1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25. — a month ago
2013 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Medium body. Leaning heavily towards a feminine-styled Cabernet and has dropped nearly all of the braggadocio of youth. As mentioned with another reviewer @Jay Kline not even close to being as exciting as the producer’s Les Pavots bottling and fairly one-dimensional. More than a bit disappointing given the initial acclaim. 05.29.25. — 7 days ago
Nice with prime rib — 12 days ago
[Tasted on May 25, 2025 at The Optimist in Nashville with Jay]
Wine is from Pisoni Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. Cherry, blackberry and red plum fruit, with baking spices, caramel and violets. — 11 days ago
mocha choko berry rich
nice sweet bitter sour balance
— a month ago
Shay A

I’ve enjoyed this producer for a few years (specifically the Felseneck GG) but this is my first experience with their Spatlese Riesling from 2013. Followed over two days.
Next to a ‘22 Clemens Busch Auslese and a ‘22 Kloster Eberbach Baiken Erste Lage Trocken, the richness here was Goldilocks…right down the middle. Not a dynamite vintage, yet I’ve found I traditionally enjoy the Spatlese-level and above sweet wines from cooler vintages as the acid and sweetness play nicely together. Exhibit A. Ripe nectarine and white peach aromatically but also plenty of citrus notes. Lemon-lime and limestone grit dance on the mid-palate before a mineral + honeyed profile bring about an elegantly rich profile complemented by both the classical mineral and sweet Spatlese notes. Crushable at 7.5 ABV!
Enjoyable now and I’m not sure it gets better from here, just different. Consistent over both nights. — 4 days ago