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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Mon, Jan 26, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2008 and 2008
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 21 Grams |
2008 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Abreu |
2008 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend  |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2011): As Outstanding as all the Abreu wines are, if I had to choose one that stands apart from the others it would be Thorevilos. The 2008 Thorevilos is the most complete and deeply satisfying of Abreu’s 2008s because the balance of fruit and structure is so impeccable. The 2008 literally explodes onto the palate with masses of dark fruit, tar, licorice and smoke. There is a fleshiness and depth of the fruit here that separates the Thorevilos from the other 2008s. Layers of fruit build towards the massive, masculine finish. In 2008 Thorevilos is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 15% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.
VM 96-98 (12/2011): As Outstanding as all the Abreu wines are, if I had to choose one that stands apart from the others it would be Thorevilos. The 2008 Thorevilos is the most complete and deeply satisfying of Abreu's 2008s because the balance of fruit and structure is so impeccable. The 2008 literally explodes onto the palate with masses of dark fruit, tar, licorice and smoke. There is a fleshiness and depth of the fruit here that separates the Thorevilos from the other 2008s. Layers of fruit build towards the massive, masculine finish. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (6/2013): Ultrarich and gutsy, nuzzling up to syrupy, this is a chewy, extracted style that extends the flavors to kirsch, black licorice, blackberry jam, espresso, hazelnut and toffee. Ends with chewy, grainy tannins that give the flavors traction. Drink now through 2026. 350 cases made. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2008 |
Alban Estate Grenache |
$105 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2012): The 2008 Grenache presents an inward yet expressive core of dark red fruit, flowers and Provencal herbs. There is a gorgeous fleshiness in the glass, but the wine needs time to soften and open up. Today, the 2008 shows quite a bit of promise. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. |
|
|
2008 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend |
$140 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2012): Layers of silky, polished fruit flow across the palate in the 2008 Pandora (Grenache). As I noted last year, the 2008 is all about textural finesse and pure beauty. Hints of smoke, anise and crushed rocks frame the long finish. This is yet another marvelous wine from Alban. Pandora is 100% Grenache from the chalky, upper hillsides of Seymour’s. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.
VM 94 (12/2012): (almost all grenache from "a very specific block," according to Alban; 15.9% alcohol): Opaque ruby. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, incense and candied flowers, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and precise, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and weight with air. Closes with impressive energy and cut, leaving mineral and floral notes behind. This wine was aged in French oak casks, two-thirds of them new, for 38 months.
JD 93-96 (12/2011): Tasted out of barrel and a beautifully structured and endowed wine, the 2008 Alban Vineyards Pandora, almost 100% Grenache that spent 36 months in a combination of new and used barrels, was dense and closed at the time of this tasting, yet begrudgingly yielded ripe dark fruits, charcoal, chalk, pepper, and edgy minerality on the nose. Full bodied, yet with notable freshness and acidity, this beauty should be left alone for 2-3 years after release. |
|
|
2008 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (8/2012): The 2008 Reva (Syrah) is stunningly beautiful. This is a relatively delicate, feminine Reva that impresses for its length, balance and utter purity of fruit. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and silky, saline notes wrap around the expressive fruit on the long, polished finish. A hint of truffles adds to the wine’s sensual, totally beguiling personality. In 2008, the Reva is drop-dead gorgeous. Readers should note that, in this vintage, there is no Lorraine or Seymour’s, so the 2008 is a “super-Reva!" Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.
JS 95-96 (5/2012): Love the spice, game and dark berries, yet reserved and austere. Shows form and firmness. Long and beautiful. Should be in market in November 2012.
VM 94 (12/2012): (raised in French oak, 80% of it new, for 44 months; 15.1% alcohol): Glass-staining purple. Sexy smoke- and spice-accented aromas of candied black and blue fruits and potpourri, with a suggestion of black pepper building with air. Lush and expansive on the palate, offering deeply pitched but lively cassis and blueberry flavors and a suave floral pastille nuance. The spicy note comes back strong on the finish, which shows only a hint of tannins.
