Ed Chin

9.3

A nice balance of fruit a touch of bread and zippy acidity — 13 days ago

Shengli Hu

9.2

Rubber hose (blew off over time). Tart lemon lime white peach blossom crushed stone and dried apricot and dried mango. Zesty acidity laced with stony minerality. It is alive in the glass constantly evolving. — 25 days ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

We opened the 2016 La Rioja Alta S.A. Viña Ardanza Reserva. This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha from La Bastida, Spain.

On thr nose there was cherry, plum, strawberry,black currant, anise, leather, herbs, baking spice and forest floor.

On the palate was cherry, raspberry, strawberry, herbs, baking spice, balsamic and anise.

This wine is medium to full bodied with a silky mouthfeel medium+ acidity and medium to medium + fine supple tannins that lead to a long red fruit forest floor finish. Welcome to another weekend and I hope everyone has great plans with wine in mind. Please enjoy the weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This had lots of red & dark fruit, raspberry with good acidity, baking spices, orange peel, mineral & violets. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Quite light ruby , quite light pink watery rim . Quite floral and exuberant nose , with wild strawberry , violet and blueberry notes. On the palate juicy with strawberry , raspberry , spiced cherry , good acidity and nice juicy balanced length , soft tannins . Well made and moreish . Drink now and over the next few years — 4 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Exceptional quality for the price. Bright and deep ruby color. Intense aromas of vanilla, baking spices, black cherry/raspberry and fresh herbs. The same black fruit on the palate along with hints of caramel and chocolate. A nice and long finish. Tangy acidity. Beautiful balance. So much character. Time to stock up! — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Mineral and quite youthful fruit aromas, very good acidity, seems like a leaner vintage, nice cut, medium-long finish, very nice aged California Chardonnay!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

John W

9.0

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, forest floor, plum, cherry, currants, spice and bbq. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, plum, and high acidity right out of the bottle. After breathing some, notes of cedar, minerals, tobacco, and spice, carrying through to a longer finish of cherry, vanilla and mint. Tannins strong but balanced. — 14 days ago

Tyler Felous

9.2

First open, used Coravin on night one. Cotton candy first hit on the nose. Blows off and you get more melon. On the palette, oak, butter, then acidity hits. Too much going on to really enjoy the wine. On night two, much more mellow and enjoyable. More of the oak/butter style while I prefer something closer to Mayacamas/Mount Eden — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Another excellent purchase from the Benchmark Bin Sale. I love these 15-20 year Heitz Napa Cabernets…97 the rule, not the exception. It had perfect storage and is at its peak and will hold for another 1-2 years and diminish over the following 3-5 years.

The nose is floral dark cherry kirsch. Both plums, blackberries, black raspberries, pomegranate, strawberry liqueur notes, steeped tea, red & dark cola/licorice, dark rich earth, sharp, dry herbs, black pepper, dry twig with dark & red fresh & slightly withering florals.

The palate is ripe fruits well balanced with earth. Perfect evolution & integration. Soft, elegant w/ nothing bitty. Dark currents with ripe, leaner, juicy, slightly liqueured; blackberries, black raspberries, late spring dark cherries, both plums, orange rune, raspberries & poached strawberries. Heavy Asian & Indian, dark spices, black licorice/cola, pure anise, steeped, black tea, touch of black olive, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dry tobacco, dry Provence herbs, barrel shavings, dry pipe tobacco/ash, some lead pencil, leathery, moist, grey, volcanic clay, crumbled limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry brush, grilled meats-Châteauneuf-du-Pape characteristics w/ ragging, withering florals that are dark, red, purple, rainfall acidity with excellent; structure, tension, balance, polished finish that does not end. Wire to wire consistency. Lucky to enjoy a well stored bottle of 97 with this age. — a month ago