Winton Sweum

9.6

Yellow straw with a green tinge; nose is very giving of ripe orchard fruit, white flowers, oranges, almond and limestone; palate is ripe and zesty, nicely grippy, sapid, and even a little Burgundian while finishing with saline minerality. At L’Angolo Divino wine bar, Rome. — 3 months ago

Dave

9.0

This wine has the kitchen sink in it. Dark fruit is hiding under the prominent leather, herbs, mint, tobacco, and earth. It's a fine sipper for jazz nights by the fireplace. Made my teeth red.
Listening to Bill Evans — 7 months ago

Will Stanley

9.1

This needs more time to knit together, but does show promise, even if I feel a shade less impressed than the first time trying a couple of years back. It’s initially very herbaceous, with tomato leaf and green pepper, eventually giving way to a svelte personality with plush oak and sweet fruit. Not perfect now, but should be great in four years’ time. — 2 years ago

FabianG

8.9

#wineaccess — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Along with the majestic 2010 one of my favorite Stella vintages. So giving right off the bat, never any heat, just so fresh and clean. Amazing expression of Sangiovese. — 3 years ago

Iwan

9.4

This is third or fourth vintage or this wine that I’ve tried and it keeps getting better. The passion project or top-Israeli winemaker Ido Lewinsohn, this is a blend of 90% Syrah and 0% Petite Syrah. I would like to say Northern Rhône (maybe St Joseph! In style, but actually this is as close as it gets to giving a sense of place for an Israeli wine. Plum, garrigue and some baking spice, maybe cardamom. Vibrant acidity. This will get better with age. Really excellent stuff. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.2

Straight shooting Napa Cabernet. Fruit forward and good acidity. Medium finish. Pleasant. Eric Benoît. I drank this decanted over three days. Definitely recommend giving lots of airtime to settle down before drinking. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First a note about the 2012 Napa vintage. Good, right? Yes. While the fruit was abundant & nicely fruity, for me, lacked tannins, skin/juice ratio out of balance which created a lack of tannic depth and will not cellar like 13 or 14 etc..

When I visited w/ The Stag’s Leap Winery Winemaker, he told me, they normally make 75,000 cases of Artemis. In 12, they made 100,000 cases. They grow their own fruit but also contract fruit. While there are terms in their contracts w/ growers to refuse fruit, they could not refuse any. The fruit was that good. They even had to take Artemis out of tank early so they could finish their higher-end Cabernets.

This 12 JC Muds Kitchen was made by Charles Hendricks. His second to last vintage at JC. One of the more unknown & underrated Napa Winemakers. James & Coleen misstepped in the separation but understand Coleen’s reasons. Charles Hendricks Apprentice, went his own way. Can’t say I blame him, just not a fan of his post work. Ok, but not the follow up I wished.

Nose; a dark core of currants/cassis, ripe/lush, blackberries, both plums, mulberries, dark, sweet cherries, black raspberries, strawberries and haunting blueberries, softly, layered baking spices, anise to black licorice-liqueur, sandstone/limestone, steeped fruit tea, melted, dark chocolate baking bar, sweet tarriness, French espresso, withering/candied/slightly floral, dark & red flowers framed in lavender/violets.

The palate fruits are; ripe, juicy, fresh, dark core of; currants/cassis, ripe/lush, blackberries, both plums, mulberries, dark, sweet cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, haunting blueberries & pomegranate high tones. Softly, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark, mid spice intensity w/ heat, anise to black licorice-liqueur, sandstone/limestone, steeped fruit tea, melted, dark chocolate baking bar, sweet tarriness, French espresso, dry leather/tobacco, graphite, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, dry crushed limestone rocks, dry oak barrel shavings, withering/candied/slightly floral, dark & red flowers framed in lavender/violets, near perfect acidity with a well knitted/toned/balanced, elegant finish w/ great length that lasts two-minutes and long sets on spice & dry minerals. — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

When the weather gets colder sometimes I drink Bordeaux. Probably one of the best vintages for the Château along with ‘82, and it’s in a great spot. Classic mature Paulliac with terrific complexity, an alluring sweetness and long, balanced finish with fully resolved, silky tannins. Fully open and giving. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

Hauntingly dark, the 2019 Pinot Noir Basalt Block captivates with its dusty violet and lavender tones before giving way to crushed blackberries. This is sleek and racy in style with tart wild berries and saline minerals underscored by a core of tantalizing acidity. It finishes structured, tense and long, leaving a licorice tinge and remnants of red currant. (Eric Guido, Vinous, January 2024)
— 2 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Beautiful blend from Paso. Balanced and elegant. 60% Syrah, — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.

It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 5 years ago

Doug Griffin

9.0

Not sure, I think it’s a bit maderized. However still giving some grippy tannins, rich cherry, vanilla and wood…375 ml. Kind of played out — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed from red Solo cups over the course of a few hours. This bottle of the 1982 showed very well today. It pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of black currants, black plum, mixed brambles, tobacco, some green pepper, graphite, leather, earth, and soft warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. 1982: the vintage that keeps on giving. Drink now through 2042+. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

From the cellar - a little too cold on this cold night. More spice than the usual white and black pepper. Dried meat. See previous Delectable notes. An incredible Show Record:- Good Wine Guides Best Shiraz and Wine of the Year in 2011 - 98 points from Nick Stock. Giving more on the 2nd night. Incredible length of flavour - goes on and on. This has always been one of my favourite Australian Red Wines and I have tried to buy it on a regular basis but it has become very expensive (over $200) - no doubt because of its impeccable quality. Northern Rhone in style. Only 400 cases made. — 2 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Showing beautifully. Powerful but elegant. Deep dark fruit but still with a firm charge of tannin giving freshness and lift. Still so alive. — 3 years ago

Paul K

9.2

Friendsgiving. Just opened. Giving time — 4 years ago

Jan A

9.3

Solid core, somewhat muted scent and typical cab flavors giving damp earth, cassis and nutmeg like bitters. I don't see the 96RP rating here but nevertheless a well made wine. — 4 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Exquisite! Dark earthy extracts with hints of blue berry and currant, minerally edge, tar. Smooth, round but present tannins giving it a lingering finish. — 5 years ago

with Tammy