JD 93-96 (12/2011): The 2008 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard was the only Syrah produced in '08. Showing a lively, more energetic profile than the more heavy weight '06 and '07, it still doesn't lack for structure, depth, or complexity. Showing loads of tapenade, lavender, blood, and black fruits, medium to full-body, and a beautifully focused, pure texture and finish, this elegant Syrah should still benefit from short term cellaring once released. I love the vibrancy here, and it will be interesting to see how this shows from bottle. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2008 |
Krupp Brothers Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Antica Terra |
2008 |
Botanica Pinot Noir |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Arrowood Vineyards |
2008 |
Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2012): Deep ruby. Ripe cherry, cassis, tobacco and vanilla on the nose, with a subtle herbal undertone. Fleshy dark fruit flavors are supported by gentle acidity, taking on spiciness with aeration. Finishes sweet and persistent, with the dark berry and tobacco qualities lingering. This nicely balanced cabernet is approachable now. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Beau Vigne |
2008 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Bethel Heights |
2008 |
Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Betz Family Winery |
2008 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2010): The Bordeaux-styled wines begin with the 2008 Clos de Betz, a multi-regional blend from four renowned vineyards, and composed of 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. It was aged for 16 months in 65% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it surrenders an expressive nose of pain grille, graphite, Asian spices, a hint of balsamic, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it admirably combines elegance with power. It has superb concentration, incipient complexity, layers of fruit, and a lengthy finish. Give it 6-8 years of additional cellaring and then drink it through its 25th birthday.
VM 93 (12/2010): Deep, full ruby-red. Dark berries, licorice, bitter chocolate and graphite on the nose and palate. Densely packed but showing superb energy and lift to the flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder and violet. There's nothing rustic about these classy wines. Finishes with terrific clarity and lively minerality.
WS 92 (8/2011): Firm in texture, with a sense of elegance to the berry and plum flavors, accented by licorice and pepper as the finish lingers effortlessly. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2018. 875 cases made. |
|
|
2008 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (11/2010): (from Red Willow Vineyard) Deep, full bright ruby. Very primary aromas of blackberry and cocoa powder. Dense, thick and very intense, with wonderfully pure fruit-driven flavors of blackberry and loganberry. Offers a superb balance of fruit, acids and tannins. Finishes very long and pure, with lovely aromatic lift and nuance. An Outstanding wine in the making. These 2008 syrahs aged in 50% new oak, but Betz noted he's now using a higher percentage of slightly larger 300-liter barrels, and more Burgundy barrels. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Cote Patriarche was sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley, site of the oldest Syrah planting in Washington dating from 1986. It, too, was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. Dense purple in color (like the La Serenne), it sports a nose of brooding black fruits, lavender, Asian spices, smoked meat, blue berry, and plum. This leads to a plush, full-figured Syrah with well-concealed tannins, excellent depth of flavor, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish.
WS 92 (12/2010): Starts off dense and earthy, but gains momentum with each sip. The ripe blackberry and currant fruit comes gurgling up and taking over. This has fine tannins around a juicy balance, lingering impressively. Best from 2012 through 2018. 215 cases made. |
|
|
2008 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Cote Rousse was sourced from the Ciel du Cheval and Kiona Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. A bit lighter in color but with more mineral and earth notes as well as meaty blue and black fruit aromas, on the palate it is more structured (something for which Red Mountain fruit is noted) but the tannins are nicely integrated behind layers of concentrated, spicy fruit. This lengthy offering will benefit from 5-7 years of additional cellaring and should easily see its 20th birthday in fine form. |
|
|
2008 |
La Serenne Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah La Serenne is sourced entirely from the Boushey Vineyard in Yakima Valley. It is aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it delivers a brooding bouquet of smoke, Asian spices, incense, lavender, game, blueberry, and plum. Dense, layered, and powerful, it manages to maintain a sense of elegance and balance. It has enough structure to evolve for several years and should drink well through 2023. |
|
|
2008 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot sourced from 3 regions and 4 vineyards. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it gives up an expressive perfume of sandalwood, mineral, truffle, espresso, incense, violets, and blackberry. Suave on the palate with well-integrated fine-grained tannins, this sweetly-fruited, dense, layered offering will benefit from 6-8 years of cellaring and will have a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2038.
