Paul Secombe

9.3

From vines grown in the killing yards of the original heathcote arbitrator comes this beautifully rich and deep aged Shiraz. An absolutely bloody bewdy! Mint, berries and age all conspire to deliver this lovely drop that rolls across the palate like gold.
If you’ve been lucky enough to secure some of this and have it at the bottom of your cellar, now us the time! — a month ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.9

Mag,
2nd day is essential, opened yesterday & decanted 4 hours today. This is right there with the 2005.
Its been 4 years since my last 07, it still has plenty of life but why wait when you can decant🤷🏼‍♂️
The 29 Estate vineyard is situated on the east-facing hillside at the base of the Mayacamas range, a couple miles north of St. Helena and just above Highway 29. The soil here is clay loam with gravel deposits, deeper at the bottom of the slope and shallower and rockier toward the top (the Sauvignon Blanc is planted in the rockiest spot, followed by the Cabernet Franc and then Cabernet Sauvignon). The slope and soil content ensure good drainage, while the rocks and gravel allow the roots to penetrate deep, ensuring more stable vines and more consistent ripeness. Average yields here for Cabernet Sauvignon are a moderate 2.8 to 3.2 tons per acre, held down by the vine stress associated with steep vines.

Vineyard 29 is located in the narrow hourglass part of Napa Valley and benefits from consistently good air flow. Even in 2008, there was just a touch of frost at the bottom of the vineyard, according to McMinn, who noted that his Aida vineyard just two miles to the north is typically six or seven degrees warmer. The site also benefits from its eastern exposure, capturing early morning sunlight but with the mountain above protecting the vines against the most intense afternoon sun. The result is slow, consistent ripening of the grapes and healthy sugar levels with much less risk of desiccation, which in turn means rounder, more integrated tannins. Although St. Helena is a very warm region, day-night temperature variation at Vineyard 29 is among the widest in Napa Valley, according to McMinn.

Thanks to Vineyard 29’s well-aerated site and protection from the hottest afternoon sun, the estate Cabernet always has sound acidity; it has never been acidified, according to winemaker Emerson. The pH of the Vineyard 29 estate wine is typically between 3.75 and 3.9, and alcohol levels are moderate by Napa Valley standards, almost always in the high 14s (with 2009 the only vintage to have exceeded 15%). The wines are frequently characterized by black and blue fruits—cassis, blackberry, blueberry—and notes of chocolate, licorice and spices. Compared to the Grace Family Vineyards wine, made from a vineyard barely 200 yards to the north from the same plant material, the Vineyard 29 wine is characteristically a bit less floral and delicate but riper and denser, combining power with typically plush, ripe tannins. Emerson noted that Vineyard 29 is typically harvested at least a week later than the Grace site, noting that the tannins “take a long time to lose their chalky character and come around.” Luckily, he added, “the fruit here can hang for a long time without getting too crazy with sugar.” And the estate routinely picks in two passes, typically seven to ten days apart.

— 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

A fresh Crianza from the Duero. Nose is more bark than its bite, with robust crushed blackberries & graphite, but on the palate a slimmer yet still scrumptious blend of cassis, more blackberries, and that graphite thing. Never descends into tutti fruity or not matured enough fruit,as the tannins are nicely polished (with air),& the relative youth keeps things accessible. TEdwards import.
Bottle shared at Jose Andres’s Spanish Diner in his sprawling Mercado, at Hudson Yards. — 2 years ago

with Owen

Juan I. Pareja

9.4

10 yards in the barrel before bottling; very smooth, 14.5% alcohol, limited edition of 4,000 bottles, round and complex, just beautiful. — 3 years ago

Joe Estrada

9.6

I am consistently amazed at the Syrah’s from #SSCO The same grape grown just a few hundred yards apart from one another is so diffefrlm one another. Citizen from the Fatman is rich & lucious like a ballad from your favorite rock group. — 4 years ago

with Brad and Greg

Jonathan McCarthy

8.9

Racy! A little red sports car. Highly kinetic with crunchy strawberry, cranberry, and wineberry (R. phoenicolasius) on a prominent, angular skeleton. A faint touch of barbecue spices runs the last few yards of the race as the fruit fades. Quality stuff. — 5 years ago

Joe Flo

9.3

Poor man’s version of DRC. The vineyard rows own by this owner sit about 10 yards from DRC vineyards. — 3 years ago

Ted Holland

9.1

Love this vineyard, Vincent and team rock. This wine is delicious, refined with a wonderful finish and fruit that goes on for yards!!! Enjoy!! — 3 years ago

Royce Brockett

9.1

Just a great, Oregon Pinot that was smooth and had great texture. Like handing the football off for 3 yards up the middle. A reliable winning wine for any occasion. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Literally next to Chassagne by a few yards. One of the best value White burgs I’ve ever had. Just a stunning wine. Exuberant nose of Apple and pear with huge minerality. Wow. Amazingly clean and dripping with purity. Palate has laser like precision and wonderful acidity and almost a sweetness from the intense minerality and fruit. So complex and juicy with intense structure. What grace and elegance and density. An amazing wine and value. With air it gets gorgeously mineral and super refined with wonderful compactness and just stunningly well made. — 5 years ago