Ryan Richter

9.3

Excellent spicy, dry, zin. — 3 months ago

with Shannon and Jamie

Doug Powers

8.9

Big, rich, maybe just a little too ripe (as @Tom Casagrande pointed out in a note about an earlier vintage), but still a nice, solid, old vine field blend, Contra Costa County history!! — a year ago

with Jim

Shay A

9.4

This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.

My goal was to compare this 2003 next to the 2003 Pichon Baron. I’ve had the 2002 Mondavi VHR a few times and have been floored how good they’ve been. Read a review from WA and it said the 2002 was a spitting image of the 2002 Pichon Baron, so I figured I’d see if the 2003 was worthy of the same comparison.

Decanted an hour. Whoa! Much more Bordeaux like than the ‘02, and a touch lighter. Mushroom, pipe tobacco and fig, with mineral/graphite note on the nose too. Mocha dusted red and black berries, currant, herbs and saddle leather. At the end of the lunch, this eventually turned to a more resolved (and deeper core of fruit) with the tannins integrating beautifully. Really enjoyable. Pop and enjoy. — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 7 months ago

Doug Powers

9.0

Nice red and black fruits, good weight and depth, solid old vine Mataro!! — a year ago

with Jim

Paola Bailey

9.4

Loved it. Lush, bold flavors soft finish. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

100% old-vine Marsanne from the Les Murets lieu dit which is predominantly east facing on the hill. This was the most powerful of the three Hermitage Blancs tonight. The nose was redolent of marmalade, honey, butter cream frosting, and slate. Luxurious texture with a long finish. Lovely with monkfish, sweet potato, leek, and winter truffle. Drink now through 2034+. — 8 months ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Lovely old vine (128 years old) Mataro from Contra Costa County east of SF, rich redfruits, still well-structured, not overly extracted, just pure with a long, lingering finish, ideally needs more cellaring. — a year ago

with Jim

NL

9.5

Bogle never disappoints. IMO it is one of the best value and underrated wines. This petit sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wine blend is a well balanced and delicate fruit bomb. This 2018 vintage has vanilla, cacao, and French oak notes that dance around the palate to finish off with ripe strawberries, cherry, and tobacco undertones. Will easily hold up to wines three times the price. — 2 years ago

Roger Custer

9.2

Excellent Virginia white from one of our favorite wineries. Fruity, smoky, and woody all at the same time but not too much of any of those three. — 3 years ago