Gorgeous perfumed nose.  Deep ruby color "that would make Dorothy's slippers jealous" is how one cellartracker note put it.  Decadently lush but yet still regal black fruit, plums and loads of cocoa.  A really long, smooth finish.  No detractors whatsoever.  96 points  Ardeis

Ever respected, this Ornellaia (2009) is a superb effort and drinking at its peak right now. Deep purple color, the nose is fruit-intense with almost a port-like plumbiness that continues on to the palate. Other dark fruits and currant mingle then slowly depart leaving spice and pepper to caress and linger on the substantial finish. When served with pasta and red sauce, the acidity of the sauce balances beautifully with the wine. Then, after the meal, the wine further softens in the glass to velvety sophistication. The price may have softened since release making this a wine worth finding. 95 pts by my reckoning. 

Eric D. Weston, MD

1985 Leoville Las Cases. This wine was stored and re-corked at the winery since bottling. I decanted it for about 30 minutes. The nose had pleasant fresh strong floral notes. Almost unexpected for a 30 year old wine. On the palate the tannins were silky smooth and as well integrated as I have ever experienced. The fruit was excellent and might have been confused for a younger wine. Body was on the lighter side and the finish medium-long. Drinking window is now. A great wine I would rate 96 points.  Jerry G. 9/15.

 

1994 Moss Wood  Cabernet, Western Australia

 

Purchased from a private collector in Sydney.  Amazingly fragrant nose of crushed fruit, very fleshy.  Palate rose and rose filled with all the flavors of a just out-of-the-oven blueberry pie.  Jiucy, macerated berries and baking spices.  Soft, sweet balanced tannins that carried the finish but then just quietly faded away. Perfect harmony start to finish.  95 points  

 

 

2010 Hundred Acre "Kayli Morgan" Vineyard Cabernet

Sourced from property just North of St. Helena at the base of Howell Mountain in very clay soils.  100% cabernet.  250 cases.   

Rich, expansive nose.  Ruby red color.  Lush, layered palate of red licorice, sweet cranberries.  Heavily spiced with paprika and other exotic flavors.  Some orange peel and violets as it unfurled.  A long, long finish with  melded tannins.  Professional notes suggest despite it being great to drink now, it can age 20-30 years?  Would be hard to cellar a bottle like this more than a few years.  94 points

 

2004 Clarendon Hills "Hickinbotham" Cabernet

(McLaren Vale, Australia)

 

A very aromatic, delectable nose of rich, black fruit.  Dense, layered, jammy cassis and black licorice with notes of spices.  A flinty, graphite tannins that meld perfectly with the fruit.  A long, long finish with terrific balance.  Perfectly in it's optimal drinking window now (12/14).

 

95 points

2004 Casanova di Neri "Cerretalto" Brunello

Superb wine. Blackberry and other dark fruit. Big bodied with powerful tannins that could soften for many  more years although they are very enjoyable today for people who like younger wines. This is my favorite Brunello of all times.  98+.
Reviewed by Jerry Goldin. 

2007 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" 375 ml

Upon pulling the cork I was rewarded with that full fruity aroma of this New World masterpiece. The nose was dense with a fresh aroma of fruit that carried me to the first taste that exploded with richness. The initial intensity of dark fruit and cherry evolved over the next hour to a harmonious integration of fruit, spice and pepper with expansive plush tannin and muted acidity. The finish lingered. As much as the meat (really any meat will do) evoked an intensification if the effect (umami), a morsel of chocolate sealed the deal. Note the heavy sediment in this relative youngster. If you don't like your wines chewy, decant.  94 points.