Black fruit and baking spice. — 6 months ago
A perfect balance between oak and fruit (blackberry) from this Barossa Shiraz. Great winemaking from John Duval who has quite the CV. John was Chief Winemaker at Penfolds from 1986 until 2002 being only the 3rd custodian of Penfolds Grange after Max Schubert (creator of Grange) and Don Ditter. In 2020 this wine received Shiraz of the Year and 99 points from the James Halliday Wine Companion. The product of old vines in the Barossa. Luscious but in balance and overall - delicious. — 9 months ago
This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State.
Very dark in color, and looks very young.
Full-bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and coffee.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This 8 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Smooth and elegant. Rich and extracted, with a great mouth feel.
Good by itself or with food. A great wine to sip on and talk about.
Robert Parker 94 points.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. Winemaker is Philippe Melka.
15.4% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$65 (current vintage). — 4 years ago
Love this one from@Edna Valley — 5 years ago
Even though it says ‘Obsidian’ it is no longer called that. It is the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon...and it is enormously enjoyable, even though the 2016 can handle a lot more time in the bottle. Love what Susan and Ron Krausz have done up on Howell Mountain. Everything from this estate (and winemaker Sam Kaplan) have been memorable. So we opened a bottle to celebrate turning the never-used dining room into a tasting room with this memorable bottle from Arkenstone. — 6 years ago
Inspire Napa...Best of Oakville wine tasting
Moderated by Antonio Galloni, founder Vinous
WINES
2023 Favia cabernet
2016 Dalla Valle Maya
2013 Opus One
2023 Gamble estates cab
2023 Vine Hill Ranch cab
2023 Keplinger cab franc Detert vineyard
PANEL
Tom Gamble...Gamble estates
Ray Isle...wine editor, Food and Wine
Bruce Phillips...owner Vine Hill Ranch
Michael Silacca...winemaker, Opus One
Maya Dalla Valle...winemaker Dalla Valle — 3 months ago


String and earthy with dark fruit. The tonella is better of course but this is still good. Drinking young. — 4 years ago
Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s I tasted. Aging well! — 6 years ago
Pleasantly surprised. Still dusty but good. A bit tanic. — 5 months ago
Legendary winemaker, still crushing it after over 60 harvests! — 8 months ago
‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 3 years ago
Decanted for 24 hours so that it could open up as it’s so young.
Incredible flavour, complex, red fruits but not too bold and some nuisance too.
Time will serve this well. A winemaker who dances to his own tune and making great music. — 5 years ago
No formal notes - dining with friends at a BYO Italian restaurant in Surfers Paradise. Interesting background story - this is made by Australian winemaker, Dave Fletcher, in the old Barbaresco train station. Dave is one of the chief winemakers at Ceretto. Ceretto allow him to make wine under his own label on the side. A well made correct medium bodied rendition showing red fruits and fine powdery tannins. A great match with Fettuccini Puttanesca. — 6 years ago
Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker from a family with farming and winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and ripe blackberry with sweet oak, cacao and espresso notes. Soft fine tannins perfect acidity and balance long finish ending with mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 6 years ago
Jason Gelman
first time dining at Chef Vola. 22 is incredible , a really powerful and complex food wine with a noticeably long finish. — 5 days ago