Tom Garland

9.4

1st wine of the new year and had to open something fun. Of course, enjoyed with its classic pairing of chicken wings 😉

1.5 hour decant(minimal fine/cloudy sediment). A stunning dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: brambly red berries, herbaceous, wet forest floor, graphite, floral. Taste: silky, soft, juicy, layered beautiful mouthfeel wine with red plum, dark chocolate, dried herbs, touch of spice and a cedar espresso captivating long finish. YUM! — a year ago

with Brenda

Ron Siegel

9.5

This had soaring aromatics with dark cherry, berry fruits that was polished, inky & precise showing iron, olive, pepper, licorice, savory spices & violets — 3 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.2

2021/5/5-6 with mole chichilo and chicken, katsuo tataki, etc. I adore this wine; this year’s model is especially effusive and giving. Soaring raspberry, strawberry, cherry and flowers - it really is Burgundian, but with that twist of blood orange that says Chianti. Limpid like cool spring water but with a savory mineral depth. People sometimes talk about dangerously drinkable wines, but this is truly that - so delicious and moreish it’s hard to stop. — 4 years ago

ESF

9.5

Sublime - just so in the pocket, soaring aromas of dusty cherries, spice, tar, violets, almost a tawny character. So textbook. Seamless flawless palate, the tannins are just perfectly resolved & elegant balance w/acidity, just enough secondary flavors mingled w/cherries on palate through lengthy velvety finish. — 2 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.3

Wings on the close. — 3 years ago

with Sarah

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

As awesome as ever and I hope they bottle it soon so I can offer it. Soaring nose of spices, roses, cherries and tar. Super ethereal. Also wild mint. Tree bark. Old chestnut. Intoxicating aromas and seems much finer than the 12. Palate is wonderful. So refined and juicy. Deep, ripe, rich and complex but shows none of the bad character that 2015 can get. Wonderful length and purity. Really fine and elegant tannins. So juicy. Gone of ripe mid season cherries. Tannins get more pronounced as this airs and air is this wine’s best friend so I will be back in an hour.

9.3 to 9.5. This Langhe Nebbiolo crushes many a producer’s Barbaresco. It gains elegance, sweet fruit and insane depth. What a wine. — 3 years ago

Carolyn Herlihy

9.4

Another winner from NZ and TJ’s (millbrae)

Tropical fruit and crisp finish - deliciously paired with chicken wings and pork loin. — 2 years ago

with Fahmeen and John

Ron Siegel

9.7

This was my 2nd favorite flight with both wines showing red & black fruits, earth & spice. I slightly preferred the RB over the RSV for its soaring aromatics & long finish. Splitting hairs as both wines were really superb! — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Presented blind alongside three other red wines; another Bordeaux and two Bordeaux blends from CA. All wines were descanted and returned to the bottle 8 hours prior.

This wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. Medium+ intensity. The nose was a mix of red and dark fruits with currants and cherries, tobacco, pencil shavings, earth, espresso and baking spice. There’s just a whiff of a barnyard in the distance too. On the palate, again the mixed fruit set with beautifully ripened blackberries and black cherries, currants, earth, coffee and baking chocolate. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Finishes looooooong, dry and immensely satisfying.

The wine is balanced and leans towards its structure. I called 2004 Latour. The soaring aromatics were simply incredible. I just wanted to spend the entire evening with my nose buried in the glass. This is squarely in the drinking window yet has many years left in it. Drink now with an extended decant or enjoy over the next 10-15 years. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

One of my favorite vintages for current drinking showing soaring aromatics with notes of black cherry, meat, bacon fat, iron, black olive, pepper, licorice & violets. — 4 years ago