David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2016 vintage. Last tasted 11.21.21. Gained more weight since then, lost the overt prettiness and has gotten slightly muddy. Def state of transition. Nose has improved tho and contains a bit of that treasured old library/leather/dust about. Should be interesting to revisit in a year or two — 2 years ago

Stacey Seaver

9.0

Full bodied. Very jammy. Nice wine for the price. — 4 years ago

Michael Walker

9.9

Excellent Beauj I picked up at an independent store on Dixie Hwy…recognized Thevenet from an earlier rating….classic muddy fruity Beauj that will be really awesome in ~5yrs, but drinking well now — 4 months ago

S.S. Mandani

8.9

Apparently the producer is known for their Barbaresco, so had to cop.

Good entry point as well, will not break the bank.

Soil and roses. Less tar, more muddy. In a good way. Nice tannins, bracing acidity. Needs a bit of roundness at the end. Nice strawberry front notes
— 10 months ago

Lynn Gowdy

8.9

Mixed forest berries, sweet spice, garrigue, dried herbs, eucalyptus hints; less ripe berries, acidic arch, dusty grippy tannins yet fine. Yowsa on the palate! Nice job Justin. — 3 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has ripe plum, milk chocolate powder, ripe blackberry, ripe black cherry, green pepper in muddy garden soil, decaying roses and over-ripe red cherries.

Palate has milk chocolate covered cherry, wet leather, warmed black licorice, charred wood, ripe plum, grippy tannins and a very long finish. Started out a little hot (14.5% ABV) after a 4 hour decant, but settled in nicely afterwards.

Last bottle of the 2009 vintage from a 6-pack purchased in Nov 2012. Anyone continuing to hold this in proper storage, may do do until 2025-30. — 4 years ago

Michael Walker

9.8

So I guess this is a Gamay from the Rhône? Didn’t know such a thing existed but this is the best “Rhône” I’ve had in a long time - mostly bc it’s a Beaujolais through and through - classic muddy/cloudy consistency, intense fruit on the nose. Only issue is that it’s still very sparkly on the palate, so definitely needs a few more years. Or a very long decant. Tons of potential — 4 months ago

Daniel Bloom

9.0

From a 375ml.
PnP a bit tight, but luxurious dark fruits,
tannins prevalent but chewy.
Lots of Blue/Black fruit and muddy gravel. Loamy, calls for protein.
Some comments said this was drying. I get that, but not to the point of being unpleasant. Chasing LdH ‘04 is a tough act to follow. This previously garage wine 90-10 Merlot/Cab Franc definitely treads the blacker, more treacly edge.
Not heavy, but black. — a year ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

Muddy pale ruby. Super expressive; pure sweet strawberry with spine of cedar spice. Different. Sweet red fruit, delicate mouthfeel, but powerful flavour. Classic power without weight. Low acid and tannin but not without length. — 3 years ago