Our 11th Year !

Signs of Old Seepage; Wine-Stained Label

$165

WS 89 (5/2003): Very complex in a Bordeauxish style, with layers of earth, anise, herb, currant and wild berry. Well-structured, with a long, complex aftertaste, picking up light oak shadings. Drink now through 2010. 450 cases made.

2004

Lightly Wine-Stained Label; Signs of Old Seepage

$199

WS 83 (10/2007): Chewy and concentrated, with earthy tannins that are dry and astringent, showing little fruit character at this point. This typically needs time to come around, so best to cellar. Best from 2012 through 2020. 290 cases made.

2004

Signs of Old Seepage

$199

2005

Slightly Raised Cork; Lightly Bin-Soiled Label

$225

WS 81 (10/2008): Lean and drying, with herb, sage, loamy berry and tealike flavors and tannins give it a tired feel. Drink now through 2012. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 366 cases made.

2017

$229

2019

Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L)

$269

2019

$595

1992

$249

WA 86-89 (4/1994): After the less than inspirational efforts Diamond Creek has produced since 1985, the three cuvees of 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibit better richness, excellent purity, and deep ruby/purple colors. Nevertheless, for longtime fans of Diamond Creek Cabernet, weaned on the blockbuster, rich, occasionally rustic, but always individualistic and distinctive as well as super-complex and concentrated wines of the seventies and early eighties, there has clearly been a radical change in style. Although the wines may be more elegant and consistent, they are also less interesting. That is not to say they are not good, but anyone who has tasted Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, or 1978, as well as vintages through the early eighties, knows that when mature these wines are riveting examples of California Cabernet Sauvignon. There now appears to be an emphasis on a more sculptured, elegant style.

WS 86 (5/2003): Well-balanced, but coming up shy of complex flavors, offering a subtle mix of herb, currant, leather and spice. Finishes with firm tannins.--'92 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2006. 750 cases made.

1993

Scuffed Label

$239

WS 85 (12/1995): Medium-bodied, intense and tannic, with a modest core of currant, cedar and berry notes. Comes across as lacking richness and concentration.

1999

$249

WS 86 (9/2004): An austere, rustic style that veers from ripe cherry and plum fruit to dry, chewy, gritty tannins, finishing with a mouth-puckering aftertaste and a twinge of bitterness. Fans of bare-knuckle Cabernet will find this most pleasing. Drink now through 2014. 700 cases made.

1999

$269

2015

$235

VM 94 (12/2018): Diamond Creek's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is dark, plush and inviting, almost shockingly so for a young Diamond Creek Cabernet. In 2015, the Red Rock leans towards the darker end of the spectrum, but it is the wine's juiciness and overall approachability that leave the strongest impression. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, new oak and spice all build in this showy, voluptuous Cabernet from Diamond Creek. Antonio Galloni.

2018

$239

2019

$269

1990

Slightly Depressed Cork

$299

WS 90 (2/2001): Dark, rich and concentrated, yielding a complex array of currant, black cherry, olive, cedar and spice, finishing with supple but firm tannins.--California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2009. 981 cases made.

WA 82 (6/1992): I expected the 1990 and 1991 Cabernets from Diamond Creek to perform better. While they are certainly good, they are much lighter than what one has come to expect from this winery. On several occasions recently I have had the 1978s from Diamond Creek, which are among the greatest Cabernet-based wines I have tasted from anywhere in the world. It is hard to believe these current offerings will ever approach the richness and intensity that this estate's wines exhibited from the seventies to the mid-eighties. Could the wines be going through a temporarily awkward stage, or are they being made in a lighter, more easily accessible style? The 1990 Volcanic Hill is much lighter than the 1991, with an oaky, spicy nose, simple, straightforward, medium-bodied flavors, and a surprisingly short finish. I would opt for drinking it over the next 7-8 years.

1990

Bin-Soiled Label

$299

1992

Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L)

Signs of Old Seepage; Nicked Label; Bin-Soiled Label

$225

WS 85 (5/2003): Despite its dark color, this comes across as a bit one-dimensional, with candied cherry, dry herb and earthy-anise flavors that are appealing if lacking in focus and complexity.--'92 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2006. 1,400 cases made.

1996

$850

WS 88 (5/2007): Complex, with an elegant mix of dried currant, sage, herb and tea notes that are still supported by firm tannins. Yet this is developing nice secondary flavors and is ready to drink.--1996 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made.

VM 88-91 (6/1998): Very good deep ruby. Wilder cassis and game nose; a slightly skunky quality dissipated with aeration. Sweet and dense, with strong material. Here the tannins hit the palate earlier, but these are sweet tannins-in complete contrast to the rustic, coarse tannins that characterized these wines through most of the '70s and '80s. The most promising set of barrel samples I've tasted from Diamond Creek in many years. Stephen Tanzer.

2001

$300

VM 96 (4/2023): The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill is redolent of black cherry, sage, tobacco, menthol and licorice. It is the most tannic and brooding of the Diamond Creek 2001s. Readers lucky enough to own it are in for a treat. It’s a superb wine from this era Antonio Galloni.

2005

Slightly Raised Cork; Wine-Stained Label

$179

WS 82 (10/2008): Intensely earthy and leathery, giving it a dry bitter mix of flavors, veering to barnyard. Drink now through 2012. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 845 cases made.

2008