Tom Garland

9.3

Happy New Year Delectable!

Double decant and pour. A splendid tawny red color. On the nose: dark fruit, cigar ash, cedar, smoked meat, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: soft, silky, elegant, still fresh wine with dark red fruit, worn leather, graphite, loamy soil, spiced herbs, minty black tea and a dry medium finish. YUM! What a fun wine to end 2024 with. A wine bought at auction, and a cork which was not in the best shape, so not sure if this is a true representation of where this wine is at.

FOOD:
Island creek oyster and cavier
Lobster butternut bisque
Pan roasted duck breast
Braised beef short rib
Black forest chocolate cake — 14 days ago

with Brenda

Ben Tang

9.0

A solid young gamay. Bramble and tart blackberries strong on the taste buds and a hint of pomegranate. Potting soil and forest floor at the end. Med+ acidity, low-med tannins, med+ body. — 3 months ago

Sarah Cole

8.9

Good with a ribeye — 4 months ago

Tom Barras

9.5

High toned but restrained floral and lemon/grapefruit aromas and flavors. Medium bodied, balanced. Dry, juicy; light, skin-contact, mouth coating finish. Overall, rather Classy and Elegant — 5 months ago

Ron R

9.5

Fruity, floral and peachy. The winemaker performed some major acrobatics with this. See my prior notes. — 2 months ago

with Anne-marie and James

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨

1997 Jones Family, the year prior to TRB taking the helm and yet still a fantastic Napa vintage that is singing.

For me, this is classically styled Napa Cabernet. This is still not descending. Has another 5-8 years of good drinking and perhaps beyond.

Showing dark, meaty, dry, velvety tannins. Dark currants-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries, plum pudding, chocolate mousse/cake, caramel, mocha powder, dark spice, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, graphite, dry stone, volcanic clay, withering, dark, red, purple flowers, excellent round acidity and a well made, balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls onto earth & spice. — 14 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.5

N: dense elegant blueberries. Integrated vegetal. Airy. Floral.

P: amazingly sweet and balanced blackberry fruit. So delicious. — 5 months ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Double decant and pour (lots of sediment). A splendid medium tawny red color. On the nose: stewed black plum, nutmeg, forest floor, worn leather, vanilla oak. Taste: soft, lively wine with dried candied cherries, currants, loamy soil, toasty oak, and a spiced mocha medium finish. YUM at 28 years! — 22 days ago

with Brenda

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.1

What a special treat. First time trying a post WWII 1949 Bordeaux. Color is a cloudy tawny port. Nose - red fruit, currants, wet musky soil, herbaceous and a hint of mint. Taste - ripen plum-strawberry, dried herbs, old worn leather and baking spice with a short medium finish. Making history in my wine tasting experience. — 3 months ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other

Matthew Cohen

9.5

N: airy. Hints of lilacs and pink roses.

P: chewy. Delicious blackberry fruit. Tastes like great Cali Bordeaux blend only very dense. Balanced. Some vegetal.

Glass pour down to $25. — 5 months ago