4/10/2023 - Dako Likes this wine:

Still a youngster but showing spectacularly well with medium dark fruit and rarely found sous bois note in California wines. Will hold last bottle for at least 5 years.

2/17/2023 - Dako Does not like this wine:

Drinkable, but rustic and muddled.

2/12/2023 - Dako wrote:

Kind of shocked how taut this seemed even for the '08 vintage, and frankly a lack of both depth and of the spice notes I would have preferred. Made the '11 of the exact same wine consumed two nights prior seem outright voluptuous!

1/17/2023 - Dako wrote:

Certainly well-made with linearity and spices but just too taut at present to get a full benefit of that. Will not be opening another of these for at least two years.

10/23/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

This is finally putting on a little weight--the first bottle of this I've honestly enjoyed.

10/15/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

Needed two applications of the Durand to fully remove the completely destroyed cork, but what a stunner awaited. Terrific depth and length with somewhat more black than red fruit but plenty elegant all the same with no overt oak spice whatsoever. Can't imagine this will ever drink better but guessing it will stand up here for years to come.

9/16/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

An absolute knockout. One never could have guessed by the super deep purple color it was anything other than a Cali cab, and for sure it was perhaps more voluptuous then elegant but what pleasurable drinking.

9/14/2022 - Dako wrote:

As gorgeous a big Cali cab as I've had in recent memory. Seductive deep blue and red fruits without being jammy and very fine tannins with complete integration of oak.

4/3/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

Gorgeous red fruit with rounded tannins--delicious and elegant at the same time. The finest Morey I can recall ever drinking.

3/12/2022 - Dako wrote:

On the oaky and rustic side. Certainly drinkable, but not a lot more than that.

2/8/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

Very interesting coming on the heels two nights earlier of an '01 Screaming Eagle as the two offer as far different an experience as can be found in high-end California cabernets. As opposed to perfect but not overly lush fruit of the latter, the Togni exhibited plenty of higher toned black and red fruits but overshadowed by an exuberant brambly backbone, making for a bracing, untamed pleasure.

2/6/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

Floral left bank Bordeaux nose but nothing like it on the palate. Extremely pure driven blackberry fruit but by no means overly hedonistic. No residual oak. This is in a pretty perfect place and hard to envision a more enjoyable Cali cab.

1/15/2022 - Dako Likes this wine:

An absolutely brilliant showing, all elements resolved and in harmony; no idea how long this will go but unless you've got an academic curiosity about that, I wouldn't wait.

12/12/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Not a lot of spice but absolutely terrific fruit and uber easy to drink. This is an outstanding village and in its prime.

12/4/2021 - Dako wrote:

This one is easy to guess as St. Emilion as fruit dominated but a little clumsy without any real floral elements. Plenty of structure here even though that might be attributable to oak still not being fully integrated. So an okay one to drink right now but will see if remaining bottles get better but not holding my breath.

12/2/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Easy to drink with moderate acidity and just enough fruit. And good value here so an ideal aperitif.

11/30/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Really high-toned red fruits and airy and spicy at the same time. Super energy. Think this should be a long runner but really enjoyable right now

11/28/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

This was the best showing of this wine for me, surprising amount of energy for a 2007 with pronounced albeit not deep red fruits and a lengthy enough finish. A real pleasure.

11/22/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Found this to be surprisingly elegant with relatively dark red fruits and super accessible. Also easily topped '11 Boudots from two other producers consumed over the course of the week.

11/15/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Some pretty, high-toned red fruit here. Still not the body one would hoped for, but has picked up a little weight since previous bottle. Perhaps of note there is no element of greenness.

10/16/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Really good with deep and expressive fruit, particularly for a villages level wine. There was zero notice of the lack of added sulphur in that this was super fresh. And absolutely delicious.

9/17/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Not lush but not green, just a slightly short finish following some very nice floral and spice elements underlying some pretty (red) fruits. Impressive particularly for the vintage.

9/14/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Pure fruit and spices kept in classic balance, understated just enough for a truly elegant experience; maybe this one runs forever but can't picture this drinking any better than this bottle did on this night.

8/13/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Surprisingly still plenty fresh with attractive and pure forward red fruits, although absent any garrigue elements. An altogether delicious drink, and while these might easily ask a bit longer, there is no reason to wait expecting better.

7/23/2021 - Dako Does not like this wine:

Something quite wrong here, at least with this bottle--my only one.

6/23/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

This was really singing on this occasion. Seemed fuller than prior bottle but still elegant. The best drinking experience I've ever had with a Potel.