VM 94+ (12/2010): Good deep ruby-red. A slight element of reduction quickly dissipated to reveal aromas of cassis, minerals, mocha and licorice. Deep, silky and compellingly sweet, but with brisk acidity that's a bit intrusive today. Best today on the firmly tannic, extremely long aftertaste. This superb cabernet boasts a stunning core of sappy fruit, with a licorice note from a bit of petit verdot that gives it a Pauillac-like character. It would be infanticide to open this anytime soon. The finishing breadth and spreading tannins are spectacular for Washington wine. A retaste of the superlative 2007 Pere de Famille indicated that this wine was beginning to shut down in bottle, but its acid/tannin structure gives it the sheer grip for a long and positive evolution in bottle. It will be fascinating to compare these two vintages side by side in seven or eight years.
WS 92 (7/2011): Supple and inviting, a distinctive style that features a strong mineral note weaving through berry and spice flavors, finishing with polish and savory character. This has personality and grace. Drink now through 2018. 950 cases made. |
|
| Robert Biale Vineyards |
2008 |
Black Chicken Zinfandel |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2010): Speaking of the 2008 Zinfandel Black Chicken, it has a beautiful nose of sweet, jammy black cherries and raspberries, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, and an expansive, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel as well as lots of heady glycerin. This full-throttle, lusty, delicious, silky-textured wine cascades over the palate with no hard edges. It should be drunk over the next 3-4 years. |
|
| Bovet (Round Pond) |
2008 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 91 (5/2012): Combines richness with restraint, offering bold, loamy earth, dried berry, licorice and tobacco flavors, tightly wound and firming nicely on the finish, where gravelly tannins take hold. Drink now through 2022. 415 cases made. |
|
| Buccella |
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from multiple fruit sources in Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Coombsville, Oak Knoll and Carneros, was aged in 100% new French oak. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits an opaque purple color, great intensity and a sweet nose of blue and black fruits intermixed with toasty oak, lead pencil shavings and forest floor. Rich, layered and full-bodied with silky tannins, this broad, savory 2008 should drink well for 15 or more years.
WS 94 (10/2011): Remarkable for its complex aromas of roasted coffee, dried herb, dark berry, mocha and sage, yet for all its size this is quite graceful and elegant, even delicate, with a long, tapered finish where the flavors glide along smoothy. Drink now through 2021. 1,185 cases made.
VM 93 (5/2011): (15.1% alcohol; includes 2% each cabernet franc and merlot and 1% petit verdot): Dark ruby. Fascinating nose melds dark berries, licorice pastille, violet, coriander, cumin and mint. Fat and sweet for the year, with palate-saturating flavors of crushed black fruits and minerals. The broad, dusty tannins arrive late and build, but there's more than enough mid-palate sweetness to support them. This is riper and deeper in the bottle than a barrel sample I tried a year ago. Rebekah Wineburg makes this wine, with Celia Welch serving in a consulting role. |
|
|
2008 |
Merlot |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Caldwell |
2008 |
Clone 181 Merlot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Clone 400 Caldwell Vyd. Petit Verdot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Clone 595 Malbec |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Chad |
2008 |
North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Dancing Hares |
2008 |
Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Mad Hatter Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 88 (5/2011): Rustic and rough-hewn, with chunky, cedary, drying oak touches and dried berry, spice, road tar and mineral. Full-bodied and direct at the expense of finesse and refinement. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2019. 1,500 cases made. |
|
| Dominus |
2008 |
Proprietary Blend |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (12/2010): Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years.
