4/6/2024 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Got this through Wine Exchange. Keller made it, the Peninsula did not buy it all and we got a shot. Very fine for the price. Ripe fruit leading with strawberry and cherry nicely integrated over smooth acidity. Well aged at the Keller cellars. Glad I bought a case.

7/1/2022 - OCWino Likes this wine:

A lovely mature right bank Bordeaux. Fully integrated mature tannins under a layer of still vibrant fruit.

1/16/2022 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Consumed on our 40th anniversary, the wine having been made in the year of our wedding. Yes, it was beyond its prime, but it had a dignity and grace from a genuine integration of its elements. The perfect metaphor for our life together.

4/2/2021 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Just found three bottles (oops!) Remarkably fresh fruit over subtle tannins. A beautifully balanced Cote-Rotie. No doubt not the brute it once was, but a joy. Like a well made pinot noir. Drink up!

1/15/2021 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Opened at Italian ristorante for anniversary dinner (married in 1982). Surprisingly fresh fruit of raspberries and cherries with smoky notes of leather and subtle cinnamon. Tannins fully integrated for a long silky finish. No bricking at all! A stunning wine for 39 years of age. One more left; will wait for next years anniversary.

6/18/2020 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Another lovely delicate wine from Story of Soil. No decanting, drank at restaurant. Bright acid with subtle nose of floral and raspberry notes. Clean on the tongue with a medium finish of smoke, minerality and red berries. Rather French (Beaujolais?)

1/5/2020 - OCWino wrote:

Great quality for the modest price! Pleasant nose of violets and ripe cherries. Solid sour cherry and raspberry fruit over lively tannins. An ideal food wine. Modest finish. Should have bought more.

8/18/2019 - OCWino wrote:

A balanced and complex Sauv Blanc. Rich stone fruit with mellon and a shadow of lime. Long finish and great richness on the tongue. A great white wine.

3/30/2019 - OCWino Does not like this wine:

Bought six from a well respected merchant. It seems that all six are flawed bottles. Probably from the end of the bottling. Cloudy with a deep barnyard funk. Undrinkable, even as sangria. This comment will be of no use to most, but may help a few.

12/24/2018 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Less than an hour to breath. A luscious full-bodied pinot. Opulent raspberry and cherry fruit over solid but integrated tannins. Drank with Christmas Eve dinner. Fine now, years to go if well cellared. Enjoy!

10/28/2018 - OCWino wrote:

Opened and decanted for dinner with grilled ribeye steak. A bit tight at first, but opened up nicely to a fine example of Napa's best cab. Rich lush tannins integrated under lovely currant and blackberry fruit. Long finish. Still have one bottle left; no hurry to drink it.

12/27/2017 - OCWino Likes this wine:

This wine is a classic example of the best of Rioja. Popped and poured (do not decant) and noted the subdued floral nose. No bricking at the edges yet! Smooth integrated tannins under prune and spice box with generous minerality. Still young and lovely. Opened quickly and was subdued by the end of the entree. A privilege to still have one of these.

8/24/2017 - OCWino wrote:

This is correct as a Chianti. Balanced acidity with bright sour cherries and perhaps more oak than necessary. Definitely not a classico. Everyone needs a wine for Wednesday evening; this might be it.

8/4/2017 - OCWino wrote:

Opened and poured a glass, let stand for an hour. Still a big and fresh wine. Leather, smoke, plum/prune over a solid base of integrated tennis. A great drink with grilled lamb. My cellar is at 55, so the aging might be slower than for others.

5/1/2017 - OCWino wrote:

Found this and opened without decanting. Mild fruit over silky tannins. Was well cellared for 18 years and drank like a second growth Bordeaux. What a wine. Less power than my earlier bottles, but a genuine treat to find among the other Napa reds.

3/21/2016 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Oh my! Opened, allowed to breathe, not decanted. Rich, full-bodied cab on a par with a well classified Bordeaux. Silky tannins under solid black currant, blueberry and plum fruit. Well integrated and still a great drink. Has aged better than an '02 would otherwise indicate. Regret having only a single bottle remaining. Kept at 55 to 57 under proper conditions.

11/6/2015 - OCWino wrote:

Second bottle like the first. Harsh tannins with pale fruit. No amount of air help this one open up for either bottle. May use the remaining bottles for wine vinegar.

