3/23/24, 8:33 PM - The coferments that Brad does impart a different structure in these wines. Interesting observation about the accelerated age, as generally I have experienced his wines to go quite slowly on the cellar. I do know that by 2013 David was looking to dial in more elegance and refinement.
1/31/24, 9:50 PM - Does not sound like a flawed wine ...
2/1/24, 7:10 AM - Hi Jim, I am likely going to compare a few of these once the 2021 Vocabulum ships. I may also toss in the Impensata Merlot to look at that component. The real challenge is now the Bettinellis are selling the Ecotone fruit to many clients. It is getting spread out, and there are very few vineyard designates being made now. Accendo, Realm and others end up blending it. The new Abreu Thorevilos is on the old Arns site which is up Glass Mtn Rd from the old site higher on the same face of howell mtn.
1/15/24, 8:38 PM - One of the great wines of the 90s. The La Jota Anniv Cabs are simply tremendous wines that will prove to be some of the best from this period. Some of Helen's best work in my book over the Colgins and Bryant's of the era.
11/28/23, 8:33 PM - We decanted 4 hours on the 13 and it needed it. Excellent and will last many years
10/2/23, 7:25 AM - Decanted for 60-mins, consumed over about another 60-mins. This is a wine that could take quite a bit of air if you gave it the time. Evolved well in an hour + however.
7/27/23, 9:04 AM - Completely amazing that a 12-bottle case was sold at the Singleton Auction in 2000, and even more incredible that these are being enjoyed 23-years later. What a special case, and way to showcase these wines. On my bucket list if I can ever find a good bottle.
7/24/23, 1:33 PM - I am sure finding these 60's-70's BV in Switzerland is like finding pristine 50's Bordeaux in the USA (very difficult). Although they are beautiful masterpieces in many cases. That said, the winery transitioned winemaking away from Andre T. in the early 80's and by 1985 a new winemaker had taken over, and the style of wine began to go through some changes. By 1990 they had transitioned to French Oak, and the vineyard management had lost its way a bit. Farming changes in the 2010's started paying dividends, and a new winemaker named Trevor Durling is making some wines that should wine up among the classics from the BV estate. I highly recommend seeking out the current releases.
7/12/23, 2:04 PM - We poured this PNP and it evolved in glass over about 3-hours. This was done to keep a fairly even playing field for each 09/10 pair.
7/12/23, 2:01 PM - Quite. It is not closed, but definitely less accessible than the 2010 next to it. Brooding would be a good description.
6/11/23, 8:42 AM - Truely had the personality of Trotanoy from Napa. I loved this, and it was one of my highlights from two days tasting
6/10/23, 6:34 PM - Tasted at Wheeler Farm. They decanted about an hour, and it opened in glass about 2 hours after that. Needed a lot of coaxing, but this was the best of the TOR lineup for me. Super expressive VHR
4/29/23, 7:10 PM - Start drinking them, but you should save 1-2 for its 50th.
3/30/23, 7:29 AM - Andy and Austin have made some incredible wines up there. Th 2009 is not to be missed. Might be my favorite site on Prichard Hill in all honesty.
2/22/23, 5:49 AM - The point here is that this is a wine that sits in the old Napa / new Napa middle and is built for the long haul. There is structure and tannin density that is akin to Dunn with some of the flesh of the more modern styled wines from Melka. 14.1 ABV too, so this is not going to have the supple appeal of many $50 Napa cabs that hit the sweet spot for immediate enjoyment.
1/14/23, 7:51 PM - Agree 100% on the overnight opening. Slow oxed my most recent bottle 24 hrs and it really shines with a lot of air. Great flavor delineation.
12/8/22, 8:20 AM - Agreed. The evolution of this wine has been a bit perplexing. Early going it was super sharp and vividly terroir driven, however the astringency is worrisome. Others are speculating that this wine may actually be smoke tainted. Wine Access came out on a recent podcast to say that they test for smoke, but this particular release is a curious case. Interested to see where it goes.
11/6/22, 9:11 PM - These old Ravenswood Pickberry wines (esp. the 86, 87, 91, 92 and 95) remain huge bargains at auction. Definitely a site that put cabernet on the map in the mountains of Sonoma.