WS 94 (11/2011): Very Bordeaux-like in its makeup and structure, this firm wine offers good acidity and tight tannins, delivering complex flavors of loamy earth, vivid dried currant and berry, with anise and mineral notes sprinkled in. My favorite young Dominus of late. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022. 4,500 cases made.
VM 93 (6/2011): (a blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot): Good full red-ruby. Fresher on the nose than the Napanook, showing raspberry, plum, mocha and tobacco aromas. Round and plummy in the mouth, with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of milk chocolate, mocha and licorice. A wine of moderate ripeness for the vintage, and in a shell today. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and notes of plum, mocha and chocolate. I don't find quite the structure or grip of the best years. |
|
| Dunham Cellars |
2008 |
Lewis Vyd. Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Efeste |
2008 |
Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2008 |
Merlot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
One Twenty Over Eighty Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Etude |
2008 |
Temblor Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Far Niente |
2008 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 92 (6/2011): A full-bodied red with lots of character, from spices such as cinnamon to grilled nuts. Plus plenty of fruit. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long rich finish. Turns a little astringent. Give it three to five years of bottle age to soften.
WA 89 (12/2010): Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, this dense ruby/purple-colored 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a slightly muted, restrained set of aromatics (cedar and black currants), but the wine kicks in on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with an elegant style, it is an attractive, stylish Cabernet Sauvignon that appears to be slightly over-priced.
WS 89 (9/2011): Taut and tightly wound, with firm cedar, tobacco, cigar box and roasted herb flavors built around dried currant, mineral and spicy oak notes. Needs time. Decant for now. Best from 2012 through 2022. 10,300 cases made.
VM 88 (5/2011): Bright ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines cherry, currant, chocolate, flowers and fresh herbs lifted by a note of spearmint oil. The juicy palate adds some tobacco and resiny spices to the mix, with a peppery quality contributing energy. The dusty, firm-edged tannins reminded me a bit of 2006, but this has better fruit. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Favia |
2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Figgins Estate |
2008 |
Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2011): The 2008 Figgins Estate Red Wine is the inaugural release of a wine made by Chris Figgins, son of Leonetti Cellar founder, Gary Figgins. The fruit was sourced from the Figgins Estate Vineyard which is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. The wine was aged in 70% new French oak for 22 months before bottling without fining or filtration. A total of 831 cases were produced. Sandalwood, exotic spices, sage, cherry blossom, cassis, and blackberry aromas inform the nose of a dense, rich, elegant, beautifully proportioned wine that has enough ripe, fine-grained tannin to blossom for another 4-5 years. It offers a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2023, perhaps longer. All in all, not a bad debut.
VM 93+ (10/2011): (a blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and merlot, from vines planted by Chris Figgins in 2004 and 2005 on silt and loam soil at an altitude of 1,500 to 1, 750 feet, a half mile east of Leonetti's Mill Creek Upland Vineyard): Saturated ruby-red. Deep aromas of blackberry, licorice, coffee and bitter chocolate. Dense, thick and sweet, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the pungent pomegranate, spice and tobacco flavors. Wonderfully seamless, vibrant wine with terrific underlying structure and a very long, sappy finish featuring sweet, broad tannins. This eagerly awaited inaugural release from Chris Figgins' new venture offers Outstanding quality, particularly for a wine from such young vines.
