Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.9

I have written notes on 4 bottles of the 97 Jones Family Cabernet. This is the most perfect.

I have had all the Napa Cult Cabernets. None have ever rocked my palate/whole body the way this 97 Jones has done.

This is sadly my last bottle. I think it has finally hit its precipice. So, enjoy. If there are others that appear on the secondary markets, you’ll have to out dual/bid me.

I could write more notes but my previous ones will still apply plus. I am simply going to enjoy near perfection w/o further notes. Cheers! 🍷

Coravined bottle from last weekend relaid in storage. If I had a long enough thin tongue, I’d lick the inside of the bottle. 🤔😂 😋

#TheTwoHourSteak — 5 months ago

Naoki Kondo

9.5

Having this, my weekend became perfect after a long hiking. Thanks Ichiro!! Pear, honey and hay. I love this complex flavor and note! — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

This is the 2018 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is from Oakville, California a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, herbal notes, black currant, baking spice, chocolate, pencil shavings, green bell pepper and dark earth.

On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, violet, green bell pepper, mocha, black pepper, pencil shavings, and earth.

This is medium to full bodied with a smooth plush mouthfeel medium+ to high acidity and medium+ fine grippy tannins that seamlessly moves to a long red & black fruit pencil lead finish. A very nice wine that has many years to go. Have a great weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Paul K

9.4

Wrapping up a long weekend in Miami celebrating with friends.
Really good. The fruit is round. Get the Malbec and Petit Verdot. Classy finish that shows off the Cab Franc. This will improve with time as fruit settles down. — 5 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.0

Monday night and winter is tearing through our area. I have tonight opened the 2017 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir.

On the nose I am getting aromas of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, mushroom, spice and earth.

On the palate there is tart cherey, raspberry, cranberry, sassafras, spice and forest floor.

This wine is medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, medium + acidity and medium + sandy tannins which leaves a long red & dark fruit finish. Having had the Joseph Drouhin the other night and the Domaine Drouhin tonight the Joseph Drouhin was just more elegant over all. I hope everyone's Valentine weekend was good. Have a great week, stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

Friday night and it feels as though it will be a Bordeaux weekend. Tonight I have opened from one of my favorite Châteaux the 2017 Château Montrose La Dame de Montrose. A blend of 49% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. A classic Bordeaux blend and for a second label this would be a 1st growth at any other Château.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, plum sauce, black currant, chocolate, violet and minerals.

On the palate there is cherry, blackberry, raspberry, red & black currant, creme de cassis, violet, a minerality and earthiness.

This wine is medium + to full bodied with a lovely silky, velvety mouthfeel and medium + acidity and medium+ smooth polished tannins that leads into a long fresh fruit mineral finish. What a beautiful wine at a reasonable price. I hope everyone is doing well and your weekend will be a joyful one. Please stay healthy and safe and have an enjoyable weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.8

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 Magnum — 6 months ago

John Van Trijp

10

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 — 6 months ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.4

This is the 2022 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc. This is from Marlborough, New Zealand.

On the nose is the distinct aromas of lime, grapefruit, white peach, guava herbal notes, grass and pear.

On the palate there is grapefruit, lime, pineapple, mango and white peach.

This is a medium bodied wine with a cleanfresh mouth watering mothfeel medium+ acidity and a lind crusp citrus lime grapefruit finish. A wonderful wine for the money. Looks like the weekend should be a good one with some crisp cool weather. Wish you an eventful weekend. Please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 3 years ago

Christian Fischer

9.4

After a coffee chat at work yesterday that ended discussing Hillside Select I was motivated to open one for the holiday weekend. Initially I was very disappointed as the wine was flat and uninspiring considering the pedigree and price tag. Read some reviews that this 2013 needs A LOT of air and sure enough after hours the wine began to evolve and markedly improve. It is an intense wine that lingers in the mouth for a long time. Smooth tannins, red fruit and tobacco flavors. Not my most favorite wine and not at the $229 I paid, but nonetheless a very good wine once it had the chance to get some air for a few hours — 5 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.8

Yesterday late afternoon I had the pleasure of tasting the 2016 Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo. At first taste I knew this was a special bottle of wine. All boxes were checked on the nose as well as the palate.

On the nose were fully expressive notes of black cherry, strawberry, herbs, clove, clay pottery, rose petals, underbrush, tar and dusty soil.

On the palate were delightful notes of dark cherries, strawberry, red plum, licorice, truffle, herbs, dried roses, a good mineral note and dusty earth.

An outstanding wine from the word go, full bodied, well balanced with a smooth round mouthfeel, medium + acidity and medium + to high fine mouth coating grippy tannins that leaves you with a long pronounced fresh fruit dusty earth finish. This wine still has a lot to offer years from now. What a pleasure to have experienced this. I hope everyone's weekend is going well? Have a continued wonderful weekend. Please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 5 years ago

Brit Young

9.1

Delicious! From NY weekend, shared with Jared with a salmon dinner. Light, easy drinking. A nice little acidity. Drank too much tbh. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy 4th of July everyone.

I can’t think of many other N/V Champagnes we’d rather kick-off the long 4th of July weekend.

Happy Birthday America & Cheers! 🍾🥂 🇺🇸 🧨

Numerous notes all apply. — 6 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.8

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 — 6 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.7

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 10.45 in the morning so time to start day 2…. — 6 months ago

Rob Simons

9.4

Happy Thanksgiving weekend — 4 years ago

with Barbara and Joan

Daniel P. Drake

9.0

This is the 2018 Chappellet Napa Valley Merlot from St. Helena, California. The blend is 76%Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.

On the nose is plum sauce, raspberry, blackberry, fig, chocolate, coffee, anise and violets.

On the palate is cherry, raspberry, blackberry, black tea, licorice, herbs, mocha, oak and dark earth.

This wine is full bodied with a smooth silky mouthfeel medium to medium+ acidity and medium fine tannins that moves into a long dark fruit earthy finish. Continued great weekend with safe and healthy thoughts to each of you. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Duckhorn! 🦆 Of course the new vintage is just as good as all the previous ones. Even the run of the mill version from the greatest Merlot maker in California sets a standard. Wonderful. Happy Labor Day weekend! — 5 years ago

Dawn E.

9.0

This Sunday evening after my work weekend; which was actually one 12 hr. Shift short; (Covid vaccine #2 kicked my behind! ⛑). I have opened this Napa Cabernet!. I am the only wine Connoisseur in the household so my collection is humble and am trying to desperately NOT open certain wines!
I have to remind myself that wine has its journey and sometimes it is just awesome to taste a wine where it is at in this moment!
Sure this might be better in five years, this wine is delicious and reasonably priced! Presents with mild Tannins, Bing Cherry, cedar big time, pencil lead, soft vanilla, mocha and subtle baking spices!
No regrets! Cheers to your work week! Vintage
2018 — 5 years ago

Dawn E.

9.2

This is a gorgeous wine even now(early)! Showing silky smoothness, smoke,cherry liqueur, cassis,black licorice, maple syrup, tar, milk chocolate and vanilla! I actually opened this last night but decided to wait!
This is my upcoming work weekend; wishing a Happy Fall weekend to everyone! — 6 years ago