8/31/22, 7:26 AM - Gosh, I have had this dinner in the reverse scenario. It was our first date night in a long time (post COVID), and my GI was killing me. I toughed it out and got through dinner and a glass of wine nonetheless. Glad you got to enjoy this beauty. The longevity of these 90's La Jota wines is impressive, and to me they are right behind Dunn in the 90's on HM as the standout producers of the era in that appellation.
8/7/22, 6:09 PM - This is a wine that is worth keeping in the cellar, and potentially worth holding a bottle or two for the very long haul. As I understand it this is young vine stock that is not "ready" for the VHR bottling, and in some cases closer to the flat parts of the vineyard. That said, some great wines that have been made from exceptionally young vines ... 2001 Forman (first vintage after replant took), 1974 Clos du Val (second harvest), 1992 Bryant (second harvest), 1969 Chappellet ... There is a long list of these out there. The only reason we know is because there are people who kept some of the wine in a dark cool corner of the cellar. Enjoy now, but you may be shocked by what you get by cellaring this.
7/29/22, 9:03 PM - 100% agreed on the talents of Brad Grimes, but the 1996 was made by Ric Forman. The mid-90's wines that he made in the early days for David are stellar and have longevity that only the top tier in CA have.
7/29/22, 9:26 PM - The first vintage that Brad made solo were the 2001's. He made the 2000 vintage with Ric's oversight, and that was the first vintage of Thorevilos. Madrona from the late 80's and 90's was made by Ric. There is an interview where Ric discusses aging the first vintages of Abreu in his bedroom!
7/12/22, 8:35 PM - I too am down to a small handful of these bottles, and the wine has never been less than spectacular. The lengthy aging has only opened new gateways in this wine, and I believe that this site and others in the lower foothills of Howell Mountain represent some of the very best terroir in Napa Valley. Watching the fog burn off from Viader is truely special.
6/28/22, 9:41 AM - I decanted 1 hour. Personally, I would say that there is quite a bit of life here. If you love the fruit out front this will be excellent for at least another 4-5 years. For more tertiary development I think 25 yrs will be a breeze for this.
2/2/22, 3:59 AM - The release yesterday was a hard pass. A $325 merlot for your first wine out??? Up to $200 I was in on a Thorevilos merlor, but when I can buy Trotanoy, VCC and Eglise Clinet cheaper there is a problem. Hope the cab makes more sense when it releases.
1/29/22, 9:23 PM - Must be variation here based on the dispersion notes developing. I agree that variation like this is not something I have experienced before in the WA NDA range. I also thought that 2019 Ringer is a residual sugar mess, but Big Ticket was a success for me. Not as good as 18 Yesterday Oakville, but not a JLohr shelf wine by any means. Curious data point. May have to open another soon.
1/30/22, 6:55 AM - I am a pretty objective taster, but feel like a competitive blind is in order here. I standby this one not being generic junk wine.
1/24/22, 12:47 PM - Ouch. I had high expectations, but am giving it a week after UPS to chill in the cellar.
1/25/22, 11:02 AM - Philly I am in the same boat. 2 cases at home, plus 1 case sent to inlaws. Going to feel really burned if this is not a top level NDA wine, but my hopes are getting lower by the day.
1/25/22, 7:25 PM - Happy to report I am very pleased with these. Every single signature of Harlan (in miniature) is in this bottle. Slow ox one of these and just sip over a few hours. Ill be curious in time to compare with 19 Maiden or 19s from To Kalon / VHR and other elite west Oakville sites. Maybe I need to blind it with some higher end wines, but I expect it holds its own even if the oak/extraction are toned back.
1/21/22, 1:12 PM - AGREE 100% most disappointing value wine of 2021 for me
12/6/21, 6:27 PM - Excellent. We need to get together and catch up. I'll ping you to see it up. Enjoy the Jaboulet!
11/20/21, 12:05 PM - Would love your thoughts on other vintages in this range. I love this era of La Jota myself.
11/16/21, 8:10 PM - This is my #1 knock on dominus. Wild variability when you get off bottles. In the 90s my experience has been 1/4 corked or off.
11/16/21, 7:19 PM - 79 is quickly coming up the list of my favorite mature napa vintages. The ripe tannins are so nice.
11/16/21, 7:17 PM - I hope so too. I have heard wonderful things about the 2005, and really want one that is a homerun quality bottle. I'll be seeking out more.
