Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me, double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours, a slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core and significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated fruit: dried brambles, dried cherry fruit leather, coffee, dried flowers, licorice, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be a GSM blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or is Zinfandel from France or the United States. For me, there aren’t any signs of pyrazines so I like this as a GSM blend with a good amount of Syrah. Due to the color, rim, variation, and sediment I believe this has 25 to 30 years of age. Final conclusion, this is Chateauneuf-du-Pape from 2001. Whoa! I haven’t had one of these in a long, long time. OG Kalimna Bin 28! This was showing really well. Drink now but still has life left. — 12 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Sierra Foothills in California.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, earth, black licorice, chocolates, tobacco, spices and peppercorn.

Spicy and rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward and delicious.

Showing great complexity already, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a touch of Bordeaux.

Showing lots of black licorice notes on the palate, which I loved, not much on the nose though.

Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years. A good quality wine.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (50% new) American oak barrels for 19 months. A tiny production of only 4 barrels. Unfiltered.

15.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$28. — 4 years ago

S.R.Alexander

9.2

Rich and textured cherries, dark plums and blackberries possibly makes for the best qpr ever at $28/btl. Needs some time for the wood to integrate. Revisit in 2-3yrs. — 5 years ago

JKT

9.0

Cved 5/24/17. Opened 1/28/20. Excellent over three days! See old post. — 6 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.4

Medium gold. Meyer lemon, peach blossom, canned peach and dried apricot, Lanolin, fresh basil, yeasty sweet vanilla on the palate. One of the best expressions of Franciacorta. 75/15/10 Chard/PN/PB. SS fermented, 20% reserve wine, 28 months on lees, 4g/L dosage. — 7 years ago

Ekasit Poositranusorn

9.5

Drink again on Nov 28, 2018; and this wine continues to remain my most favorite from Medoc. Must let it breath at least 30 minutes. Dark but bright ruby red color with very fresh aromas of red fruits like cherry, plum, and tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied and followed by very nice flavors of cherry, blackcurrant, chocolate, and a touch of sweet basil & dry tomato on the palate. Dry, silky but solid tannins, and end nicely with long length at the end. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Oldest in the Penfolds portfolio, Wine includes fruit from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Clare and Wrattonbully vineyards, aged 12 months in American oak, 7% new. Deep Ruby color with aromas of dark berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and cherry with cacao, espresso and vanilla oak. Vivid acidity, ripe fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and spice, very nice! Good value with aging potential. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Sunshine lemon color, aromas of tropical, stone and citrus fruits with mineral notes, aged 10 months in 28% new oak. On the palate flavors of pineapple, peach and lemon citrus wrapped in smooth spicy tones. Long finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, notes of flinty mineral and savory citrus character. Nice! — 3 years ago

David Hemmerling

9.5

Opened August 28 2021 on our 35th anniversary. We had brought this bottle back from champagne in the 1990s and kept in the cellar. Magnum was in perfect condition and distinguished pop with golden color and fine hue and brut taste —a couple years less than our wedding but still going strong. — 5 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.7

2012 Vintage. 42% Syrah, 28% Petit Verdot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Grenache. Sounds like a strange blend, but man was this happening. Opened as our second 2012 for the Zoom tasting. Knocked our socks off! — 6 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.5

Deg 28 Oct 2015 — 7 years ago

J Levenson

9.2

At $28 you can’t go wrong. A SommSelect pick. Decant 30 minutes. Beautifully layered. Well balanced. — 7 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.5

2012 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 71% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 1% Viognier. Very good showing for this wine. Fruit bomb with enough to hide the alcohol. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Neon pink in color with a peach hue.

Fruity nose and dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity.

Showing dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, limes, green apples and light spices.

Tangy finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a tasty Rosé from Sonoma County. Crisp and refreshing. Easy drinking and a good food wine.

100% Pinot Noir grapes. A tiny production of only 720 bottles.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$28. — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The best $28 steak wine out there. — 3 years ago

Grant Simpson

9.4

Chateau Margaux vertical oldest wine was 1928 youngest 2009. 28 was surprisingly drinkable but my wine if the day was the 1990 — 4 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.2

No change from 2/28/20. **** — 6 years ago

with Judy

Lori Casey

9.6

One of my absolute favorite wine cellars. Not a Merlot or Malbec lover but with 28% cab Sauvignon and 35% cab franc it is light and beautiful - almost like a Pinot. — 6 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.0

March 16, 2019. Yum, yum, yum! Happy bonus birthday number 5, J2! — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Had this 1year ago. Founded in 1979 by John Shafer, went from riding trains in Chicago to riding a TD-9 tractor in Napa. Blend of 56%Merlot, 28%Cab Sauv & 16%Malbec, aged for 20 mos French oak, despite 15.3% ABV, it’s well balanced. Wonderful berry fruit aromas, flavors of cherry, jammy blackberry and rasp with notes of cacao and sweet herbs. Lingering finish ending with earthy mineral. Had this with a USDA prime Fillet. Drink now & over next few years, any longer the wine will lose vibrant quality. Nice! — 7 years ago