John Kemper

9.4

An opaque red/purple, the '00 Ojai Syrah '50% Roll Ranch 50% Bien Nacido' is richly scented with black raspberry, ground pepper and dark cherry notes. Powerful mouth-coating flavors of ripe black fruits with spicy cracked peppercorn accents then flood the palate. The fully-rounded and well-integrated tannins make the lingering finish lip-smackingly delicious. — 10 years ago

Diedra West

9.1

Diedra had this 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

Only 292 cases produced very dark berry fruit blueberry pretty floral notes dark spices with a chewy texture ripe and round tannins same block every year 1 acre that is it for this wine they have 50 acres they sell 90^ of fruit most excellent — 11 years ago

Benjamin Silver

9.7

Old Vine Carignane planted in the 30's, 40's & 50's - Buchignani Ranch. House Block. — 13 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.2

A very juicy merlot with lots of plum and cherry fruit they own three vineyards Stanley ranch 60 acres they purchase 50% of their fruit they use. A good amount of ripe berry and plum fruit with notes of herbs and peppery spice a good amount of fruit for a 2011. Excellent! — 10 years ago

Jim Daunais

9.0

For under $30 drinks like a $50+ NAPA Cab - amazing consistency across vintages, the folks at Halter are only getting better and better. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

50-100 years old 3500kg per liter very small under2tons per acre 100% new barrels better for barrel fermentation deep dark earth soy espresso dark berry and plum fruit meaty dark and wild animal very aromatic black licorice 2010 the best vintage ever2008amaxing next to 2005and of course 2004 very rich and well endowed on the palate very round and silky tannins a big but well balanced wine lots of dark spices and fresh on the finish dark spices and some wild animal like but has lots of fruit earth and dark earth with layers of everything here and in balance. Finish 50+ most excellent — 12 years ago

Uli Klumpp

9.1

Another fine SCM Cab Franc specimen - liked it as much as the 1993. Tasted on two occasions almost two years apart, no signs of exhaustion yet.
Winemaker's Comments: 75% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, Bates Ranch. Raspberry fruit bouquet with black pepper undertones. Rich, elegant, complex. Round balance, lingering finish. Aged in 50 gal. American oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. Only 56 cases produced. Bottled March 1994. — 11 years ago

R Mara

9.6

Dry, full body, need to open 1/2 hour before to really be ready. Smooth no burn or acid. Deep color, more fruit/ berry not so much chocolate. It is a 50 to 60 dollar value IMO — 11 years ago

Beth Rodi

9.5

Only 50 cases a year. Just stayed there too and was so blown away by this wine! — 12 years ago