11/11/21, 9:54 PM - This is a huge quality jump on prior vintages. Clearly making this a fully Estate wine is a big deal and deliberate choice by Artemis. We had this at the end of a big Eisele Veritical going back to 1976. No doubt this fits the archetype and for me was better than several vintages of t he first wine under Araujo.
11/4/21, 2:20 PM - One of the few times I felt way oversold on a daily stinker ... this does not cut the mustard
9/29/21, 6:29 PM - Could not agree more. I have enjoyed the Mouton, Gruaud Larose, and La Mission Haut Brion in the past few years.
9/27/21, 7:32 PM - The 76 is extra special however as it is mostly Eisele Vineyard. I would say that even among the older Insignia wines this is a standout. By the 90s this singularity was harder to find.
9/23/21, 1:44 PM - The support group is "Moratorium" over on the CT boards. There are rules to the moratorium, but mostly everyone is there for a blessing and get thier sins justified.
5/5/21, 7:36 PM - Thanks for posting. I cannot wait for this release as this site deserves to be shown in the best possible light. Bella Oaks in the early Heitz era were great, but then you had the Brett tainted wines creep in. Then under Staglin wines seemed like an undercard to the estate wine. New beginning will be fantastic.
5/6/21, 9:36 AM - David Abreu is managing the vineyard now. I expect this could really become one of the best sites in Rutherford.
9/21/21, 10:40 AM - Bought my allocated 3 pack, and the 1.5L were already sold out. This will be gone quick.
9/19/21, 6:33 AM - Send WA customer service a note. They should replace the entire shipment. They did this for me on a shipment that came hot in 2020.
9/1/21, 4:53 PM - Agreed. I thought in similar category to Eisele Syrah and better than relentless. I have not yet had a colgin syrah
7/24/21, 2:53 PM - Lite, the rating (97) on the 2008 does not seem to tell the whole story. The 2011s are not representative of what Cos can do and I am surprised they are showing them. Pop a 2003 and a 2009 to see Cos turned up in volume. I love the 1996 myself.
7/27/21, 1:24 PM - Hahaha. My plan had been cutting futures off at 40 ... 2020 was going to be the end of future's for me as there are no more birth years and I won't likely see the top wines in 2080. I also hear consumption drops off after 75 ....
7/15/21, 9:24 PM - CHAPULIN - Thanks for doing the hard work of opening this. I was so hopeful this would be another top tier NDA cab, and it looks like gold was struck. NQ Philly - I suspect this maybe from the Impensata project made by Nigel. The HM wine from them gets a first release in 2019 vintage and I suspect this cod be the declassified 2018.
7/15/21, 4:53 AM - 100% agreed Sean. My thoughts too.
7/14/21, 10:19 AM - Thanks! It needed 3-hrs in the decanter to open up, but really was accessible young. I remember opening the 2005 on release and it was a wall of tannin. 30yrs easy for this beast.
7/12/21, 9:14 PM - I think a decade is closer to the timeliness here. There is a ton of material in this bottle. I loved it, but have bunkered the rest of the case.
7/12/21, 8:47 PM - Great observation. The 94s I have had in the past year or so have been fantastic. Leo Barton, Evangile and Las Cases all great wines from 94 that are showing well now. Sell for a song too.
5/30/21, 2:33 PM - Perfect summary. So glad we could taste them in different formats a week apart.
5/27/21, 6:51 AM - I have a fairly high expectation when a entry level offering for a winery is $150. Input costs on Pritchard Hill are high, but the resulting product should shine. BRIO is at Napas most competitive price point and there are far better choices. The new ownership understands that they have a great asset and seem motivated to deliver at a higher level.
5/11/21, 7:09 PM - Absolutely. 20yrs is kind of a sweet spot for me. Complexity is into the wine, but oxidation has not taken over. Fruit is still beautiful.
5/6/21, 9:09 PM - Agree 100%. This is a superstar at the dinner table. We all loved this.
4/9/21, 8:55 PM - Good to know! Love the 09 as well. It is going to be a number of years before the full potential of Ecotone is realized. Brad had such a unique relationship with the vineyard and the wines dazzle because he is so intuitive. Abreu clients never made 100% Thorevilos so I think there is a lot to learn. Also looks like Accendo and a few others are choosing to blend it in 2019.
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