Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby, slight purple edges, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak, 100% Tempranillo, aged in American oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with licorice, cacao, vanilla and toasty oak tones. Full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! — 5 months ago

Brian S

9.7

Perfection, even in a bad glass. — 7 months ago

Sam Friedland

9.2

Very pleasant, soft tannins — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. A fave CA chard and producer. Medium-medium heavy body. Tasting slightly more tropical and advanced with less acidity than usual. Still absolutely delicious tho. Would like to retaste and reevaluate in 5-6 months tho. Based on 30 vintages of tasting this particular wine, betting it reconciles any tawdry, fleeting concerns that occupy my compromised palate and right quick. 01.22.25. — 9 months ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.1

Dark and rich earth flavors. Very well balanced with good finish. It’s from Livermore not Australia! — 4 years ago

Spencer Dukoff

8.9

Balanced, warm, fruity — 5 years ago

Jennifer Liu

9.2

39.97 from new season. Balanced. Round. Worth the price. Would buy again — 7 years ago

Ned Clark

9.6

Really excellent zin. — 8 years ago

Evan Shumway

9.1

Drinks and smells like a cab — 9 years ago

with Erik

Nicole McLendon

9.5

A little throw back Charleston Wine Festival circa 2014 with my bestie Brooke! — 11 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.2

A big wine in a big bottle that made a big group of friends very happy. The 2017 Evangelho Heritage (from magnum) is energetic with loads of sweet dark fruit. It doesn’t lack zing even though this year’s blend is short in Carignan — there are nice balancing acids and mild tannins. It is richer and riper than many vintages but still vibrant. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened with the help of a Durand; cork was 4/5 saturated but did its job! Color looked fantastic so I poured slowly into a wide bottom decanter and enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1989 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruit: black cherry, fig, brambles, leather, mushrooms, cedar box, earth, cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This was a lovely showing by a perfectly cellared bottle. Drink now through 2029.
— 6 months ago

Todd Anderson

9.3

This is drinking really nice right now. Great mature fruit. Drink while it's at peak. Very nice upside surprise on a regional (vs vineyard) designated wine. Prost! — 9 months ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Lots of Fruit — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Brent Clayton

9.3

Wow! Tart dark red cherry. Opaque ruby color, still opening up. — 4 years ago

with Eric

John Osgood

9.0

Good Cali blend — 6 years ago

Jay Root

9.1

Peppery, acid, lighter on the fruit. This would pair really well with chili or a similar dish — 7 years ago

Nathan Timm

9.5

To the tune of "play that song" - "drink that wine, the one that tastes oh so fine." — 9 years ago

with Kim

Michael Washabaugh

9.1

Paired well with a lamb, eggplant purée, fava beans, piquolo pepper. Would also pair with a medium rare magret duck or other game. — 10 years ago

Rachael Ryan

Sommelier Quince Restaurant

9.8

Always surprised by these wines. Incredible concentration and still lively. — 12 years ago

Mary H

9.0

Well-made single varietal cabernet grown near Monte Bello. Smooth blackberry and graphite. Round and medium weight mouthfeel. Less complexity given the single varietal but made with finesse. — 5 months ago

Bill Mowry

8.9

Vanilla nose with some acid and minerality. Lemon and citrus flavors paired well with salmon. — 5 months ago

with Cristian, Lou and 1 other

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 7 months ago

Matt

9.4

Love the high Merlot % this vintage has. There’s a plushness and supleness to the tannin that really impressed. With age the Merlot really bringing that core of sweet stewed red plum. Long, elegant, completely intact, very well-stored bottle. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

A tasting of nine Rhys Chardonnays spanning 2007-2019. A pre-release peek at the 2019. — 4 years ago

Ray

9.5

Trade Boston
Pepe with the hooker
The night we figured out it was the wood paneling — 6 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.0

This yellow-gold wine rings the “old-style Cali” bell in all the right ways. A nose of apricots, mangoes and apples is helped along with the smell of buttered popcorn. Oak treats the palate as well, draping over the tropical fruit like a sunshade. The acidity is zesty, yet the mouthfeel tends toward creaminess due to the wine sitting on the lees for five months. The oak is a definite part of the wine, but the effect is softened enough so that it's a pleasure, not a pain. — 7 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

Tried the '90 recently, spoke of how amazing a producer of Californian Cabernet it is, but just needed a little more time, this '85 is well & truly on point, everything is in balance, there's fruit intensity yes, but the development/complexity/layers are really shining through, outstanding stuff. — 9 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

Gold wine. This has the acidity and freshness of those new fashionable Sonoma coast Chardonnays, but with more bravado and the confidence to wear its oak. Delicate lemon and pear fruit, anise, hazelnut. — 10 years ago

Michael Shonblom

9.3

Sweet, fruity, mild spices that sustain. Holds its own — 12 years ago