1/25/2012 - Berno wrote:

A lot more fruit and ripeness than the '05. Wonderfully well made.

1/7/2012 - Berno wrote:

Glad I have another!!!

8/15/2011 - Berno wrote:

Good on its own, but with food, not so much...

Should have looked at the 15.2% alcohol before choosing it.

6/22/2011 - Berno wrote:

Was hoping for good things from this bottle and was not let down. Deep golden color. Smokey, leesy and waxy nose. Medium acid, well balanced and finished pretty long. I wish I had more. If I did, I'd wait a couple years.

6/1/2011 - Berno wrote:

I'm lucky enough to get to taste these every once and a while, but they're are always young. I always get a harsh chalky note when I taste this. Alto Moncayo Veraton is similarly priced and a step up from here.

6/1/2011 - Berno wrote:

Not terrible, but not overly impressive. It's young, though. I'd love to taste an older vintage.

6/1/2011 - Berno wrote:

Toasty oak, dark berries, warm Earth. It's big, but well balanced. New world style and is in need of a long nap. If you're a fan of new wood, dig in.

4/24/2011 - Berno wrote:

Surprisingly subdued, thought it was going to be a little bit bigger and more tannic. I liked it but I think its shut down, give it a year or two.

4/24/2011 - Berno wrote:

Buttered popcorn, tart baked apples and steely minerality. In the mouth, does not show its 15.5% alcohol, but it isn't shy, either. Superb balance and surprisingly went well with Easter dinner. I will be seeking out more...

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

Very powerful and fragrant nose that yields ripe, dark cherry, black pepper, potpurri, peppered bacon, smoked meat and leather. This literally hurt my nose when I smelled this wine-but I couldn't stop smelling it. In the mouth this was bold, with racy acidity. The tannins were gripping and herbacious. Even though this wine is a decade or more from being ready to drink, it's probably the best wine I've had this year. I don't know exactly how much Viognier is in this monster, but with the fragrance in the nose, I'm guessing there is 20%.

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

This had a nose of ripe, cooked berries, black pepper and fried bacon. In the mouth, it was very refreshing, with ripe and bright berry flavors. It also had a nice, underlying Earthy quality to it as well. The ripeness in this wine could pass for a 100+ year old vine Spanish Garnacha. Great value, here.

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the rest Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. This is stainless steel fermented and is made by using the Saignée or bleeding method. It is also aged on its lees for 9 months, giving it a richer flavor. Producers in Bordeaux do make rosé; unfortunately, it is hard to find. This blend has a ripe, mineral driven nose, showing tart strawberry, citrus and toasty flavors. Big for a rosé in the mouth, it has bright acidity, but it is rounded out due to the lees aging. This will be poured for Thanksgiving in my home. It is wonderful and unique wine from Napa.

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

48% Merlot 40% Cab Sauv and the rest Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. For a second label, this is extremely solid. Vintners making Bordeaux-styled blends would be happy with this as their first label. Nose of warm Earth, cassis, dark chocolate, black cherry and fresh flowers. In the mouth, firm tannins, very ripe, but balanced acidity and Earthy tones. Beautiful effort.

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

This wine is an indication how good 2008 is going to be in Napa. The nose shows deeper, richer and riper flavors than the '07 Endre. In the mouth, bigger and more fruit, with beautiful, underlying Earthiness. Cannot wait until this is released!

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

All estate grown fruit near Calistoga. Super-ripe nose showing cassis, sweet cherries, blackberry liqueur and vanilla. In the mouth, ripe and velvety. Tannins are present, but not astringent. Another great '07 Napa Cab!

4/7/2011 - Berno wrote:

This has a nose of scorched Earth, coffee, mocha, sweet blueberries, cassis and dark cherries. Full bodied, with very ripe and dark fruits, along with toasty wood and vanilla flavors on the palate. This is a standout Cabernet. A

4/2/2011 - Berno wrote:

Purchased on the cheap for me and my buddies b-day. (We're both '84's) 4/5 of the cork was saturated, but it came out in one piece. It was showing its age, clear brick red. In the nose, it had some funky, wet tobacco notes. There was some underlying cooked red fruit, tingling menthol and warm Earth. In the mouth, lots of acid, soft mouth coating tannins and a pretty long finish for a wine that's over the hill. Nonetheless, it was the first wine I've had from 1984, it was very special. NR

3/28/2011 - Berno wrote:

Holy Smokes!

All I need to say is, my 2001 d'Yquem better be this good...

3/22/2011 - Berno wrote:

Enjoyed with the first cookout of the year. Along with the 08 Haut Tubee, this had some toasty wood flavors, which I am a fan of. It doesn't mask the beautiful fruit, though. B+/A-

3/15/2011 - Berno wrote:

Popped and poured. Not quite as good when I tasted it at Elyse. Having said that, mlawren1's comment about sweetness in the wine. I detect no RS at all. I'm definitely not trying to sound disrespectful. I get a lot of ripeness which is a characteristic of good Grenache, and the two times I've had this I got nothing in the way of RS.

I'm trying another in 18 months.

2/23/2011 - Berno wrote:

Toastier than the 2007 Haut Tubee. It's well structured, fruit driven and inexpensive. Love it!

2/23/2011 - Berno wrote:

It's been too long since I had a Ramey Chard. Full flavored, crisp acidity and balanced oak. What more can you ask for with a Cali Chardonnay?

1/10/2011 - Berno wrote:

Corked :(

1/4/2011 - Berno wrote:

Just as good as previous note.

