Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

NV | 60% Pinot noir 40% Chardonnay | luncheonwine at De Reddende Engel | Birthday daughter Xandry | toast with goatcheese | codfish Beurre Blanc and citrus — 2 years ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.6

Double celebration of the christening of our best friends daughter and a precursor to my wifes birthday (29 again). The quintessential Bordeaux...this is what they all should taste like! Still surprisingly fresh for almost 30 years. Yes this is perhaps not the best vintage but is that not exactly when an excellent producer should produce quality? I would drink this again any day! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Celebrating my daughter Georgie’s birth year before she returns overseas tomorrow. Notes of plum, cassis and tobacco all melded together with soft dusty resolved tannins. Hints of cowyard, dried rose and leather developed. A gorgeous Mouton from an excellent vintage and ready to drink now. — 4 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. This estate was bought by Jacky Lorenzetti in 2007 and the investments are paying off (see also the spectacular quality improvement at their Pauillac estate Pédesclaux). While previous vintages featured a majority of Merlot, this 2018 is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37%. Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. This might very well be the best vintage to date for Lilian Ladouys in a year where Jacky's daughter Manon joined the business. She is highly devoted to organic farming and the Lorenzetti estates are now officially in conversion to organic. Moreover, Lilian Ladouys was promoted to "Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel" status in 2020. An estate to watch and the wines are very affordable too at around 20 euros. Classic nose with ripe cassis and cedar wood, intertwined with a fresh minty aroma. In the mouth the fruit is concentrated and layered with amazing freshness and a solid ripe tannin structure that make the alcohol (abv. 14,5%) go unnoticed. Long mineral finish. Highly recommended. Still very young, give it time to open up or decant. Should age beautifully for at least 15 years. — 5 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.2

Heidi Barrett crushes her wine here. Doing a La Sirena tasting. This is a collaboration between mother and daughter. Love Grenache! — 6 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Anne-Marie’s 1K tasting on Delectable, so we decided to push the boat out with Venge.
It was also her birthday, and my daughter and her fiancé gifted her these cute unicorn slippers!
The wine is clean, precise and multi-layered. Roasted black fruits give way to graphite and soft brown sugar. The finish extends and expands on the palate. This is a beauty of a cab. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A tiny oxy note on opening. Almond, marzipan nutty notes together with pear. Not a full on sweet dessert style like a Sauternes. Palate of lime marmalade and ripe mandarin flesh and a good discussion around the table with some time Delectable correspondent and WSET Level 2 , daughter Georgie. I have one of these bottles left which should be consumed this year. From half bottle. — 4 years ago

with Georgina and Hugh

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Pale straw color with small, delicate bubbles. Aromas of biscuit, (buttery-from my daughter), and funky cheese… like a Munster. Crisp and citrusy. Amazing to bring in 2022.
— 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

An 18th century chateau, overlooking the Isle valley, facing Pomerol and the Saint-Emilion limestone hillsides, belonged to the same family for three centuries took over by Michel Rullier in 1955, and his daughter Brigitte took the helm in 2002. Dark Ruby with an array of berry aromas and smoky scents. On the palate plum and cherry flavors with cacao, tobacco and smoky cedar notes with herb spice. Firm chalky tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral notes. Still tasting ok, but drink now! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

First Pinot produced from this Kendall Jackson vineyard named after Jess Jackson’s daughter, Julia. Fruit forward with tons of fruit aromas, herb and oak notes, aged for 12 months in French oak, 25% new, making this wine fresh and vibrant good for drinking now, and some short-term aging. The 2016 was a good year with an early harvest with perfectly ripe fruit. On the palate, strawberry and cherry flavors with baking spice and gentle oak. Fine tannins, lingering ending with fruit and subtle spice character. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Named for Lance Ellmans’ daughter, Alexis, the fruit comes from Claire’s Vineyard, in the Sonoma Coast AVA. Ruby with aromas of berry fruit, citrus & floral spice. On the palate, raspberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes & earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, lingering finish ending with hints of woody spice. — 8 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.6

Absolutely Awesome! My daughter just passed the Bar exam and we picked a marvelous wine to celebrate! Soft tannins, great minerality with mid pallet lingering aftertaste. Still has red fruit taste with hints of tobacco. Cellaring is well worth it. — 3 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.5

2015. The Oven has been our go to restaurant for the last 30+ years and that they continue building a huge cellar of awesome wines is a big bonus! My daughter is still learning wine and I thought we would show her the range of styles in just one region of Germany, the Mosel. This spätlese was the middle of a trocken GG and a beerenauslese that we paired with a variety of mild to spicy dishes. As I expected, this wine with its residual sugar and high acidity paired great across the entire range. My daughter’s favorite. — 4 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.0

2020. Picked up at the grocery store for $10 on sale because I knew my daughter would love it. She did. Sweet, creamy, slightly frizzante. Made a nice lower abv aperitif. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of 85% Cab Sauv and 15% Merlot, with an impressive label designed by Mick Jagger’s daughter, Jade. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit, spice and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and tart black cherry with currant and black pepper. Fine tannins, well balanced ending with smoky spice. Tasting well now, crack it out of cellar. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Part of their "Blue Series," Isabelle, named after the birth of Jim’s daughter in 1995, was first top end Pinot Noir that was a blend from different locations, 6 in 2015. Ruby, Aromas of berry fruits with citrus, herbs & floral notes, aged for 2 years in new French Oak. On the palate layers of gentle ripe fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry with citrus and oak wrapped in gentle spice. Wine has great depth, soft tannins, well integrated, savory, long ending with a nice mouthfeel. Very Nice! Last bottle! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Victoria named after Colene Clemens daughter, Ruby with aromas dark red fruits and floral spice. On the palate black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors with cedar, pepper and vanilla spice. Big, yet soft tannins, long finish well balanced with acidity ending with fruit and sweet spice. Nice! — 6 years ago

Stephen Becker

8.9

A deep-tissue massage from Groot. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 8 years ago