WS 93 (11/2011): Broad and generous, offering a supple mouthful of mineral-accented blackberry, cherry and mint flavors, mingling effectively on the polished finish. Offers depth and refinement. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Drink now through 2018. 831 cases made. |
|
| Robert Foley Vineyards |
2008 |
Claret |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2010): The 2008 Claret (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has that ethereal nose of spring flowers, boysenberry, blueberry, black currant, and spice. Following that seductive aromatic display, Foley’s brilliance is again exhibited in the mouthfeel of this seamless wine, which has full-bodied flavors, no hard edges, gorgeous layers of fruit, and loads of complexity already, but is still a youthful wine with its best days ahead of it. This is brilliant winemaking, as some of us have come to expect from Bob Foley, and it should age well for 15-20 years. |
|
| Fortunate Son |
2008 |
Naughty Wicked Witch of the West Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Frank Family |
2008 |
Zinfandel |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 88 (12/2011): The 2008 Zinfandel shows excellent depth in its sweet red cherries flowers and licorice. This is a subdued style of Zinfandel, yet the wine’s overall balance is quite good. The blend incorporates 16% Petite Sirah. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. |
|
|
2008 |
Reserve Zinfandel |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Futo |
2008 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Gorman |
2008 |
The Bully Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Grand Reve |
2008 |
Collaboration II Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (6/2011): Showing even better than a year ago, the 2008 Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series II Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, a blend of 40% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 1% each of Viognier and Roussanne, aged in 30% new French oak, delivers a stunning array of blackberry and cassis fruit, roasted meats, leafy herbs, and black olive on the nose. This is followed by a medium to full bodied wine that is youthful and fresh, possessing a seamless, pure texture, ripe tannin, and a classy, long finish. Evolving beautifully and gaining in both complexity and palate richness, this should continue to drink beautifully for another 10-12 years.
VM 90 (11/2011): Good deep ruby. Sexy, musky aromas of mulberry, mocha and pepper. Sweet and spicy, with peppery lift and nicely integrated acidity giving clarity and grip to this juicy midweight. Hints of herbs and menthol contribute complexity. Finishes with firm tannins and very good persistence. Nicely understated wine in a rather French style. |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2008 |
Miljenko’s Old Vine Zinfandel |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hayfork |
2008 |
Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Honig Cellars |
2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (12/2011): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon emerges from the glass with scents of tar, smoke and graphite. It shows more depth, freshness and overall structure than the 2009, with plenty of energy and focus in its fruit. The final blend in 2008 includes 4.5% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Januik |
2008 |
Champoux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Reserve Red Wine (1.5 L) |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| James Johnson Vineyard |
2008 |
Bisou Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Jones Family Vineyard |
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Lancaster |
2008 |
Estate Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| O'Shaughnessy |
2008 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
11 |
|
| |
|
| Casa Piena |
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Realm |
2008 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2010): A brilliant wine (as one might expect, given the source for the raw material) is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, with the Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the famed Clone 6. This wine (like so many wines from this parcel that is basically a gravel pit) has a very flinty/hot rocks sort of character to the cassis and blackberry fruit, a common element no matter who makes wine from this site. This wine from Realm is like Napa Valley’s version of La Mission Haut-Brion in Bordeaux. It is full-bodied, powerful, flowery, and at the same time, thick, rich and powerful. Giver it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 25+ years.
VM 92+ (5/2011): (96% cabernet sauvignon with 4% petit verdot): Good medium ruby. Black- and redcurrant, licorice, bitter chocolate and a musky cedary note on the nose. Juicy, intense and fruit-driven, with complicating smoke and mineral nuances. Offers subtle sweetness but comes across as a bit medicinal and bound-up today. Broadened nicely with aeration but this cabernet needs time. Today the dusty tannins are less refined than those of the To Kalon. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 92 (8/2011): Firm and intense, yet gushing with rich blueberry, blackberry, plum and cassis flavors. Shows great density and concentration, along with a supple lining in texture, finishing with hot stone and pebble notes and a burst of fruit. Best from 2013 through 2022. 145 cases made. |
|
|
2008 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2010): From Clone 4 and Clone 337, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is the equivalent of a Bordeaux first or second growth. Sweet creme de cassis notes intermixed with some white chocolate, cedar wood, fruitcake and spice box are all present in this deep bluish/purple-colored wine, which also has hints of lead pencil shavings and tobacco leaf. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and intense, this wine should drink well for at least another 20-25 years.
