Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25. — 15 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

All of the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. Medium pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits with a slight nutty floral character. On the palate flavors of peach and melon with lemon citrus and savory notes. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, toasty oak and minerality. Nice! — 9 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

This wine is dark, with an aroma profile that seems to match. The nose has a tarry sense to it, with notes of cedar, cigars and clove buoyed along by the blackberry and cassis fruit smells. The palate is dark, too, with blue and black fruit, clove and pepper and oak notes providing complexity. The acidity is fresh and the tannic grip is firm enough that food is almost a necessity with it. It will pair well with any meat dishes. — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

1 of CA's oldest wineries, Far Niente, founded 1885 by John Benson. Winery flourished until Prohibition, when it was abandoned & fell into complete disrepair. Stately stone shell of a winery purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel. A big wine! Tropical and stone fruit aromas with complex spice and oak notes. On the palate apple, peach and citrus flavors, creamy, with buttery toasty oak, fig/honey tones. Long finish ending with vibrant acidity & mineral character. Consistent. — 21 days ago

Ming L

9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure. — 6 months ago

Mon M

8.9

Full-bodied and seductive with heaps of dark berry fruit, followed by aromas of leather and oak. On the palate, the wine is round and layered, showing flavors of dark fruits, vanilla, and toffee through a lingering spice-touched finish. — 9 months ago

with Jon

Victor Hsu

8.9

Inky and dense, with aromas of violet and dark fruit. Multiple flavors hitting the palate, including blueberry and blackberry with a hint of earth supported by a tannic backbone. Still tight and a bit alcoholic; decanting improved things a bit but needs more time in the bottle. Good but not great. — 2 months ago

Norman Gennaro

9.1

Been a while since I have had a Zin and this was is not an over the top/extracted version. Nicely done, somewhat restrained, but a great nose. It was better on the pop and pour versus getting more air so it has that going for it. Every other bottle of wine I have been drinking seems to want air forever. — 6 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Light straw color. Aromas of grapefruit, unripe peach and white flowers. More pear, green melon and quince fruit flavors with hints of lemon/lime, orange zest and noticeable fresh cut grass on the medium finish. Crisp acidity and a slight creamy texture. Solid. Part of Capital Grille’s 2024 Generous Pour Program. — 9 months ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Musty aromas with blackberry and plum. One the bud, a spice note with a bit of tartness. Overall a nice Zinfandel. — 10 months ago