Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/orange color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of significant sediment and rim variation. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated black and fruit: brambles, cherry, tobacco, dried flowers, old leather bound books, organic earth, and old wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where there is a bit of a green streak that may be telling. The finish is medium+. Alcohol is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon or blend thereof, a Tempranillo (or blend) or Sangiovese (or blend) from the United States, Spain or Italy. However, I think the fruit (though dried) is too forward facing to be from either Spain or Italy so I’m taking this to the United States. And because of the color, rim variation and sediment, I believe this has over 40 years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from the United States, California, Napa from 1981. Whoa!!! It’s a Cary Gott-made Zinfandel from the bicentennial year! Dammit, I keep forgetting about Zinfandel. Proof once again, of this variety’s staying power. The tannin’s are wildly intense, still! So impressive. Drink now. — 10 days ago

Norman

9.3

The color on this is deep. Wood, brown sugar and I might say toffee on the nose. It’s clearly high proof… I wouldn’t call it hot but it fills the mouth. The finish goes on forever which it should at this proof. Forester Birthday takes this by a mile but it’s hard to complain. Trying it neat. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

2002 is such a beautiful vintage IMHO. In many ways, I think even better than 07. We’ll see in five years from now as I lack a time machine.

I’ve said this a couple of times over my nearly 4,200 Delectable notes. There is no amount of decanting a young wine that can reproduce the beauty, elegance, florals, integration, balance and finish as long bottle age. If you are buying expensive Cabernets and drinking them young, you are simply short changing yourself out of your deep investment.

This largely under known Napa producer is a shining example of that tonight. Proof in the pudding so to speak.

The nose reveals, sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, understated blueberries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, incense, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets.

The body is; round, rich & luxurious. The tannins still have baby teeth and show chewy tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit their peak. It’s not going to improve, it will simply show you descending changes which, can be quite enjoyable but, not necessarily for the ones that appreciate wines young. Interesting, none the less, for the ones that enjoy all sides/aspects of wine evolution. Sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, mulberries, boysenberries, more blue fruits than the nose, cherries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices with just the right amount of heat, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth, fresh tobacco, suede style leather, saddle-wood with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets. The ABV on this wine is really nice given today’s hotter wines. Climate change, it’s a bitch. The round acidy is as good as it gets. The long, excellent, elegant, rich, ripe, ruby, gorgeous, sexy, floral, perfectly balanced finish falls into persistent heaven.

This is a gorgeous example of what Napa Valley is capable of in grand vintages, if you have good storage & can show patience.

Photos of; an arial view of Jones Family Winery, patio tasting area, beautiful Jones Family Cabernet fruit and their amazing vineyards. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1999 Chianti Classico pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with lovely notes of ripe and some dried red fruits: Bing cherry, raspberry, red flowers, Pu-erh tea, porchini, dried green herbs, a whiff of varnish (letting you know it’s Italian), old leather and wood and gravelly, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This 27 year old CC is sensational and further proof that Sangiovese rewards the patient. Drink now through 2039. — a month ago

Norman

9.6

124.9 proof but not as hot as it seems. I really think these bottles improve after being opened for a bit. Not sure what I rated this prior but it’s a full mouth feel and punch. It’s on the sweeter side for me with a little bit of wood and a finish that lasts a long time. I get pipe tobacco aromas from the empty ;) glass. Reminds me of those old tobacco tin cans my grandfather had. I think I saved one somewhere just for the memories. Never got into a pipe. — 2 years ago

Norman

9.2

Not sure why I can’t find my prior rating. This one has sweet cut wood on the nose, a nice thick and maple syrup like mouthfeel and some power on the finish. It’s not low proof but also almost all on the tongue and nothing on the sides of the mouth. Unlike the Rua the flavor is typical bourbon that makes this an easy one to put down but given I skipped lunch it will not be a repeat of the 4 martini Father’s Day with this. — 6 years ago

Norman

9.3

I bought this years ago for my dad since its “made” in San Carlos. He told me he liked his Jack Daniel’s better… Given dad’s gone and mom doesn’t drink bourbon I’m drinking it now and enjoying it! It’s got some power, mainly on the front of tongue/lips. Finish goes for a while and the flavors are nice. Light wood and sweetness. Cheers Dad! Btw the price on this thing now (not at all what I paid) would have sent him through the roof. — 9 months ago

Norman

9.2

Given the proof I expected way more power. It’s light on its feet and nicely done. — a year ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.2

Medium ruby colored, the 2018 Faiveley Mercurey La Framboisière is proof that excellent wines can be made from that lesser known appelation. Offering a delicate scent of rose pedal, fresh red cherry and strawberry, dried herbs, cedar wood and a touch of smoke, this medium bodied Pinot Noir is very well balanced by fresh acidity, good fruit concentration and ripe, fine grained tannins. This is a rock solid effort from Faiveley. Drink now until 2035. — 4 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.4

Batch #021, 10 Years Old, 106.34 Proof. Sweet corn 🌽 Big, will-integrated wood. Stone fruit and herbs. Blended w/ 14 YO Tenn. Whiskey, and 10-12 YO Indiana and Kentucky bourbons. — 6 years ago