VM 93+ (5/2011): (like the Farella bottling, this is 100% cabernet sauvignon): Bright medium ruby. Deep, soil-driven aromas of currant, smoke, mocha, milk chocolate and nutty oak. Like liquid silk in the mouth but with enticing minerally lift. Boasts terrific depth but this rich, tactile wine is still a baby and is not yet showing its inherent complexity. Spreads out to dust the entire palate, finishing long, subtle and very suave, with serious but thoroughly ripe tannins. There's nothing heavy or overly sweet about this beauty. Really reverberates on the aftertaste. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 89 (7/2011): Pure and focused, featuring a complex mix of ripe plum and black cherry flavors, with a touch of anise and black licorice notes. Full-bodied, firming on the finish, this shows a chalky edge. Best from 2012 through 2021. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 225 cases made. |
|
|
2008 |
The Bard Proprietary Blend |
$100 |
1 |
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| VM 91+ (5/2011): (14.9% alcohol; 81% cabernet sauvignon with 13% petit verdot and 6% malbec): Full ruby. Reticent but pure aromas of black cherry, cassis, menthol and woodsmoke. Lush and sweet on entry, then a bit youthfully clenched in the middle, with bright acidity framing the purple fruit, chocolate and licorice flavors. In a tougher and more obviously tannic style than the Falstaff bottling and in need of at least three or four years of bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
The Tempest Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
3 |
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| WA 94 (12/2010): The 2008 The Tempest (a blend of 50% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot) is a tribute to the Right Bank wines of Bordeaux. Its opaque purple color is followed by abundant aromas of graphite, white chocolate, blackberries and cassis. This is an extraordinarily endearing wine, already irresistible, and it should drink well for at least a decade or more. Virtually all of the grapes came from the Stagecoach Vineyard in the hills east of Oakville, with a small quantity of Petit Verdot coming from the Dr. Crane Vineyard in St. Helena. |
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| Mark Ryan |
2008 |
Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
1 |
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2008 |
Dead Horse Red Wine |
$51 |
8 |
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| VM 92+ (12/2011): (a five-variety Bordeaux blend based on 62% cabernet sauvignon): Good deep red. Aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, minerals and pepper lifted by violet. Pliant, concentrated and sweet; lush and tactile but at the same time firmly built. Finishes with strong but integrated tannins and a serious structural underpinning. Very impressive. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
4 |
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| VM 93 (12/2011): (an 83/17 blend of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot; a selection of six barrels): Good deep ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, licorice and violet on the explosive nose, plus a strong element of minerality. Sweet, lush and concentrated, but with excellent energy and lift to the fine-grained flavors of dark berries, roast coffee, violet and minerals. This really saturates the mouth with flavor. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins, outstanding intensity and impressive length. Great fruit here. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Byd. Red Wine |
$51 |
3 |
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2008 |
Water Witch Klipsun Vyd. Red Wine |
$55 |
1 |
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2008 |
Water Witch Red Mountain Red Wine |
$55 |
3 |
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| WA 92 (10/2011): The 2008 Water Witch is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 2% Malbec sourced entirely from the Klipsun Vineyard and aged in 92% French oak. Toasty oak, earthy mineral, lots of spice, violets, black currant, and blackberry aromas set the stage for a large-scaled, voluminous, structured wine with layers of savory fruit, 3-4 years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish. Its drinking window will extend from 2014 to 2023+. |
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| Sawyer Cellars |
2008 |
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon |
$30 |
3 |
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| Schrader |
2008 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$350 |
1 |
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| WA 98+ (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Schrader, which comes from Clones 4, 6 and 337, is slightly more structured and perhaps not as velvety as the CCS or RBS. Again, blue fruits, black fruits, camphor, charcoal and burning ember characteristics are presented in a full-bodied, powerful style that balances intensity with elegance and an uncanny equilibrium. This is another stunning wine that should benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25-30+ years. |
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2008 |
G III Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
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| WA 97 (12/2010): The 2008s were bottled in early summer, 2010. From the Beckstoffer Vineyard, the opaque blue/purple-colored 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon George III Clone 337 rocks out of the glass with brilliant aromas of creme de cassis, Christmas fruitcake, cedarwood, licorice and incense. The wine is deep, full-bodied, dense and concentrated with outstanding purity, texture and length. It is approachable now (one of the seductive characteristics of these wines) yet is capable of lasting 25 or more years. |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2008 |
The Duel Syrah Cracked Wax Capsule; Heavily Bin-Soiled Label |
$399 |
1 |
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WA 99 (8/2013): A prodigious effort that possesses overflowing richness and depth, the 2008 Syrah The Duel (88% Syrah, 6% Grenache and 6% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard) delivers an off-the-hook drinking experience with decadent cassis, blackberry, smoked meats, crushed flowers and hints of spice all soaring from the glass. A full-bodied, unctuous Syrah that stays fresh and elegant, with vibrant acidity, it needs a solid decant if drinking anytime soon and will see its 20th birthday in fine form. Drink now-2028.
