David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.

This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.

It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.

Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.

The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 10 months ago

Rob Brobst III

10

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 — 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

This little known bottle had a sling and a rock and it took down a giant! Yep David vs. Goliath! This was the biggest surprise of the night! @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Jade Moore I will be buying more. @Mike Smith @Shay A @Kimberly Anderson @Aaron Means @Antonio Galloni @Carl Fischer @Connor McMahon @Ceccherini Cristiano @Martin G Rivard @Bill Bender @Terri Walker @TheSkip @Jim Trobaugh @Jody Scharf @Warren Sapp @Walter Sorensen @Stanley Barrios @Neal Schaffer — 7 years ago

with Paul and Jade

Mike R

9.2

Ok it is finally here - the wine nerd herd 5 year reunion has started - in 2016 - the herd met in NYC - there were amazing bonds and friendships developed and are intact to this day and growing 
Initially there was @Carl Fischer @Ron R @Joe Lucca @David L as well as myself @Mike R and one other who had such a blast we have decided to this get together as a herd frequently and for most part we have been United and strong even doing zoom tastings whenever 
Not long after the initial conclave in 2016 we traveled and expanded to include @Bill Bender @Shawn R @Eric L and our newest and a true foundation of youth and knowledge @Shay A and we have been to Palm Beach, Raleigh, San Diego, San Antonio, Des Moines, Paso Robles and now back to the starting place - NYC - 5 years later 
Get ready New York as the herd is running hard and with purpose in the city that never sleeps 
The picture / posting are two tune up tastings last Saturday with locals in Raleigh as I need practice a) red wines below 50 and b) red wines above 100
Standout to me was the Muga in the less than 50 and in the over 100 - all were good but Paul Hobbs, myriad, switchback ridge, Pulido walker
Of course the krug and aubert were good but maybe not able to keep up 
The carnival of love and Don Melchor were delicious as well but were not equivalent to the Napa cabs that are all world class vineyards and winemakers 
Again I say all this to say training is over and let the games begin in NYC as we have landed 
Thank you @Ron R and @Carl Fischer for hosting the herd and I am stoked 
Bam 💥🐂❤️🍷 — 3 years ago

David Mark

9.2

David loves. Buttery smell. Savory finish. Crisp. — 6 years ago

Nicole Bogas

9.0

Mother’s Day brunch! Gift from Kate and Paul. Very tasty. David liked it too. — 7 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Wow! Excellent heft and depth. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Warren Sapp @Walter Sorensen @Ian Blackburn @Terri Walker @TheSkip @Jim Trobaugh @Jody Scharf @s@Ron R @Connor McMahon @Martin G Rivard @David L @Bill Bender @Carl Fischer — 7 years ago

Mike R

9.6

Ok it is finally here - the wine nerd herd 5 year reunion has started - in 2016 - the herd met in NYC - there were amazing bonds and friendships developed and are intact to this day and growing 
Initially there was @Carl Fischer @Ron R @Joe Lucca @David L well as myself @Mike R and one other who had such a blast we have decided to this get together as a herd frequently and for most part we have been United and strong even doing zoom tastings whenever 
Not long after the initial conclave in 2016 we traveled and expanded to include @Bill Bender @Shawn R @Eric L. and a true foundation of youth and knowledge @Shay A we have been to Palm Beach, Raleigh, San Diego, San Antonio, Des Moines, Paso Robles and now back to the starting place - NYC - 5 years later 
Get ready New York as the herd is running hard and with purpose in the city that never sleeps 
The picture / posting are two tune up tastings last Saturday with locals in Raleigh as I need practice a) red wines below 50 and b) red wines above 100
Standout to me was the Muga in the less than 50 and in the over 100 - all were good but Paul Hobbs, myriad, switchback ridge, Pulido walker
Of course the krug and aubert were good but maybe not able to keep up 
The carnival of love and Don Melchor were delicious as well but were not equivalent to the Napa cabs that are all world class vineyards and winemakers 
Again I say all this to say training is over and let the games begin in NYC as we have landed 
Thank you @Ron R and @Carl Fischer for hosting the herd and I am stoked 
Bam 💥🐂❤️🍷 — 3 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Well I liked it and as usual Paul didn’t!!🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🤪🤪🤪😎😎 @Vanessa D @David L @Paul T- Huntington Beach @leon egozi @Laura Purdy @Stanley Barrios — 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

This one is nearly a Beast! 😉 😉 @leon egozi @Eric LaMasters @Eric Shanks @David L @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Peggy Hadley @Aaron Means @Carl Fischer @Connor McMahon @Warren Sapp — 7 years ago

with Jade and Paul