Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 15 days ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.3

Last bottle. Bought a case of this a while back. Someone really needs to give me pointers as to how to refrain from depleting my wine cooler.

As you may know, I love this winemaker. The 2012 is a bit more rigid than the 2010, but it's still dynamite. This bottle clearly could have been left alone for a long while.

There is a hint of spruce on the very top of the nose which rapidly gives way to cocoa, coffee, faint vanilla, and a hint of cherry. On the palate, the chocolate persists (mix with tea and tobacco) nicely and ends with still quite firm tannins. Medium long finish.

Other Ciacci wines with a little age have been better, but this is still an excellent bottle of wine.

93 points — 6 years ago

Richard Portes

9.4

18.5. Deep and rich. Very long. Perfect with sea trout. Couldn’t refrain from drinking this penultimate bottle. — 7 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.5

My second time trying Saxum and I got to say these wines have such character. Luscious and ripe. Dark fruits, liqueur, peat, violets, garrigue. Ending is tannic and long. Impressive balance for a heavy weight wine like this. Please refrain from drinking this if you have a bottle, still quite youthful even for my taste. With a handful of years cellering it could become legendary. — 2 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Insert the usual refrain about how Bdx blanc doesn’t get enough props. This had really nice cut with lemon, tangerine, lychee, dried grass and a nice dollop of vanilla bean and butter on the back — 5 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.0

Inspired to open this bottle after hearing from owner/winemaker, Theodora, during this week’s Batonnage panel on feminism and color in the wine industry. Needless to say. I’m very glad I did. The grape is called Symphony (MuscatxGrenache Gris), so I’ll try to refrain from music puns. Tropical fruit and floral aromatics. Acid, mineral and barely ripe stone fruit. I may have just found my wine of the summer. Paired with indian take out and Friday night zoom trivia. Harmonious! — 5 years ago

Bailee Barfield

9.3

This is the first wine I had after having to refrain from alcohol for a year for medical reasons. My parents took me to a vineyard to celebrate and I went for this baby with gusto. It hit me like a dream, and I admit I may be biased based on the emotional connection of my first time and place with this wine but it is delightful. Deep bodied, peppery and just the slightest hint of sweetness. — 7 years ago

Steven

9.0

Celebrating 21yrs, and after taking a 1st sip my wife my wife asks “ what’s it taste like on your mouth”…I’m in public, so I’ll refrain for saying what I really want to 😘🤣. Now back to the wine - everything Napa. Jammy, fruit forward, silky smooth, big fruit notes, and no tannic bite, even on first opening. Love it….and my beautiful life partner, a.k.a. Gift from Him on high. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.2

This has got to be one of my first 2018s to open, and while I’d normally refrain even if for only a bit longer, this producer has piqued my interest too much. Accolades are great and all, but many fellow winemakers have spoken highly of Dan’s project, which is enough reason to open and see how this is showing.

Normally for my palate, Hyde Chardonnay’s show a lot of bright stone fruit with high acidity (ex: Aubert’s Larry Hyde & Sons...plenty of acidity, lighter style, big fruit up front). Dan has taken Hyde’s fruit and put it front and center. Everything about this wine is about the vineyard. Crystalline and pure. On the nose, it is very ripe without being boozy...grilled lemon, lemon-lime tart, even some kiwi, with floral honeysuckle and sea salt. The palate reveals such an intense expression of the fruit with hardly any notice of oak. This has a strong mineral core and high acidity type backbone, but the mid palate and finish show plenty of ripe lemon, powdered lemon bar tart type flavors. 12.7ABV! Nothing sweet, rich or flabby about this wine. Not sure how it ages, but very enjoyable. — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.6

WNH virtual tasting - notes are sexy long lasting beautiful drink of wine - omg and it can last 20 plus years - 100 pointer by RP but not for me but I would never turn down a glass of this - I can’t believe I am down to doing an analogy of sex to how wine is but these are the times of social distancing - and being a gentleman I will refrain from the seedy details except to say until we meet again Montrose - all smiles — 6 years ago

with Joe, Shawn and 2 others