Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Such a serious Scheuerbe. Gorgeous nose. Wild herbs, sweet lime, sage, blackcurrants. High toned and so wild. Aromas in neon lights. Palate is slamming. Concentrated, elegant and densely structured but oh so nimble and super pure. Unreal class and finesse. So stunning and what a finish. Savory and alive. Cannot wait to see what air does. — 5 months ago

Ron R

9.6

See my prior notes. Extracted and powerful. — a year ago

with Anne-marie

Kyle Zeman

9.5

Dali vintage. Still super alive and young, what fun wine to drink alongside Dali’s Wines of Gala book. Most of the fruit is gone, lots of terroir shining through — grape seeds and clay. Some sage / menthol. Literally no oxidative notes — 5 years ago

Bob Eisenbach

9.1

Blackberry explosion and a bit of heat. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Corison after Ribcap into dark chocolate...good all around.

This was fast tracked in my tertiary storage. Meaning, it is more advanced than if I had stored it my EuroCave’s.

It is well resolved. Yet, still has plenty of life.

Beautiful, bright, lush, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries; black cherries, strawberries, plum, raspberries with cherries over the top. Soft limestone minerals, tarry notes, expresso roast, underbrush, soft leather, cedar to wood shavings, moist clay, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark spice with well pronounced heat, mocha, caramel, hints of tree sap/bark, sage, Provenance herbs, brilliant florals of; purple, violets & soft lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The finish is elegant with perfect polish and persists softly. — 6 years ago

Sam Shepard

9.3

Dried herbs (thyme, sage) and red currants — 7 years ago

Beom Ki Lee

9.0

Sage, eucalyptus, black olives, and start blackberries. Extremely fruity and full body, typical for a good bottle of syrah. Hint of sour cherries, tobacco, and acai berries too.
Great bottle for its price range. — 8 years ago

with C

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — 5 months ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

A vibrant, focused and deliciously complex red, offering raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, mocha and subtle sage notes rolling through the long and expressive finish. Deft. Wine Spectator #3 Wine of the Year — 5 years ago

Tanya Koob

10

Very oaky — 5 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.4

In a great place. Black and red fruit, cassis, graphite, sage. Fine, coating tannins. Drink or hold. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

One of my bottles. One of my favorite wineries and easily one of the top 5 winery visits I’ve ever done. To me, this is “classic” Continuum in that is has just a impeccable balance of both fruit and herbal/savory notes both aromatically and on the palate. I let this slow ox for a couple hours, checking in ever so often, and found this hit stride after about two hours of air. Lovely bouquet of potpourri, lavender, graphite, sage, currant, ripe blackberries, black cherries and mocha. On the palate, its profile is soft yet all encompassing. Mulberries, cassis, tobacco leaves, herbs de Provence, licorice, dark cocoa, baking spices and a touch savory toward the finish. Enjoyable now and not getting better. My thanks to @Bill Bender for this. — 7 years ago

with joe, Weston and 1 other

Hampus Bejnö

9.2

Fruktigt o gôtt — 8 years ago

Joel Lara

9.2

Really tasty. Full bodied with medium acidity and medium/high tannins. Plums with hints of blueberry are joined by interesting herbal notes of thyme and sage. Also has a nice earthiness that veers into a touch of just-ground coffee beans accompanying the fruit and herbal flavors on the finish. Really good, and went well with meatball, ricotta, and mushroom pizza. — 7 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on May 25, 2022 at Moto in Nashville with Rachel]

Red and dark berries, rose petal, tar and sage with earth and a hint of smoke. — 4 years ago

Kate

9.8

Bought at Target. Very drinkable — 5 years ago

Jacob smith

8.9

Not my favorite wine. Soild — 6 years ago

Michelle M

9.4

Baked cherry, wild blueberry, milk chocolate, currant, black tea, musky leather shop, with hints of sage bushes, chopped mint, cocoa powder, and fresh baked biscuits on the nose. Medium-heavy dark red with fresh blackberry, tart black cherry, juicy plum, dark chocolate, on the palate with hints of woodiness, slight vegetal notes with smoothed out medium-grip tannins on the finish. Soft and smooth and well balanced — 6 years ago

P A

9.2

Simply one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons from the Okanagan, perfect balance, big full rich mouth feel with lasting smooth legs from a noteworthy 2016 vintage. 14.5% alc/vol. Cheers 🍷🇨🇦 — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.9

The 2013 Opus One is an absolute stunning release, and is certainly one of most impressive young wines I have ever tasted from this estate. This shows a darker, more forward profile from this warm vintage, and is clearly one to contemplate, as there are so many complexities and working parts to this compelling wine. This instantly impresses as it opens to intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum woven together with mocha, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and beautifully concenrated with deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, créme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, anise, sage and anise, which all resonate beautifully across the palate. This is already extreamly appealing, but try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another few years, as there is undoubtedly a long future ahead. Drink 2019-2035-99 — 8 years ago