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, boysenberries & plum. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, soft nutmeg, anise-black licorice, moist, grey clay, drip roasted coffee, dry twigs, barrel shaving dust, undertones of crush rocks/limestone, dry stone, dark spice, light, dry herbs, mid berry cola, dark, red florals framed in liquid violets & lavender, great, rainfall acidity and a smooth, elegant, richly polished finish that last 45 seconds. — 25 days ago

Shengli Hu

9.4

Minty and herbal, campfire, smoke, ash, fine integrated tannins, just ripe black cassis, lavender. There’s so much more going on…. — 6 months ago

yan ho

9.1

ct 8.12.2023 — 8 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2018 IX Estate is a wine of extraordinary depth and intensity. The aromatics along are positively dazzling. Crushed herbs, lavender, spice, menthol, chocolate, licorice and gravel lend tremendous power and gravitas. Just as impressive it was last year, the 2018 is positively riveting today. What a wine! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2022)
— 2 years ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.5

One of the best Napa Valley wines in the Valley! — 3 months ago

with Daniel and Michael

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.

This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.

It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.

Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.

The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 3 months ago

Jae Cho

9.0

Watermelon, pit fruit and lavender? First day the lavender more, second the fruit. — a year ago