Deborah M

9.3

This wine is still giving everything wonderful. No sign of any age. Full body. Complex. Lingering finish. I just love that it’s a $30something bottle that can stand next to much more expensive bottles. — 3 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

Impactful, linear, a little austere. Chalky, melon, white cranberry, white fig, sage, nettles. — 5 years ago

Scott Soren

9.5

My favorite Brunello producer. Hits the mark every time. Earthy nose of freshness. Palate is driven by sun soaked Tuscan raspberries. Traditional minerals of Sangiovese and some burnt wood. Medium plus acidity will allow this to age effortlessly. Tannins present but quite integrated. Just a beautiful wine — 5 years ago

Mark Geylikman

9.3

Sublime and unexpected. This wine is elegant. Lots of flowers and red/blue fruit on the nose. Cherry, blueberry and blackberry all at ones. Excellent texture with just enough of that rustic feel to set aside into a category of its own. — 6 years ago

.

9.4

Such a beautiful wine. The ripe red and black cherry fruit is just singing at this point and the silky texture in the mid-palate and finish is irresistible. I’m not generally a huge lover of Pinot, but I could drink this all day long. — 7 years ago

Katherine Blatz

9.2

2011 vintage. Opened December 16, 2016. Howell Mountain Cab. Sav. Riva di Ponente apparently translates to "steep bank where the sun sets". The black volcanic rock soil on this 1.4 acre block comes through....fullness, smokey, a bit of pepper notes. Still soft enough to drink without food but it is A great steak wine! — 9 years ago

Sabina Colombeau

9.2

What a trip. So many weird words came up: burnt caramel, raisins, bourbon, nutty, dried mangos, Sherry, bananas foster, plum liquor, orange blossom. Paired amazing with fleur du maquis cheese. — 9 years ago

Lars Miller

9.7

Gorgeous nose of black cherry, then goes down easy. Slight tannins, but wow. Sun dried tomatoes and olives. I love Rhones, and this one is a keeper! — 4 years ago

Laura

8.9

So juicy! Smells exactly like a cherry popsicle, the palate is rounded with tons of fruit too without being boring or cloying. Muy yum. — 5 years ago

Scott Soren

9.3

93+pts. I love this producer. Especially the Rancia Chianti. This Super Tuscan may be one of the best values coming out of Italy. The nose exudes Italy. The palate is Tuscan sun burnt raspberries with the earthy ness that’s traditional to Sangiovese. Still a little tight, but so damn good. — 5 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Singing in the glass with gorgeous aromatics that don’t let on to it’s age. The palate displays more maturity with sun baked cherries, forest leaves, and sandalwood. Grainy tannin with a long, fresh finish of cranberry and faint vanilla.
I don’t picture this getting any better, but there’s certainly no rush with the ‘05. — 6 years ago

Jason Hayes

9.3

Unctuous and beautiful showing wine straight away. Burgundian in style and notes-reminiscent of a Cote De Nuits. Great balance and acidity with dark fruit, cassis and ripe plums. Really, really nice. — 6 years ago

Doctor No

9.0

Lovely, elegant, slightly sun-kissed red fruit, modest but present structure, middleweight mouthfeel. Well-fruited with a touch of spice and earth. Better than an average Bourgogne Rouge to be certain. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.1

Had a different wine in mind yet pulled this one. Just a baby but o' so good! Black jam in the glass. Nose of cold smoked meat, minerals and spice. Light, yet full bodied mouthfeel leads to a sip that has bright red fruits, minerals and spice. That same spice, Chinese Five Spice rolls on the palate with smoke for a long finish that goes on... — 9 years ago

Brandon T

9.3

Light on its feet, with loads of cherries. Started out a bit dusty, but the fruit began to shine after an hour decant. — 5 years ago

Yann Vin Le Breton

9.3

After few hours of opening, very ripe fruit. Dark cherry, fig, dry prune, dark tea, dry leaves. Mouth is round, rich with subtile dark fruits and a nice acidity. Then it becomes more powerful with structure and nice tannins. On the finish we are back in the sunny south. It feels like the sun on the rocks but the nice acidity balance it. Great wine but needs time to open. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I coravined a taste of this last weekend and had my first major disappointment with Ladera. That all changed with a 45 minute decant & food tonight.

This bottling & for many vintages in the early 2000’s was the steal of Howell Mountain producers. I was buying it at Costco for $41-$45. Now & for some time, you can’t find a bottle of this at Costco regardless of price.

The nose as I was decanting it was very perfumed florals with potpourri. Now, the nose sings with the blue & purple fruits that identify wine as a Howell Mountain producer. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet tarriness, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, dark spice, dark chocolate bar, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacular, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and round. The tannins are nicely resolved but, still show baby teeth & tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance are just the other side of peak. Blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, stewed strawberries, raspberries haunt the background, sweet, very dark, tarriness, cherry kirsch liqueur, dark, berry cola, black licorice, dry & fresh herbs-bay leaf driven, limestone, dry crushed rocks, moist clay, softly laid baking spices; clove, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg, black tea, dark spice with comfortable palate heat, dark chocolate bar, expresso roast, dry tobacco, some graphite, soft, used leather with spectacularly floral, candied, fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple, blue florals framed in soft violets & fields of lavender. The acidity is near perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The finish is; rich, round, elegant, sexy, gorgeous, velvety, well balanced and persist endlessly.

Not as outstanding as their 2002 but, very good & still has another 8 years & possibly plus of good drinking ahead. Proper storage of course.

Photos of; Ladera & their beautiful flowered Estate, barrel tasting room, entrance sign with Estate vines & a visual of why Howell Mountain is such a great terroir. It’s above the fog-line and therefore gets more sun than the Napa Valley floor. More sun and cooler temperature at elevation means longer fruit hang time & more even fruit ripening. — 6 years ago

David Koenen

9.1

Pencil lead, black cherries, tobacco, sun dried tomatoes, grilled paprika. Perfectly balanced, delicate and pronounced. Impressive length and depth. Layer upon layer. A perfect blend of ripe, seductive winemaking and classic, old school Bordeaux. Me likes. — 8 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.2

Pear, stone, oak, more spring than autumn. A breezy spring day with a few dry leaves still blowing down the walkway. Buds on the branches. Glad I'm wearing a sweater. Here comes the sun. Another sip... take a deep clean breath. The grille comes out of the shed for that lovely white fleshed fish with lemon and olive oil. Crusty bread. Asparagus. Jazz or just the birds? Me humming? — 9 years ago

Audrey Goodridge

9.0

Beautiful yellow gold colour. Fine mousse. Lots of Chardonnay character. Peach, honey on the nose, refined acidity. Round, creamy body. Complex mouth with honeyed peach and pastry and a long aftertaste. Matured on oak 15months then matured on the lees for 3 years. Happy memories of sipping this on their terrace on the Ave de Champagne in the warm summer sun. — 9 years ago