3/14/2019 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Opened up nicely as the night went along. Lots of dark cherry, blueberry and black plumb on the palate, with the tannins smoothing out with air. A lovely bottle, with plenty of time to develop, but easy to enjoy now.

1/30/2019 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

After about a 45-minute decant, this bottle was in tremendous drinking shape. Dark fruits and chocolate on the nose. Smooth tannins and a long finish from the first sip, but this continued to develop and just get better over the 90 minutes that I enjoyed this. Like all the JBV’s that I’ve had, there is no doubt this has a long life ahead and will continue to develop, but you’ll be happy to enjoy what you have all along the way. The only unhappiness any Saxum has ever brought me is when I realize I’m out.

1/26/2019 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Enjoyed at the final night for Darren’s Restaurant in Manhattan Beach.

Spottswoode is consistently great, and the ‘09 is a prime example...subtle velvety tannins, superior depth on the nose and palate, and a great long finish. The 2009 is still plenty young, with so much life left, but is drinking incredibly well now with a brief decant.

I’m thrilled that I have some left for the future, but I certainly didn’t feel bad about opening this bottle up.

1/25/2019 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Such a great bottle of wine...gave it a couple of hours to breathe (and have an OF) before getting into it. Layered nose of black cherry, pencil lead and dry aged beef. Super dark and inky purple. Gorgeous in the mouth, with loads of fruit and depth cascading over the palate. Nice long finish that lives up to MM and Beckstoffer Dr. Crane expectations and beyond. Really special.

12/25/2018 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Nearly perfect! Wish this bottle would go on forever.

2/23/2018 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Stood up perfectly to a prime NY strip...a great match. Plenty of life left...just starting to get a little bricking at the edges to show some age, but great tannins to play off the fat content of the beef. Great wine from one of Napa’s true “first growth” vineyards.

2/15/2018 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Top-shelf Napa cab. Still lots of life left, bursting with cola, coffee and black cherry flavors. Great now, but plenty of time left.

1/6/2018 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Great bottle. Love the way Cayuse develops over an evening.

4/28/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Pretty flawless. Opened up beautifully over the span of two hours. Very much a typical Rutherford cab. In a very nice spot now, but plenty of life left.

4/19/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Had at The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach with a bottle of 1982 Lynch Bages. Excellent compliment to the tomahawk ribeye. Perfect cork. Opened up beautifully, with floral notes and smooth tannins.

4/16/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Wonderful earthy pinot with very nice dark fruit and licorice notes. Still young, with some room to grow, but plenty good now.

4/5/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Not the best Bryant ever, but quite good, with plenty of life left.

3/20/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Had alongside the Grenache. Two very different, but equally perfect, wines. Matched the tomahawk ribeye perfectly. As with the Grenache, one of the best bottles of wine I've ever had.

3/20/2017 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

One of the best bottles of wine I've ever had. Drank alongside the equally perfect Syrah at The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach. Perfect with the pot roast (don't be fooled...that pot roast will blow your mind). Incredible mouthfeel. Just kept getting better as the night went on.

12/20/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Still deep, dark and bursting with flavor.

12/11/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Vibrant and delicious! Still tons of life left, but drinking well right now.

10/21/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Incredible. Wine of the night!

10/1/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

I love this wine. So bummed that I only got the one bottle in my allocation. Crisp and perfect with the grilled shrimp scampi (Paul Kirk version) that made. Just the the perfect match.

9/2/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Had at Charcoal in Venice...Wine Advisory Board night out. What a treat! Unbelievable...hard to believe was 12 years old.

7/23/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Incredible Grenache. Maybe the best I've ever had. Had at birthday dinner at Hook & Plow in Hermosa Beach.

6/16/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Drank at The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach - stellar wine, still loaded with tannins and fruit. Made for red meat - once the fat coats your mouth, the wine plays off of it so well. Truly a treat.

6/15/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Stunning!

6/8/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Had at The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach, CA. Tremendous wine, outstanding food.

5/15/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Phenomenal. Just an amazing bottle of vino.

4/1/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Probably just at its peak. I will be drinking what I have left fairly soon.

3/26/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Absolutely loaded with apricot and floral notes. Crisp and clean.

3/26/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Hard to imagine this gets any better from here. Excellent.

3/24/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Singing - sad that it's the only bottle of this I have left.

3/19/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Used this bottle to master the Coravin. Delicious vino. Still lots of life in this; will be even better in a few years.

3/10/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Drank at Manhattan Wine Auction Wine Advisory Board dinner. Phenomenal wine. Still so much life left, but drinking beautifully today. Theme of the dinner was Old World vs New World - all GSMs, and this may have been the best of the bunch.

3/5/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Though on the downside, still a very nice well-aged cab with the raspberry leather elements I look for in older cabs. A treat in its own right, and Spottswoode has never disappointed.

2/26/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

I've never been disappointed by a bottle of Muga!

2/25/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Hard to think of how this could be better. Decanted for a few hours and it was singing. In the sweet spot now...

2/10/2016 - rgcanada Likes this wine:

Could hit triple digits in a few years. I'm so happy they put a screw cap on some of them, thus forcing me to open it earlier than I otherwise might. Just outstanding juice. Great right away and just keeps opening up.