Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 7 days ago

with Brenda

Alexandre Czesnat

9.0

Red fruits, black plum, oak, tobacco, smoke, leather, excellent balance. A little too soft for my taste — 6 months ago

Brad Jensen

9.3

Silky smooth nose, velvety and soft, with forewarned black currants, just a LITTLE pepper, dark cherry and maybe a little pine forest floor? Some sediment and still grippy tannin, but starting to really loosen, with prominent ripe red fruits of dark , brooding plum, cherry and dark fruits, with hints of graphite, wood, and smoke over a still zingy finish. — a year ago

Mike Evans

9.2

A good but not great LLC, classic black current and hints of leather and cedar, but a little rustic, though drinking it next to a lovely 1990 Troplong-Mondot didn’t do it any favors. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium pale ruby , wide garnet rim . This shows some development with porcini , sandalwood , bitumen , black tea and some sweet blackberry and red cherry . On the palate a bit more of the blackberry , cherry and sous bois , with herbal hints , quite rounded and juicy but with balanced acidity and still gritty tannin. Slightly warming alcohol , so would drink this a little on the cooler side . There is a liquorice and tar like tinge on the good length finish . This is drinking well now, though needs a bit of time in the glass, and will continue to show well over the next 5-10 years or so , perhaps longer . If not the most complex or structured Cascina Francia this makes up for it with its attractive , heart on sleeve personality, and is a great choice to open at the moment . This was still going the day after , bit more dark fruit on the nose and saline , mineral on the palate, still grippy tannins . — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Nice nose with red and black fruits, light oak, tobacco leaf, light mildew, cola and dark coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, vegetables, forest floor and black pepper.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 27 year old is still drinking very nicely, although definitely not at its peak anymore. Complex and engaging.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

I Had this same vintage a little while ago, and this bottle drinks much better. At this age, the condition of the specific bottle is very imperative.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Always nice to drink these kind of old wines.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1/2hour decant(decent fine/cloudy sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with some bricking. On the nose: dark fruit, campfire, leather, black olives, floral. Taste: smooth, elegant, lush mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark plum, dark chocolate, coffee, minerals, little tobacco, and a smokey graphite medium plus finish. YUM! In a nice place with a few more years to go. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Roman Ochocki

9.1

Very good. Lots of black fruit aromas (a plum, blackberry & black currant), an oak & a vanilla, so I”m a little disappointed. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, stewed cherries, raisins, figs, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, spices, light wood, peppercorn, dark chocolates and herbs.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 3-year-old Zinfandel from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next few years.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Rich, but not 'too much'.

The alcohol is not very noticeable at this point, although it is very high, so watch out.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent. I usually like it better with a little more age.

Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good everyday wine. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with burger and fries.

A blend of 83% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante and 4% Mixed Reds.

15% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

From a just opened owc purchased on release. This needed a little air to show mostly black fruits with spice box, dried herbs, earth, leather & tobacco notes. — 2 years ago