9/7/2015 - OCWino wrote:

A bit of a fruit bomb. Reminiscent of an Aussie shiraz. High alcohol, drank a bit hot. Viscous with faint tannins, clearly time to drink up. Solid dark fruits; ideal with ribs. If you like 'em big and fruity, this is your drink.

8/31/2015 - OCWino wrote:

Consumed at Francoli's with dinner. Decanted. Opened during dinner. Rich, powerful fruit over well-integrated tannins. Prunes, leather, dark chocolate, and black berry notes. A smooth wine at its peak.

7/5/2015 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Exceeded expectations. A lovely bordeaux blend of modest complexity. Rich with silky tannins and a short finish. Nice for the price, ready to drink.

6/23/2015 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Lovely Napa cab with appropriate age on it. Just like a second growth left bank bordeaux. Solid cassis and red fruit over silky integrated tannins. Grateful I have a few bottles left. Note: cellared at 56 degrees since purchase if that makes a difference to you.

2/11/2015 - OCWino wrote:

A rich and full-bodied Beaujolais. Balanced silky tannins underlie solid berry fruit, leather and minerality. A great drink that I think will age for several more years with ease.

1/19/2015 - OCWino wrote:

Drank without decanting; will decant next time. Opened up well after about 30 minutes. Still had lively red berry fruit, spices, leather notes over silky tannins. The youth of this wine is staggering. Delicious and I have no concerns about my remaining bottles. Cellar is at 55 degrees.

1/1/2015 - OCWino Likes this wine:

A surprisingly solid Bordeaux blend from the central coast. Rich and full bodied from the start. Opened up after about an hour and was balanced and youthful. A joy to drink at New Years Eve.

8/18/2014 - OCWino Likes this wine:

This was a bit thin and past its prime. Lovely nose of violets and stewed prunes. It opened up over the two hours of drinking and was balanced and lovely if a bit light.

3/16/2014 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Nice nose of violets. Silky tannins under a solid cassis and kirsch flavor profile. Notes of coffee and dark chocolate with a long rich finish. Classic Oakville cab. Still has years to go with proper cellaring.

2/2/2014 - OCWino Likes this wine:

This is a huge classic CHndP. Still has smooth solid tannins under dark cherry and berry fruit. It is balanced with a silky mouth feel and a long finish. A classic. Stored at 55 degrees since purchase in 2000.

1/5/2014 - OCWino wrote:

Had with beef comfort food. A solid elegant balanced Napa cab with years to go. Rich cassis fruit over silky tannins; notes of tobacco and spices to add complexity. Long smooth finish.

1/1/2014 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Drank new years eve with seared ahi. Remarkably full-bodied with classic Napa fruit, if a bit muted by the years. My cellar is at 55, so this aged slowly; suspect most will be at or past prime. A very well balanced and rich cab.

12/25/2013 - OCWino wrote:

Opened Christmas eve with Christmas cookies! Deep golden color and a rich perfume of honeysuckle. Flavors of creme brulee, caramel, hazelnuts and apricots. Wow, a huge sauterne that is solid with years to go.

12/1/2013 - OCWino wrote:

Has aged to become a balanced food wine. Silky tannins underscore cherry and berry fruit with briery and leather finish. Long pleasant finish. Glad to have one more on hand.

11/30/2013 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Drank with Thanksgiving dinner. Open for a couple of hours, decanted. A burgundian pinot that balanced restrained tannins with berry fruit, leather notes and violets on the nose. A genuine treat.

11/24/2013 - OCWino wrote:

Drank with pork ribs. Still solidly tannic with pale fruit. A disappointment, but at least it was not the typical Jaffurs fruit bomb.

7/13/2013 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Still a lady! What this has given up in power it has gained in finesse. A beautifully balanced and nuanced aged Napa cab. Not a lot more time left, but if well cellared, it is still a fine drink.

7/5/2013 - OCWino Likes this wine:

A lovely aged Oakville cab. Silky tannins with sweet cassis and raspberries well integrated. Still has some life left, but clearly ready to drink.

6/16/2013 - OCWino Likes this wine:

Decanted about an hour; it opened up over the subsequent two hours. A huge viscous wine. It still has years left but is very well balanced with classic Napa fruit over silky tannins. What a treat.

2/26/2012 - OCWino wrote:

Lovely nose of violets and berry pie. Rich with an earthy base and blackberry jam with stewed fruit; slight notes of pencil lead. Lingering finish. Very hot from the high alcohol; could not take this wine to a restaurant and finish it with my wife for fear of not being able to drive. The jammy fruit and hot alcohol spoils what might have been a good single-vineyard effort.

