Stunning nose of brambly dark red fruit and black tea. Bacon fat and scorched clay on the entry followed by a broad beam of melted tannins and fig, iron, Provençal spices and lavender. 45+ second finish. Outstanding, another great bottle though now at its apogee (but likely to stick around and turn to burgundy over time). — 4 years ago
Confidently red and blue fruit forward—fresh and macerated, ballasted by earth. The palate is stunningly smooth—those tannins are well-integrated, and the fruit leads the way, but it welcomes some lavender and violet notes. Tart and ripe, even giving a hint of…ouzo? Yeah, licorice! And a whiff of smoke. It has a kick, a spice, and a…can a girth be slender? This wine is broad and, at the same time, dialed in. The finish lingers, a long purple-y road. — 4 months ago
Reliably good Cabernet at a reasonable price — a year ago
A classy Graves with emerging tertiary notes. Blackberry, ripe plum, cassis, cedar, tobacco, green olive, and subtle dried mushroom. The palate is broad and intense, with sense of graphite minerals adding an angular dimension to the fresh fruits. Supple tannins leading to a long juicy finish.
A domaine more famous for its white. And at around $65, this 14’ is a very good bargain. — 3 years ago
Bright, saturated medium ruby. Captivating aromas of cassis, blackberry, graphite, licorice, exotic spices and lavender convey an impression of medicinal reserve. Enters the mouth thick, utterly seamless and suave, displaying alluring sweetness to its dark berry, bitter chocolate and spice flavors. This wonderfully rich yet juicy 2017 Cabernet finishes with broad, refined tannins that are already in balance with the wine's fruit. Just this side of voluptuous, this beauty may not have the sheer verve of the '16 but it will offer earlier fireworks. Very long and vinous on the palate-saturating aftertaste, with the tannins coating the entire palate and front teeth. The wine's spicy complexity should contribute to its early appeal but it would be a shame not to hold this Cabernet for at least a few years. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020) — 4 years ago
Very smooth smell and taste. This Rock Mill version is one of my favorite! — 7 months ago
Tequila shopping at Georgie’s — 8 months ago
Interesting enterprise to taste a 12 year old #napa #cabernetsauvignon in the value segment of the market likely around $15 - $20 at release. Cork was well soaked and wine tastes of age, but not tired at all. In fact after a day in the fridge it seems to have gained some vim. Typical bramble fruit set on top of stewed plums. Palate is a bit earthier, less fruit-forward - plenty of acidity, chocolate and coffee notes mid-palate and still sturdy tannins on the finish. It must have been stored well at the retailer. — 2 years ago
Some peach and other tree fruit, but also some lemon. It’s balanced. Sweet, but not so sweet. Off dry blend. Seems like it’d be good would with spicy food. — 4 years ago
Ira Schwartz
Wine stimulates our sense of smell and taste but in this case it also created a tidal wave of emotion. Through a tremendous act of generosity a dear friend shared this special bottle when he heard me lament I was not able to secure a bottle of wine to celebrate my mother’s 100 birthday. My friend stood the bottle up for several days. We decided it made sense to PnP. As you can see the cork was intact and the color of the wine defied its age. The excitement to take that first sniff was overwhelming for me. Old but alive scents wowed me. Lots of tobacco, leaves, leather and dried fruit. In the mouth those same scents were transferred to my palate thanks to a tsunami of acid. At about the one hour mark the wine quickly entered a death spiral. I cannot imagine another bottle of wine that will ever conjure up that amount of emotion and happiness. When I described my experience to my mom, a very broad smile came over her face. A blessing to share this experience with my mom and a privilege to taste a wine like this. — a month ago