VM 96 (1/2015): The 2008 Syrah The Duel, from Manfred and Elaine Krankl’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is also impossibly young, with little in the way of flavor development. I typically enjoy the Sine Qua Non reds either upon release or around age ten, so I probably should have followed my own advice. The 2008 is beautiful, but it will clearly be even better in another few years’ time. This is one of the most reticent bottles of the 2008 I have tasted. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (3/2013): Pure, rich and deeply flavored, centered around ripe, restrained plum and blueberry flavors, with touches of spice, cedar, tobacco and crushed rock. Ends with a subtle, detailed aftertaste. Drink now through 2021. 389 cases made. |
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| Snowden |
2008 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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| WA 92 (12/2010): A dramatic upgrade, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve exhibits aromas of creme de cassis, burning embers, licorice and smoked herbs. It ratchets up the body, concentration and depth yet possesses silky smooth tannins and a forward style. This beauty should drink well for 15+ years. |
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| Soos Creek |
2008 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
5 |
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| Sparkman Cellars |
2008 |
Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
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| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2008 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$110 |
3 |
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| VM 88 (5/2013): (75% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 1% malbec): Good medium-dark red. Dark cherry, mocha, tobacco leaf, fresh herbs and a rather intrusive woodsmoke quality on the nose. Fine-grained in texture but with the smoky oak element currently overshadowing red and darker fruit flavors. Owing to its modest sweetness of material, the tannins turn a bit dry with air. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend Lightly Wine-Stained Label |
$129 |
1 |
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| VM 88 (5/2013): (75% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 1% malbec): Good medium-dark red. Dark cherry, mocha, tobacco leaf, fresh herbs and a rather intrusive woodsmoke quality on the nose. Fine-grained in texture but with the smoky oak element currently overshadowing red and darker fruit flavors. Owing to its modest sweetness of material, the tannins turn a bit dry with air. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
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| VM 88+ (5/2013): Full red-ruby. Black plum, licorice, herbs, menthol, cola and chocolatey oak on the slightly medicinal nose. Intense, rather smooth flavors of kirsch and menthol show less complexity today but a bit more energy and richness than those of the '08 Elivette. Still rather tightly coiled and tannic, with more to come with time in the cellar. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Stags' Leap Winery |
2008 |
Ne Cede Malis Petite Sirah |
$40 |
1 |
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| Sterling Vineyards |
2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc |
$30 |
1 |
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| Tensley Wines |
2008 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
5 |
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| WA 96 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah Colson Canyon exhibits notes of scorched earth, smoked meats, blackberries, cassis, and flowers. The complex, northern Rhone-like bouquet is followed by the exuberant, unapologetic, ripe fruit of California. Boasting extraordinary intensity as well as abundant smoky barbecue notes, stunning, full-bodied opulence, and a powerful, layered mouthfeel, this terrific Syrah should drink well for 10-12 years. Fortunately, there are 1,650 cases available. As longtime readers know, Tensley has two wines (200 cases each) that are offered in magnum only. |
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| Terlato Vineyards |
2008 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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| Twomey Cellars (Silver Oak) |
2008 |
Merlot |
$38 |
1 |
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