Jake Hajer

9.1

Was poured outside the barrel auction at Auction Napa Valley. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

More advanced than other 97’s I’ve had. Still grit with flowers. Always get a touch of Cognac from the mid 90’s BV Tapestry’s. Less on the 97. Beautiful, ripe, foral fruits with spice, barrel toast with evolution & integration. Incredible structure, balance. Violets for days. Still has 5-8 years.

This bottle on auction are more advanced than my bottles or others bought at auction. This is just around it’s precipice where other bottles I’ve had required more time. Another 8 years. This is more within 3 years. I would add that a 1997 94 points rating greatly over shadows a young(ish) vintage of the same. Just gets better and better with each sip.

1997 the vintage of our modern times. This wine was about $25 on release, give or take. Today, it drinks like a $100 plus bottle of Napa Cabernet. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Barrel lot purchased at Premier Napa Valley Auction. — 5 years ago

Michael Walker

9.7

Fresh, sparkly, fruit forward, pretty acidic Pinot - could have used a little more air before we dug in I think. Sort of a CA Rasteau if there is such a thing, but some nice depth on the finish. 13.3% — 5 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on October 10, 2020 at Home during the Virtual Nashville Wine Auction]

Sauvignon Blanc grapes sourced from throughout Napa Valley, including estate fruit from Carneros, Suscol Springs, Rutherford and Calistoga. 1% Semillon is blended. 90% of the wine was barrel aged in neutral French oak, with 5% aged in tank and 5% aged in concrete eggs. Pale straw in the glass. Pink grapefruit and lime rind, with flinty minerality, some grassy notes and bracing acidity. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Every year since 2010 the blokes at Prince Wine Store have purchased a barrel from the Hospice Auction with the help of Benjamin Leroux and Aussie, Jane Eyre (who raises the wine for Prince). Dark crimson with purple tinges. Ripe rich red fruits. Nose a little closed because of its youth. So much density and concentration from this warm year. Smells and tastes new world. Has a tremendous future. In that latency you can see that spicy character will come through. These 2015 Red Burgundies will need at least 10 years before they start to behave like Burgundies rather than New World Pinots. Might try the next one around 2023. — 7 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.4

Fantastic little wine called Beau Nez made for the Walla Walla Barrel Auction by Tero. We were lucky enough to get a case from our friend who purchased the entire barrel! If Tero ends up making a similar wine, sign me up, this was absolutely delicious. — 7 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on May 12, 2024 at etc. in Nashville]

Wine is J. Bucher Three Sixty Bucher Vineyard, a seven-barrel blend from five blocks including four Pinot Noir clones. Purchased wine at Nashville Wine Auction tasting with John and Diane Bucher. Bright dark fruit, spice, cedar and clove. — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

A 5 case barrel lot purchased at the Premiere Napa barrel auction that has a Bordeaux style with dark fruits, graphite, leather, sweet & savory spices, menthol & tobacco notes. — 4 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.3

Technically “unfinished” since this was a sample after only 14 months in barrel. Still…pretty damn good! — 4 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Barrel lot purchased at Premier Napa auction — 5 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on October 10, 2020 at Home during the Virtual Nashville Wine Auction]

Estate fruit from Annahala (77%) and Apple Barn (23%) vineyards in Anderson Valley. Cool and coastally-influenced vineyards. Barrel aged for 10 months in 41% new French oak. Sweet black cherry, black raspberry and strawberry fruit, with graphite, violets, and mineral and smoky notes.
— 6 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Spoto barrel tasting - invited 15 people to their Sacramento winery!!

1) from the tank (not in barrel yet)..2019 Beckstoffer crimson ridge (lake county) cabernet sauvignon..taste like a fortified grape juice!!

2) barrel #1....2018 oakville To Kalon cabernet sauvignon...the base for his private reserve. After 2 years he will blend with merlot, cab franc, etc. New french oak...lots of fruit, touch of oak and sweet tannin.

3) barrel#2..2018 oakville To Kalon cabernet franc. 1st grape he uses to blend with the cabernet sauvignon to enhance the mid pallet.
The remainder will be used for his special bottling at the Napa Valley wine auction this year.

4) barrel #3...2018 Beckstoffer Pedros block malbec (Lake county). Small amount will be used in the Beckstoffer lake county cabernet...rest will be used in a special bottle of malbec...lots of blueberry and plum...awesome Malbec!

5) barrel#4. 2017 Oakville To Kalon private reserve cabernet. To be bottled next June and released in the fall. 34 months in barrel total.

6) barrel#5...2016 Beckstoffer cabernet sauvignon (family reserve)..this one barrel will be aged 44 months for extra structure. Moving to creme brulee on the nose, terrific fruit, elegant and smooth.

7) barrel#6...2016 oakville To Kalon private reserve cabernet (family reserve)...this 1 barrel to be aged 44 months. More acidity and brighter stronger finish than the previous Beckstoffer.

What a fun event!!!!!! — 7 years ago

with Brenda

Ron Siegel

9.2

This was from a barrel lot purchased from the annual Premier Napa Valley auction in 2012 with 100% Cab Franc. Our group purchased this because it was the most Bordeaux styled of all of the lots offered. It continues to develop & evolve into a nice drinking wine. — 3 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.5

Our barrel from the 2019 Hospices auction with elevate by Domaine Lafarge. Ultra pure fruit. Decades ahead of it. 1er cru fruit. — 4 years ago

Megan Fenlon

8.9

This is lot#26 jet fuel mtb. 75%malbec 25%tannat. Fantastic wine. — 4 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.3

Great Pinot! — 5 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on October 10, 2020 at Home during the Virtual Nashville Wine Auction]

83% Cabernet Sauvignon; 9% Merlot; 4% Petit Verdot; and 4% Cabernet Franc. Barrel aged for 17 months in 56% new French oak. Ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit, with dark chocolate, minerality and sweet lush tannins. — 6 years ago

Mark Quezada

9.5

Intended to be a one barrel assemblage for the French Laundry. Through assemblage, Josh believes that he’s able to showcase the true artistry of winemaking. Homage is a combination of his best barrels from that vintage. A portion of the proceeds goes to support the Salud! Auction. 2017 is definitely a baby. Would love to revisit in 5-7 years. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

One of our barrel lots purchased at Premiere Napa Valley. I like the way this has developed showing a nice expression of Cab fruit, spice, structure & balance. — 7 years ago