10/14/2023 - philipmac wrote:

3.5 HDD.

7/29/2022 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Had with Mario and Brandyn. 92-93

7/30/2022 - philipmac wrote:

2 hour decant. Very lovely for the Syrah/Cab combination. Very well done TH. Looking forward to next one which should also be had in 2022.

12/1/2021 - philipmac wrote:

Long time member of Booker since our first purchases of his '08s. Cab from Paso is always hit and miss. Did his MFN once but haven't returned. Was teased to see this at Costco and debated. JD: 95; CT 92 as of this date. Decanted for 7 hours knowing its youth. Unfortunately, even with the long breath time, this wasn't for us. Extremely tight tannins, rough texture, fruit trying to speak but not having it. I'm confident this needs many years of aging, but not sure it will be at a caliber of Cab that we appreciate or appreciate at this price point.

3/13/2021 - philipmac wrote:

Just WOW! Decanted for 2.5 hours. Dena and both loved the depth and gentleness of this Grenache. Just like Dena likes 'em! Definitely have the last one this year, 2021.

3/12/2021 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Beautifully layered. Just like the Worshipper I always enjoyed.

3/8/2021 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2.5 hours. Nice for a Sangio.

3/7/2021 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2 but should have done 3.5. Was opening up at hour 4. Nice.

8/2/2020 - philipmac wrote:

I gave this a rating of 85 back on 9/6/15. I said then Reynvaan should not have sold this lot to the public. I second that on my 2 of 3 bottles. I've never scored this low but according to CT's rating scale, it is something to literally avoid. Doesn't have a speck of Cab taste to it whatsoever. As many have said, they need to stick to Rhone-style productions only.

8/9/2019 - philipmac wrote:

97-98. Cellared entire time. Decanted for 3 hours but kept opening as evening progressed. Meaty Syrah with depth. Charcoal, pepper, smoke all via a velvet approach. Last bottle: 96. Will wait till first of 2020 to have last.

12/7/2018 - philipmac wrote:

Not as bad as everyone commented. Just as JD/WA scored.

12/15/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2.5 hours. Kept opening up as evening progressed. A wonderful wine with Grenache really shinning through; no high alcohol muting.

11/16/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Simply beautiful. A more memorable Chardonnay than most we have had. Deeply layered with lasting notes of butter and oak - just how we like 'em. I typically don't score whites high but this was deserving of the rating.

8/19/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Gorgeous! Kept opening even after several hours of decanting.

6/11/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. A tad of a sweetness to its Temp/Cab/Syrah feel. Overall, quite enjoyable. Getting a few more.

3/9/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Cellared. Too tight, even after several hours of decanting. Extending start/end dates further out.

3/3/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Very disappointing knowing the quality juice Mark Adams produces. For a Syrah/Grenache blend, it was too light on taste. Even the color was light. Just disappointing.

2/25/2017 - philipmac wrote:

2.5 hour decant. Kept opening even after several pours. Exquisite layering for a 10 year old Cabernet.

2/11/2017 - philipmac wrote:

Best bottle of wine we have ever had. Impressed with dimension of the wine after 17 years. No decanting but a slow pour over 2.5 hours. Exquisite.

12/28/2016 - philipmac wrote:

Nice fruit, dark, layered. Because of age, finally opened up in decanter around hour 5.

12/16/2016 - philipmac wrote:

There literally was no taste to this. I don't know how else to describe it. Wasn't turned by any means. Decanted for 3 hours but the Grenache was simply gone. No layering, no spice, no nothing. Very disappointing. Wasted dollars.

9/17/2016 - philipmac wrote:

It was just okay (88-89). Light fruit; no depth. Decanted 2 hours. Will PNP next time.

5/7/2016 - philipmac wrote:

Way too early for this pup. Fruit is there and struggling to get beyond the forward jolt from the high alcohol. Has potential. Was trying to determine if I'll by more for Russell's "Last Call". As with his wines, they definitely need more time to cellar.

2/27/2016 - philipmac wrote:

Nice out of the gate but felt like it was getting sweeter as time went on.