10/29/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Found at a Bordeaux tasting at Wine Exchange. Seldom imported second label of Pape Clement. Single decanted two hours before tasting. Rich round elegant wine ready to drink young. Big but balanced with cassis, blueberry and dark chocolate. Very nice finish. Bought a few.

9/16/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Finally ready for it's closeup. The subtle nose of purple fruit and wet earth was typical. Subtle tannins with plum and blueberry fruit, slight bell pepper and a cherry finish. A solid food wine that will compliment a broad range of cuisine. Looking forward to the rest of the allotment.

9/16/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Consumed with friends paired with Romeo and Julieta Churchills and snacks. Still huge but starting to balance the massive tannins with the solid black fruits. Great nose of stewed fruit, leather and violets. Big viscous wine with integrated tannins under wonderful dark fruit, cigar box and leather notes. Long, long finish. Stood up to the Havana cigars without a whimper. Looking forward to my last bottle.

7/26/2011 - OCWino wrote:

An elegant, well-aged Napa cab. A bit disappointing given the hoopla over Martha and her vineyard. Medium bodied with a short finish; silky tannins under pleasant berry fruit. Not much complexity and no 'menthol'. For all the hype I have had $20 cabs that had more going on. Bummer. Maybe the next one will shine.

7/8/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Wine Exchange ran this as a closeout and it is a screaming bargain. Almost a Mosel kabinett from a good vintner. Bright acidity supporting tropical fruit, valencia orange and lemon. This is an ideal hot weather quaffer with Thai, a spicy salad or grilled fish.

6/27/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Drank at Villa Nova watching the sun set over Newport Harbor. Well integrated and balanced with remaining subtle tannins that hold together rich blackberry and blueberry fruit. At ten years it is an elegant wine that opened up over the course of dinner. Probably has a few more years before it begins to decline; my last '01.

6/19/2011 - OCWino wrote:

An elegant and balanced Sonoma cab. Drank on Fathers Day with NY strips and lobster at home. This is well integrated and approaches a second growth bordeaux. Smooth tannins under round rich cassis and berry fruit. Looking forward to the three that are left. Will not wait more than a year or so to finish my '01's.

6/2/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Refreshing to find a CA chardonnay done in the French style; no oak, just the fruit. A clean and lovely wine perfect for white fish or a light meal. The semilon gives it just enough complexity to stand on its own as nice drink on a warm afternoon. A screaming value.

2/2/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Great rich ruby color with no sign of brick at the edges of the glass. A pale nose with faint violets. Wonderful full-bodied fruit dominated by cassis. Tasted some spice box, tar and pencil lead; had a long smooth finish. The tannins are receding, so this may have only a few more years left. A classic Napa cab by one of the most reliable wineries in the valley.

1/17/2011 - OCWino wrote:

Drank at 5 Crowns with prime rib. The sommelier strongly suggested not decanting; I agreed and it was the right decision. No brick at the edges, lovely bouquet of roses, cigar box and ripe berries. The wine exhibited youthful and rich fruits of blackberries and raspberries with silky tannins still in evidence. This is an elegant and completely balanced drink that has years of subtle and satisfying life left. As an aside, this was purchased at Wine Exchange; they got it directly from the winery after re corking, topping off and new labels and foil. I have one more, thank goodness.

1/1/2011 - OCWino wrote:

What a treat! This is what a balanced and mature Napa cab should be. Drank at Yves Bistro for our New Years celebration, so it was a pop and pour. It blossomed over the two hours. Solid cassis and blueberry fruit supported by silky and well-integrated tannins. The wine showed lovely legs in the glass and had an opulent mouth feel. This is, in my opinion, at its peak but will last several more years. It clearly benefits from the modest addition of cab franc and merlot; it leaves one with the impression of a second growth Bordeaux in a great vintage.

12/30/2010 - OCWino wrote:

Drank our last bottle with good friends; the wine was not the star of the evening. It is on its last legs; has had a good life. A pale shadow of its former self; rather like an older bordeaux of a minor appellation. Looking forward to our 2001's.

12/4/2010 - OCWino wrote:

Opened and tasted immediately; drank over two hours with dinner. Almost no nose at all. A huge viscous wine that leaves the glass purple. This is young but drinkable if you like them BIG. Great plum fruit with spices and black pepper. A lingering finish. Quite smooth with surprisingly tame tannins for a petite sirah this young. I will wait about a year before opening the next one.