6/12/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Waited nearly two years after the overarching acidity of the first bottle scared (or was it scarred) me. Whether it was due to being on the heels of a hot day or the extra time in bottle, this became an enjoyable aperitif once the same shock of the first sip rang through. Actually a pretty pure wine within its unique category and it makes one wonder what a vintage with a little more balance might produce.

6/10/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Light bodied red fruited and light acidity make for a delightful summer Burgundy. Probably in the center if not peak of its drinking window.

6/7/2021 - Dako wrote:

Plenty of fruit but a tad too rustic to really enjoy.

6/6/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

What a gorgeous wine that could hold its own against the best of Left Bank Bordeaux and give that bit of extra fruit on the palate without giving up any elegance. Clearly a wine that was meant to be aged and the payoff is delivered. Just a shame that for whatever reasons, not much like this seems to be made in California these days.

6/6/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Plenty of red and black pinot fruits and plenty of power but also surprisingly super-elegant for an MSD premier. This is one terrific burg.

5/27/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

The color is the deepest, darkest purple in memory, let alone for a 19 year-old wine. About as dense on the palate with super-ripe blackberry and uber soft tannins. Quite the masterpiece for what it is.

5/27/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

More full-fruited than most any bourgogne in memory...a very easy drink indeed and quite the surprise at the 12 year mark, certainly a testament in part to the vintage.

5/23/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Completely crumbled cork but without effect on the wine. Most notable were the super-soft tannins, so very easy to drink with pretty straightforward fruit without much nuance. Not quite elegant but for an NSG it certainly wasn't rustic.

4/25/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Still very much at its peak and outstanding balance of fruit, tannins and just enough acidity to keep it a pleasure throughout the meal.

4/7/2021 - Dako wrote:

Super rounded, beautiful fruit with plenty of lift. Absolutely gorgeous wine and one of my favorite drinking experiences in recent memory. Bought at the domain in 2008.

1/31/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

A really brilliant wine, gorgeous dark red fruits and in perfect balance with its acidity. An example of how the very best show up even in a less regarded vintage.

1/26/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

Surprisingly lush for the vintage with a bit of spice elements. Very easy drinking.

1/13/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

A wonderful mouthful of boysenberry and soft tannins. The terrific 1995 Cali cab vintage finally beginning to lose its grip and give way to full maturity at age 25.

1/12/2021 - Dako Likes this wine:

High-toned and elegant, perhaps almost too much to so with quite restrained red fruits but also restrained acidity. Lacking in spice elements but all in all a nice drinking experience, just not for me on most occasions.

12/9/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Found this to be classic cranberry Chambolle although needed quite a bit of time and a meal in order to let go of what at first seemed a little unbalance of acidity vs. fruit.

12/3/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Somehow notably more reticent than prior bottle and simply did not let go during the hour after opening. Plenty of elegant red fruit but acidity to match and then some on this occasion. A classic Burgundy lover's wine but after this experience will wait another year for the next one.

12/2/2020 - Dako wrote:

Totally spent, poured down the drain.

11/19/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Really deep dark fruit and powerful earthy and spice elements at work here to make for as gorgeous a masculine burgundy as I could ever hope to drink.

11/18/2020 - Dako wrote:

Surprisingly still fresh 10 years in with just ripe enough sour cherry elements but this is quite dilute and would certainly would have been mistaken for a reasonable quality Bourgogne.

11/9/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

A bit bigger of a Bordeaux than expected but suppose indicative of the vintage but an absolute stunner with a gorgeous floral nose as well as on the palate.

11/7/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Deep crimson color; deep red raspberry fruit; tannins very softened with acidity well intact making for a pure long finish. Hard to recall a more balanced zinfandel.

10/28/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

A bottle directly from the winery in April of 2001 and cellared since then. Rich black fruits and completely rounded tannins almost to a fault made for a wonderful first 1/2 hour; however thereafter began tasting a bit stewed. Would not hold on this any longer

10/23/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Oh my, one of the greatest barolo I've ever had the pleasure to drink. Beautifully classic nose and literally burgundy colored yet no bricking at all and what focus and finish. Would think the other bottles will be a great example of evolution in the years to come.

10/23/2020 - Dako Likes this wine:

Very pleasant lemon-lime element and plenty crisp yet without overarching acidity for its relative youth. First had this from barrel with Blair in Savigny and it was love at first sample. Bought as soon as it was available in the U.S. Another bit of great work by him and am selfishly sorry he has sold as this is among many of his really well-priced wines.