1994 vintage. Nice fill with a slightly shrunken and fully saturated cork. Durand helped plenty in the opening assist. Not decanted and tasted after 1.25 hours open. Hadn’t tasted since the early 2000’s. Definitely dropped all the baby fat. Toffee, coffee and chocolate covered cherries in the nose. Light medium body (thought it would be a touch bigger). Still plenty of focus but slightly less grip than desired. Can it match biggie shizz like Montelena, Dunn, Diamond Creek, BV GDL Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Araujo, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Mayacamas, etc? No. Is it really really nice? Absolutely. Can hold another 5-6 years at this juncture before boarding the downhill bell curve train. 11.8.24. — 2 years ago
Harnessing a warm vintage and making a DRY p/m….skills. While being a touch austere, this mineral & round-acid driven vintage worked well with food, which is the ultimate test! Muted tropical note of apricot & star fruit sang softy like a Thursday night at the jazz bar. — 5 years ago
Very good!! — 6 years ago
DNWC pick of the month. Probably 3-4 years past peak, but still drinkin’ reeeeaaaallll nice. — 8 years ago
Over 75 years, the Martini family have crafted Cabernet Sauvignon wines from vineyards of Sonoma & Napa counties, carried on by 3rd gneration winemaker Michael Martini. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot making up the rest. Aromas of ripe black fruits and subtle spice. On the palate ripe flavors of blackberry and dark currant flavors with herb notes and cacao. Savory tannins, good balance, lingering ending with juicy mineral tones. Very nice. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of blackberries, black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, tobacco leaf, vanilla, chocolates, cherry liquor, eucalyptus, herbs, mediterranean spices, light pencil lead, black pepper and licorice.
Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, dried fruits, cedar, figs, vanilla, leather, spices, light earth, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn, coffee and light alcohol.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley needed 5 hours to open up properly.
Showing nice complexity with a great nose. Rich and extracted, yet elegant and smooth. Fruit forward and easy drinking.
I've had many different vintages of this wine, but this is my first time having it so young. Already drinking beautifully, and will get even better in the next 10 to 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.
Nicely balanced and engaging, with a great mouthfeel.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 21 months in (75% new) French Oak barrels. A small production of only 17 barrels.
14.7% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$170. — 3 months ago
Bill Harlan told me one night that this was the wine that made him strive for perfection!!! I’m a believer... stunning and amazing... @Antonio Galloni @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Shay A @Warren Sapp @Terri Walker @Diane M. Napolitano @Mike Smith @Matt Sterr @Ian Blackburn @Shauna Summers @David L @leon egozi @Ron R @Scott Rowe @Bill Bender @Bob McDonald @Carl Fischer @Will Harahan @Doug Davidson @Dick Schinkel @Marc vanholst @Jason and Jennie @Brian Szluk — 6 years ago
Bang/$ pretty great. Went up against M Etain, Camus SS, and PEter Michael...held its own. Keep open for a couple. Very very enjoyable. — 7 years ago
Smooth and mellow Red — 8 years ago
Whenever I pick up a personalized bottle like this at auction, it makes me think about the previous owner and why they never got around to drinking it. Perhaps they passed away before getting the chance to. Anyways, I thank Cindy for her bottle, signed by Tim and Michael Mondavi, perhaps on a special trip to Napa Valley, which was very enjoyable tonight, although certainly on the downslope. — 9 years ago
2012 vintage. From the only other winery in Knights Valley besides that Peter Michael endeavor. This Beckstoffer To-Kalon/To Kalon/Tokalon/ToKalon (pick your interpretation-seen 'em all) goes for a older-school, much leaner approach vs the decided, new school, über-concentrated style as far as this vineyard is concerned. Goes even leaner than the older, vineyard incorporated Mondavi Reserves from the 80's/90's (which I would rate in the middle ground). All the way to the left for the history buffs. Tremendous concentration but on the dry, dusty, dirty side vs the biggie extracted ripe style in vogue the last decade+. Instructive and elucidating. Twere I doing a Tokalon Vineyard retrospective/blowout dinner, this wine would be first. 9.6.23. — 3 years ago
I really enjoyed this petite sirah! Very mellow with dark cherry fruit... slightly sweet to make me wonder if it has added sugar but finishes with a nice tang. — 5 years ago
Dad really finding random bottles in the u fished basement — 6 years ago
Big and delicious. Apple, pear, always there! — 7 years ago
For more than 75 years, the Martini family winemakers have crafted wines from Sonoma and Napa counties. Today, Michael Martini, 3rd generation carries on the tradition. 100% Cab, aged in French oak (75% new) for over 2 years. Tight concentrated fruit flavors, complex with a gentle smokiness. Flavors of blackberry and currants with an earthy character adding a network of spices. Tight tannins not ready to release, big finish, lingering to a tobacco ending. Needs way more time, but very nice. Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago
K. Ross
14.6% abv. Wow. Pretty good. — 19 days ago