Marcus O

9.8

Dark Ark- very good right out of the bottle without decanting. — 7 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.3

Another favorite of the trip, it has all the toasty butterscotch goodness you want, cut by mineralogy. — 9 months ago

Ross Bathgate

9.7

Magnificent. Has gained weight with age while retaining the gorgeous fruit and brambly spice. Nat White is a genius. — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Just love this wine, great value, can’t get enough! Belle Pente (bell-pont') means "beautiful slope" - for their 70 acre hillside vineyard & winery site in Willamette Valley. Bright Ruby red with aromas of red fruits, herb spices and hints of blossom notes. On the palate strawberry and cherry flavors, slight sweet undertones, herb notes and smooth tannins. Well balanced on a long finish ending with mineral herb notes. Nice!! Great value. — 4 years ago

Ming L

8.9

Pretty bottle, beautiful wine. Slightly ripe black fruits, cedar, bacon, cocoa, green tea, and hint of vanilla. Compact but soft. Juicy finish. 518 cases made.
One Acre. One Man. One Wine. The story of Acre wines and One Acre wines is quite interesting. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Family-owned and operated since 1985, from a small, 30-acre plot of grapes to the present 20 estate vineyards, Don and Rhonda Carano's success is based on their commitment to quality. Tried this about a test ago, consistent notes. Dark fruit aromas with cedar and spice notes. On the palate, Blueberry and Plum flavors, a bit jammy, with espresso and cacao tones. Medium body, soft tannins, nice balance on lingering finish. Great value! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located just east of St. Helena in Napa where Conn Creek flows out of Howell Mountain. Their 26 acres of vineyards are in the heart of this 40-acre grape-growing paradise. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot. A big wine with complex fruit and spice aromas. Juicy black berry fruits, with underlying smooth sweetness combined with smoke, spice and oak. Well structured, tannins still tight, gave in after 90 minutes, ending with earthy pepper character. Enjoyable now but let it sit in cellar. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A blend of 40% Corvinone, 30% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, remained indigenous grapes derived from 18-acre vineyard, grapes dried for several months using appassimento method. Deep Ruby with with aromas of dried fruits with pepper and smoky floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry and cherry flavors, savory, with citrus, tobacco, cacao and floral notes. Soft ripe tannins, chewy on long finish ending with a juicy fruit and oak spicy floral character. — 8 months ago

John W

9.4

Dark ruby coloration. Some translucency- classic Pinot appearance. On the nose, cherry, dark berry, plum, forest floor, earth, and minerals. On the palate, cherry, plum, dark berry, cola, fruit forward. Jammy. Nice medium to full body with velvety mouthfeel. Nicely balanced tannins and longish finish. — 9 months ago

David Walser

9.2

Improving with age. Nice Zin that’s not like a typical Zin. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

These can be polarizing wines due to their massive and rich profile, but they are certainly decadent, delicious and approachable young. That being said, this was probably at peak 3-5yrs ago. It didn’t seem tired, but the fruit has started to show some sappy qualities, as well as baked fig and cherry liqueur. Stewed black cherries, dark chocolate dipped blueberries and ripe blackberries. It drinks with good acidity and tannin, as well as cinnamon, graham cracker and more liqueur type notes at the finish. Still hedonistic in style. — 4 years ago

Josh

8.9

Nice sweet red with a quick dry finish. Notes of black cherry. — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

The score is very dependent on how you approach wine. Being that this is 18%ABV, you have to look at other aspects of the wine at 17yrs old instead of focusing on the heat. Love their Roenfeldt Rd Shiraz.

Followed over two days, consistent on both. Color is still incredibly dark red, hardly any bricking. For the ABV, it doesn’t come across hot aromatically…little coconut from the American oak, prunes, soft baked fig, uber ripe red and black fruits. On the palate, it’s richly textured showing mixed berry pie, blackberry preserves/jam initially before it channels a port-like liqueur finish. Initially had with TX smoked pork and brisket, the pairing was exquisite. — 9 months ago

Rick Wolfen

9.8

At the Hollywood Bowl. Sit down, shut up and savor every sip of this epic wine. Thank you Jason and team! Another amazing wine!! My friends are hogging g it but that’s cool! If you rate this below 95 points you need help!! — 9 months ago

Amber Hall

10

The perfect Pinot! Well balanced, juicy but not sweet. Loved it! — 4 years ago

Bryan Kesting

9.3

Dark red berries, licorice and hint of spice. Good medium body Cab with well integrated tannins. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Est. in 1987, belongs to Champagne Taittinger (personal favorite) considered the concept in 1947 in the mind of Claude Taittinger. 138 acre estate is situated in the Carneros appellation of CA. A blend (changes ea year) of 35% Chard, 62% Pinot Noir & 3% Pinot Gris, aged 3 1/2 years in the bottle. Aromas of stone fruit and toasty spice. Raspberry and peach flavors, complex, with citrus notes in a fine mousse with good bubble flow. Well structured, vibrant lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Will benefit from some aging. — 5 years ago

E & K G

9.3

5 years ago I proposed to my wife at this beautiful estate high up in St. Helena and luckily she said yes! The views were absolutely stunning and the wines have been up to par as well. Although some tertiary notes are kicking in the high 15.1% alc keeps the wine young and fresh as well. The higher altitude of the vines likely works in the wines favor for sure. #happyanniversary — 6 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

Last 07, pop & pour beauty
Jack in the box Fridays rule! — 6 years ago