Nick Piccone

9.2

Christmas a day late! Dark, concentrated but not overpowering - black fruit and mocha - dry finish — 3 years ago

Jeffrey Zhao

9.0

Fresh berries, pomegranate, black currants, with hint of cacao and chalkiness on the finish. Light and easy to drink with mild tannins. Valdiguie shines through. — 5 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.5

One of my favorite petite sirah's. In its drinking window now, big juicy black and blue fruits with a but of violet, and vanilla. Love it! — 5 years ago

Madeleine Ray

9.4

Bright high toned red fruit, black pepper skirts around edges of petrichor and a fleshy greenness that’s very understated. — 6 years ago

with Gavin

Ellen Clifford

9.2

Oh so balanced. So balanced as to border on boring but more than not object-able. Plus the non-boring bits: black pepper, green pepper, stewed blueberries with thyme (an obscure reference but try it and you'll see). This wine had just enough oomph and earth to lift it beyond a berry and tannin balanced beauty to a balanced beauty queen. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

From either the 3rd largest co-op in the world or in Europe. I think it's in Europe. Produttori is located in the heart of the tiny town of Barbaresco just to the right of the tower shown in the photo and up the street from Gaja. Also, one of the best Michelin stared restaurants for lunch we've ever had. As well, the best restaurant service we have experienced and it wasn't that pricey. For such large a co-op, they produce some outstanding value wines and some straight up excellent wines. This 09 is quite nice and one of their entry level value wines. A nice pair with my skillet lasagna. The wine shows more sour than sweet dark cherries, black raspberries, dry dark plums, touch of pouched strawberries, black cherry cola, dry dark florals bouquet, a light delicate herbaceous quality, dark soils with dry powdery crushed rocks with nice acidity. The balance of fruit & earth is improving as is the finish. It still needs at least 3-5 more years in bottle. Very nice wine under $30. A 9.0 on it's own with the skillet lasagna, 9.1-9.2. — 7 years ago

Rob N

9.3

2016 syrah. Terrific. Ripe black fruit with a bite of red fruit. Great value for $40. — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has mashed blackberry, ripe black current, ripe black cherry, wet saddle leather, horse barn, dried mint, fried green herbs, chopped bacon, muddy garden soil, constantly developing...

Palate has mahogany shavings, black cherry 🍒, dried garden soil, day old bacon bacon 🥓, over-ripe black currant, warm dark chocolate, (minor) baking spice with a very long and intense finish. This wine has at least a decade in front of it tonight. Perfect, supple cork on extraction.

Still quite tannic, decanted 4h, needs much more time to reveal it's true self.

My retailer commented this was not a standard CA Cabernet, more Bordeaux-like, and he was fully on point. The stink on the nose really pointed us away from CA right away.

Paired to some expertly grilled, medium-rare Delmonico steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm), well salted (in advance). Finished with Maldon smoked sea salt, best which exists in the world, IMHO. Also roasted beets with goat feta from VT, where I can only image goats listen to Phish and eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream daily, because only a stress free life like that could yield cheese this good.

I'd like to know the blend on this, should anyone know, I can't believe it's 100% Cab based on the stinky nose, which we appreciate. — 4 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.1

The fruit is starting to mellow just a little bit but these still benefit from an hour of air. Rich dark fruit, with lots of syrah character. A little black pepper but not overwhelming and a little green pepper too. Drinks well now with more improvement short term and should be in its prime for another 8-10 — 6 years ago

Abraham Lerner

9.2

Bright solid ripe black...berry, raspberry, cherry, framed with peach yogurt and black pepper on the finish. Full bodied with very well integrated alcohol. A personal favorite vineyard of mine with 100+ year old@ vines Style sits between Ridge and St Francis if you are familiar with their bottlings. — 7 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Right now this is lovely and brutal. As unyielding as a young Barolo, and a deep black hole of boysenberry and black cherry. Needs time, time and more time. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This is one of the better cab francs I've had (though I need to try Detert on @Carl Fischer's recommendation). La Jota is becoming a favorite of mine...shouldn't be surprised as I'm a die-hard Howell Mountain fan. No traces of green pepper at all with this...got a nose of very slight toasted oak and blackberries. Long legs and a gorgeous purple ring/black core. Plum and cinnamon on the tongue. I'll take some more please. 👌 — 7 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.4

Inky as a frightened cuttlefish, intense black fruit without being voluptuous about it. — 8 years ago

with Lynne

Bobby Gilbane

9.3

Ahhhh this was so damn tasty!!!! Super clean, delineated, rich black fruits with perfectly balanced acidity. Mouth watering delights abound. I could see this getting even better. This was a stunner. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

This is a tasty Napa Cabernet. Showing black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, chocolates, mocha and coffee.

Full-bodied and smooth with soft tannins with nice length on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity. Spicy and tangy.

This will be beautiful in 5 years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80. — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Floral, med + acid, crunchy red and black fruits ⚡️😋 — 5 years ago

Brian S

8.9

BlackBerry, black cherry, dark raspberry, black pepper, leather, cedar, — 7 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.5

This is pretty incredible, even young - finding it difficult to unpack the complexities of the palate, actually. Black olive, and a suggestion of black fruit, mostly black currant, but not in a terribly jammy way. — 7 years ago

with Lynne

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

It's in solid shape. Dark chocolate & mocha powder influenced; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, plums, just a whiff of green bell peppers & jalapeño, crushed brown volcanic rocks, mushroom, steely minerals, dry stems, decayed floral bouquet, fudge w/ nuts, orange peel, chocolate pudding, rich semi-sweet black turned earth, dry stones, vanilla, light spice-box, grilled meats, cigar, used leather, steeped tea, brewed dark roast coffee, anise, toffee, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, brilliant acidity, great; balance, tension, length, structure with a round, lush, full evenly mixed blend of all of the above on the long finish. Crazy, complex, every changing in the mouth beautiful Merlot. What was Paul talking about in Sideways? I'm thinking Mediterranean prepared Lamb Shank pairing. Oh...what were you doing in 1996? — 7 years ago

Joel Hammett

8.9

Black pepper, plum, and rubber on the nose. Decent acid, dark fruit and orange zest on the palate. A little sweeter than I'd have preferred. — 7 years ago