2/13/2016 - philipmac wrote:

I consider 90 a low score for this flagship wine. Always look forward based on previous experiences, but this one was muted. Not a traditional Syrah-feel. I can't even explain the fruit. Certainly not reminiscent of DWs of yesteryear. I'm going to chalk this up to being too young, albeit decanting was for 3.5 hours. Hopefully my next opening in a few years will yield more promise.

1/9/2016 - philipmac wrote:

Too strong out of the gate. Decanted 90 minutes. Nice but not great. Agree with a few other writes that this is probably at its peak or slight backside. Soft, old vine taste (sweet), but nice spice and layering.

1/2/2016 - philipmac wrote:

Had one previous on 2/21/2015, rated 94 points. Decanted same amount of time, 3 hours. This one was even better as I remember. Torrin is a hidden gem. Pure consistency with their wines. 96-97

12/23/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours. Actually, surprisingly good compared to the CT reviews. Great fruit, soft tannins. Great combination.

9/14/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 4 hours. Wonderfully pleasant. Kept evolving as time progressed. Petit Verdot can be difficult but James Cole has been rather consistent with his productions.

10/10/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Very light in taste. Disappointing. Just not a typical Tensley.

10/3/2015 - philipmac wrote:

I agree with ELH (7/30/15), this bottle screams perfection. Reviewing other comments, I decided to decant for 5 hours. Deep, dark fruit. Incredible balance. Silk finish that kept getting better and better as time passed. True Booker style. We're fortunate we have a few more to enjoy.

9/6/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Very disappointing. They should have not sold to the public.

8/23/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Very nice/smooth. A tad sweater than I like my Syrahs but still very enjoyable.

8/21/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Love Denner but this concrete creation just wasn't their typical standard.

8/15/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2.5 hours. Never seemed to open more as one would have been appreciated. For a Red Mountain Cab-Bordeaux blend, this was just simply not good. Heard a lot of Mark Ryan, but not getting it, particularly after viewing CT scores of his other wines don't look great either. Will stay away.

8/14/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Really was surprised by this. Purposely decanted for 2 hours because of youth. Kept opening 2 hours later. Simply beautiful. Great depth. Silk. Incredible fruit layering. Russell rocks!

8/5/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Simply put: absolutely incredible. Smoky, graphite, eloquent fruit - pure balance. Best Hoage we have ever had.

6/15/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Absolutely wonderful. Decanted for 4 hours. Still opening up. Much better than last bottles we opened. Maybe this bottling just needed more time.

6/7/2015 - philipmac Likes this wine:

We really enjoyed. Earth and minerality with wonderful fruit layering. Decanted for 90 mins. Commented that Bryan is consistent with his Terroir Pinots from Santa Rita Hills. 92-93.

3/14/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted 5 hours but kept opening during pours. Pure silk; wonderful fruit. This continues to be an inspiring vintage.

2/21/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Opened up even more over the next 2 hours. Just Torrin-wonderful, as usual.

2/15/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Truly delightful. Perfect opening window as limited need to decant.

1/31/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Bouquet seemed muted but the texture and finesse of the fruit was incredible. A smokey Grenache.

1/29/2015 - philipmac wrote:

This is a lighter weight Cab from their previous releases. I can relate to others regarding their disappointment for not getting the depth or concentration, particularly at such a price point for a Napa Cab. I took a gamble by still decanting for several hours. Albeit light, it still had remnant descriptions of previous vintages. The fruit was actually quite rewarding. Six hours later it still was opening. I'm relieved to know the cost wasn't a total waste; confirmation that I'm glad no later vintages were purchased.

1/25/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Nice but a little lite on depth. 89-90

1/16/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Ended-up being decanted for 4 hours. It was still opening-up at hour 6. Very consistent with what we experienced a year ago with last bottle. True to winemaker's notes regarding layered blackberry and raspberry flavors with licorice at the end.

1/10/2015 - philipmac wrote:

Had one December '14. Made a note it needed at least 5+ hours of decanting from being in cellar. This one was decanted for 6 hours - absolutely wonderful. Great depth/fruit. Soft.

12/5/2014 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted 3 hours. Just really good. 93-94

11/22/2014 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted 4.5 hours. Kept opening by hour 6. Wonderfully layered. Still youthful.

11/21/2014 - philipmac wrote:

Decanted for 2.5 hours. Not as good as other Hilltops. Cellared since its release, its probably reaching its plateau.