Malbec Valley

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short reddish rim. Not showing age at all.

Strong nose of black currant, blackberries, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, light earth, herbs, mediterranean spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, cherries, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, black tea, herbs, light vanilla, mediterranean spices and dark chocolates.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with great complexity.

Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

This 17 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink at its peak, although I'm drinking out of a Magnum.

Showing a beautiful nose with lots of complexity. Rich and extracted, elegant and powerful.

Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Aged for 24 months in all new French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$450 (Magnum).
— a day ago

Orin Swift

Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Very well done. A beautifully soft Cabernet while full and bold it remains delicate and delicious. Great Sat. Night celebrating owning the condo Phuc Yea! — 21 days ago

Joseph, Robin and 6 others liked this

Miner Family

The Oracle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2017

Ming L
9.3

The bottle is heavy!

Distinctively Napa with Bordeaux sensibility. Dark cherry, cassis, blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of tobacco unfold on the nose. The palate is beautifully structured palate with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and concentrated dark fruit. Composed and well balanced with long candied finish.

The winery is the first customer of the Stagecoach vineyard and The Oracle used grapes from the vineyard exclusively until the 2015 vintage.
— 2 months ago

Vanessa, Joel and 2 others liked this

Viña Cobos

Felino Mendoza Malbec 2023

Very drinkable — 4 months ago

Rick, Sagee and 1 other liked this

Justin Vineyards & Winery

Isosceles Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Deep ruby color, with a brick rim. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and mocha. Black fruit on the palate, dark chocolate and baking spices.

🍇 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot

🏅92 Points - Wine Spectator
— 4 months ago

Tom, Dave and 11 others liked this

Gundlach Bundschu

Mountain Cuvée Sonoma County Red Blend 2023

Red fruit, green, polished, balanced. — 6 months ago

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Cyrus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, licorice, chocolates, light vanilla, coffee, earth and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, light cedar, earth, coffee, herbs, light vanilla, toast, tobacco leaf and chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Alexander Valley. Rich and fruit forward, elegant and nicely balanced.

Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. Needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points.

The nose reminds me of a Napa Cabernet. Complex and entertaining.

A great sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Aged in (25% new) French and American Oak barrels for 24 months.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60.
— 8 days ago

Ted, Doug and 9 others liked this

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Cain Five Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Ming L
9.3

I opened this 2015 after the 16’ Branaire-Ducru.

The fruits are riper and slightly jammy with plum, blueberry, and blackcurrant, but it’s the savory expression that really sets it apart. Rich palate without excessive weight with lively acidity and fresh herbal lift. Kong savory finishes. Beautiful Bordeaux blend with Napa mountain fruits.
— a day ago

Joel and Tom liked this

Bodega Catena Zapata

High Mountain Vines Mendoza Malbec 2024

I did not try it but Rich liked it . — 2 months ago

Terrazas de Los Andes

Reserva Mendoza Malbec 2021

Álcool 14,0%.
DUFRY/SP - SLF - Abr/2025.
— 3 months ago

Opus One

Overture Napa Valley Petit Verdot Blend 2022

2022 vintage. Drinking better now, and for the foreseeable future, than the 2022 Opus. 6.24.26. — 4 months ago

Ted, Tom and 11 others liked this
Norman

Norman Premium Badge

Seems young. I’ve only had this as a gift and felt guilty opening it but it was a gift/let’s try kinda thing. How long would you normally hold?
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Norman Would consume within a decade's time.

Bodega Catena Zapata

Catena Mendoza Malbec

Strong notes of cherry, full body deliciousness highly recommend for anyone looking for dark, full and flavourful. — a month ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Floral note’s of blackberry and blueberry, baking spice, cedar, tobacco and dark chocolate. It has plush, velvety tannins that enhances the smooth finish. — 13 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, ESF and 8 others liked this

Quilceda Creek

CVR Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Very good vintage but seems a bit off. More fruit forward than expected. May need time in cellar. @home as part of a new world bordeaux blend wine blind tasting. — 2 months ago

Clos La Coutale

Cahors Merlot 2023

Simple and enjoyable. Very dark, spicy, tannic, and medium bodied. Good!
Listening to Waxahatchee
— 4 months ago

Joel, Ray and 18 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Right on! It's so cheap I'll get a few to tuck away @Doug Powers
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Before 2010 this wine needed 10 to 15 years to soften tannins, since then the producer focusses on ripe fruit and smoother tannins.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Peter van den Besselaar, I very much appreciate you posting these insights about the changes in the winery’s growing/ripening process. Those old ones, it was difficult to even guess when they’d be ready. At least the 2000 I posted on has great fruit currently, and not terribly drying tannins!!

Ramey Wine Cellars

Claret Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

2019 vintage. Sweeter than the last few vintages. 6.17.26. — 4 months ago

David, Doug and 6 others liked this