Just wow. I last had this in 2019 and my note said to wait 5 years. Glad I did. This is drinking so well. Currant, rhubarb, blackberry, crème de cassis, and cherry. Great mouthfeel. Acidity reminds me of old world but doesn’t have the earth. Wish I had more. This would be a knockout in 5 and 10 years from now. Let me know if you want to get rid of any! — 8 months ago
2020 vintage. Investigating +-$20 red Bordeaux, part two. PNP. Some decent depth for the price. Medium body. Good concentration. A little, minty note amongst the chunk. Finish hangs in there for a spell. In this price range, would tap this again. 5.28.24. — a year ago
2012 vintage. Smoky, spicy, plummy, earthy. Medium-heavy body. Quiet power and presence without flexing. Can't imagine this one getting better but can hold tight in this place for 7-8 years. 04.23.25. **edit** Picked up the last 4 cases available in San Diego County for an unbelievable price so we'll have it for a spell. 05.05.25. — 6 months ago
2018 vintage. Last tasted 4.26.24 (9.3). Tasted alongside the 2019 vintage (9.4). This didn't suck. Medium-heavy bod. Nice nose but it was the back end complexities and fireworks that performed the magic here. Sure, you can age it for a spell and it'll jump through all the hoops. Drinking beautifully now and for the foreseeable future. 11.22.24. — a year ago
When in limbo, take a trip to the inferno (or Danilo Thomain’s enfer d’arvier). If this is hell, then I think I’ll settle in for a toasty spell. Crunchy pomegranate, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry (so much bramble!) and dried alpine herbs on the nose and palate. Dark stones. Volcanic spice. Vivacious, hypnotic. — 4 years ago
1999 vintage. This review a bit of a mixed bag. “Inherited” this bottle and had been looking sideways at it for the better part of three years. Fill decent but both the front and back labels pretty trashed. The foil up top a tad crimped in places. Ugly duckling syndrome. See a ton of this at work and occasionally able to resuscitate what appears to be an abused bottle. Cut off the foil and there was some seepage at the top trapped between the cork and the foil. Not good. Extracted the cork in three passes (3!!!) with the Durand. Cork was half saturated and dunzo. Did not decant. Color was on point at least. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% ABV. Less than expected sed. Poured out a fifth of a glass and let sit for 2-3 mins. Nose was big white pepper, roasted cashews and white sage…three notes that I don’t come across often over the years with Napa cabbage and flavors were hidden beneath for a spell. Gave it 15 minutes. That initial nose dissipated and a bit of magic unfolded. Light-medium body, cocoa powder, graphite, feminine, sumptuous milk chocolate, a little sweaty, dried legumes, spearmint, supremely resolved tannins. Echoes of Haut-Brion/La Mission Haut-Brion. This old-school, Stags Leap District Napa cab came through in the clutch. Seemed to gather strength the longer it was open. Given that this particular bottle was not exactly mint, more than a bit curious as to how a decently stored example of this wine would perform. Van the Man was right. Wild night is calling. Come on out and dance. 05.16.25. @Shay A — 5 months ago
2012 vintage. Medium body. Subdued nose with just some slightly tart, dark cherry afoot. Some frontal spice box married to that tart, dark cherry and a light muddiness (¿word?). Back end/finishing richness makes an appearance for a spell. Nicely made. Not overwhelming (nor underwhelming) for CA but should go forth and prosper for another 5-7 years at this level. 02.09.25. — 8 months ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2014 vintage. Last tasted 07.04.25 (9.3) and 01.30.25 (9.3). Decanted with some sed and tasted after 30 mins. Consistent with previous tastings in 2025. Hint of richness up front, then very businesslike afterwards. Fairly dry but began to fold a modicum of fruit into the proceedings a spell ago. Quintessential, affordable BDX with a decade of service tendered out in the boonies but back in town again and starting to hit the hot spots. Lean but not mean. Strike up the conversation in the next year or so and you two just might hit it off. 09.25.25. — a month ago