Professional Ratings

• 98 Decanter
  An impressive effort in the warm 2009 vintage and, as with the 2010, this shows a slightly different profile. Needing a lot of aeration to open up, aromas reveal creosote, blackcurrant cordial, black tea and pot pourri. Layers of blackberry compote and Turkish coffee flavours combine with Earl Grey tea, tar and red bell pepper. The generous texture and viscosity gives this a hedonistic feel, with surprisingly vibrant acidity and tension for its age and vintage. Gorgeous now but drinking well for another decade. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030
• 98 Wine Enthusiast
  A bold, muscular, striking wine with nerves of steel, this offers a dense, demanding array of black fruit threaded with veins of espresso, smoke, tar, tobacco and iron. As it burst with exotic barrel flavor, the fruit seems a bit buried, but time after time these wines unfold over the course of decades into glorious maturity. These are arguably the most long-lived and cellarworthy wines in Washington - if not the entire country. Cellar Selection.
• 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  Opening with soft aromas of crème brûlée, dusty dried blackberries and aged cocoa powder, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon lingers in the glass with a firm nose and alcoholic lift. Full-bodied, the palate is slightly shy and seems to be emerging from the change, as it shows the first signs of mature elements with slightly stewed black and red fruit with a rocky essence and mineral tension, not previously seen in any of the other Cabernets of the 20-year vertical. Over the next year, as this wine fully transitions out of the change, it should continue to drink well through the rest of the 2020s. Decanting is recommended.

• 96 Wine Spectator
  Pure and impressively expressive, with focused currant, plum, blackberry and black olive aromatics turning on the palate to a more complex profile, weaving in coffee, creme brulee and chai tea notes, all wrapped in a polished texture. The finish doesn't want to quit. Best from 2015 through 2024.