12/27/2010 - Berno wrote:

NR at this time, seemed a bit disjointed, not sure if it was an off bottle or just in a dumb phase...

12/25/2010 - Berno wrote:

Very well made wine, smells like their vineyard, nice fruit, very Bordeaux styled.

12/25/2010 - Berno wrote:

Rock solid, beautiful use of oak and gorgeous fruit.

10/28/2010 - Berno wrote:

Solid, but needs 5+.

10/25/2010 - Berno wrote:

Solid, but I think I'm moving away from the G&L due to the price. There are too many Zins out there that drink as good for much less.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Better than the '07 that I tasted 3 months ago. Layers of dark berry flavor, chambord and baking spice. Medium to full bodied, rich and ripe fruit flavors in the mouth.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Pure, ripe berry flavors and baking spice on the nose. In the mouth, tight and sweet tannins, beautifully ripe and a super long finish.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Thanks to Paul and Stef for popping a mag last weekend. They are some truly special people and beyond great hosts. This wine is the first wine I've scratched off of my bucket list.

The color was very deceptive for 21 years old. Slight bricking towards the edge. In the nose: Licorice, dried herbs, tart, dried berries and tobacco. In the mouth, bright acidity, Earthy and beautifully balanced. This went nicely with Paul's lamb. I have little experience with older CDP's, this seems like it'll be fine over the next 5 years+.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

I can't remember where this is sourced, but it was showing nicely. Cassis, dark berries and and nice herbacious note that gave the nose a lift. In the mouth, more herbaciousness along with firm tannins and a long fruit driven finish.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Pure ripe berry flavors and warm dirt notes in the nose. Sweet tannins, very fruit forward and doesn't get to be cloying or over ripe. Another great showing.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

IMO, this is the best QPR in Napa. The nose is bright, ripe and complex with raspberry liqueur, blueberries, sweet cherries, baking spice and warm dirt. In the mouth, bright and balanced. Yet another Thanksgiving Day wine. This is underpriced at $24.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Chardonnay like nose, showing vanilla, lemon zest and baking spice. In the mouth, cleaner than expected. It has bright acidity and citrus flavors. Wouldn't be a bad wine for Turkey Day. I'd spend nearly the same amount on it and get Merry Edwards if I wanted an oak treated SB. Not bad

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Big mineral driven and herbacious nose with cassis, vanilla, licorice, blackberry and black cherry. In the mouth, rich, mouthcoating tannins, stony minerality and nice ripe '07 fruit. Solid 07.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Another "value" Cabernet of 07. This has 25% Merlot as well. Big nose of tart blueberry, cassis, licorice and vanilla. In the mouth, big, fruit forward, nice tannins with a super long finish. IMO, this and Lewelling are at the top for '07 Cabs under $50.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

In March, I tasted the 2004 and 2006. These were both of the best dessert wines I've had from California. The 2008 needs that amount of time. There is a lot going on, the acidity is there but needs to be 6-8 years old to be really, really enjoyed. Pay no attention to the drinking window.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Not sure what's going on here. Perhaps it is already shut down? The nose wasn't showing much. In the mouth, the texture was really nice, but there wasn't much fruit to it. The bottle wasn't newly opened, or anything. NR

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Nose of warm dirt, cassis, black cherry, licorice, pipe tobacco and vanilla. In the mouth, it hits every part of the palate. Near perfect balance, tannins are sweet and the finish is long! Pretty expensive, though.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

This just shows how 2007 was as a growing year. Classic Cab flavors and the signiture Rutherford dust notes throughout the nose and palate. Tannins are present but not overwhelming.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

This is the last vintage they made. This was my first time tasting it, too and it's pretty solid. Bright nose of raspberry, tart cherry and black pepper. Medium bodied, nice adicity and balance. Solid effort, here. Sad to see it go.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Burgess holds back 500 cases of their Cabernet for re-release. Not many producers hold their wine for later sales. I did not expect to taste a 14 year old wine during my trip. Upon looking at the wine and tasting it, it didn't look like a 14 year old Cabernet, nor did it taste like one.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Like Christina Hendricks wrapped in velvet. Big and juicy but it's still hiding whats really going on underneath. One of the best produced wines in the valley!

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Solid effort, here. Ripe berries, cassis, vanilla, baking spice and warm dirt in the big and rich nose. In the mouth full bodied, balanced and ripe. Tough to beat around $70.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

I really want to try an older vintage of this. This was subdued. The richness on the palate was there, but it is unfortunately in a dumb phase. NR

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

Anther showcase of how good '07 was. Expressive nose of black cherry, cocoa powder, baking spice and vanilla. In the mouth, medium bodied, great mouthfeel and ripe berry fruit flavors that linger. Much improved from the 06.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

I ususally don't like these so young, but maybe by tastes are changing. This is barrel fermented and does not go under any malolactic fermentation. Nose of vanilla, lemon oil with toasty, leesy flavors. In the mouth, rich, without being overly woody. It's weird saying it's rich AND clean, but it is. Another good Thanksgiving Day wine.

10/20/2010 - Berno wrote:

I beleive the person pouring this comes from the Hayne Vineyard, but due to a conflict with Turley, they cannot call it Hayne Vineyard, so it's called AKA. Very expressive and bright nose of dark berries, warm Earth, baking spice, black tea and pepper. In the mouth, not overly ripe, this was Earthy, well balanced and had a great mouthfeel. A steal around $30.