Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, dark chocolate, limestone minerals, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

The body is still firm, thick, grainy and full. The structure, tension are still tight. The length and balance are working their way into adolescence. Sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, black raspberries, juicy, black plum, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, semi-sweet tarriness, understated herbaceousiness, limestone minerals, powdery sandstone leather, dry tobacco, saddle-wood to cedar plank, dark spice, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

It’s still a youthful wine with another 10-15 years ahead.

Photos of; the hilltop town of Barbaresco with the Produttori tasting room underneath and right of the tower, the Produttori tasting room and the co-op of Produttori. Third largest in Europe. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Sette Ponti or "seven bridges," refers to the 7 bridges crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence. Blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cab Sauv & 10% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Went to a tasting, had ‘14 & ‘15 side by side. Very dark enticing red with concentrated aromas of dark fruits & earthy notes. Flavors of cherry & plum with tobacco and spice. Firm but approachable tannins, medium length ending with a bit of spice as the finish builds. Best to drink ‘14 now. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Peter Ricci

9.2

Really great drinking wine. Would be good with good but wouldn’t completely stand up to bigger reds. — 7 years ago

with Bridget

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.1

Easy drinking, dependable cab. Good value at 25 bucks. Very smooth, medium bodied. Included is a floral gloss that comes out in both the nose and palate which is just a tad too perfumey for my taste. But overall, I'd pick this on a restaurant menu.

91+ points — 8 years ago

October Cleveland

9.0

Veeerry friendly Shiraz at this price. Cherry up front, red apple tobacco, good structure and a frenchman's even hand taming those tannins. — 9 years ago

Jessica Barker

9.4

Yum! Dried Cranberry, blueberry, white pepper, vanilla — 9 years ago

Rob Owen

9.5

There's some serious yum going on in this bottle!
Dark fruit, a little bite and then smoooooth as it goes down... — 9 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.0

This is one of my go to pizza wines. Incredible value. Like 16 bucks around here.

90 points — 6 years ago

Mario

8.9

Smooth with hints of caramel, coffee and oak — 7 years ago

Barry Bleske

10

One of my favorite Zin and vineyard — 7 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

I would rather drink this than most wines under 100 bucks. 39 bucks and it just delivers again and again. One of the few wines we buy by the case. — 7 years ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

Ever so delightful. I'd eat with anything with a berry sauce. It is so rich, so balanced between tannin, acid and residual sugar that you get lost. Like every other Dutcher Crossing I've tasted it is a beaut. More on ye silly blog. Zin forever? I say so. — 8 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.6

Last Thursday I had the pleasure opening this 2010 Dominus Napanook Bordeaux Blend. 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. I am sure that the dinner with my beautiful wife, the special occasion, the restaurant and the city we were in had a lot of influence on my rating, but isn't that why we love this incredible elixir so much. It is able to transform and transfigure any occasion or situation.

Upon opening at the table the aromas came wafting over to my senses and at the pour and swirling, dark fruit danced pleasingly into a distinct show of black cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, black pepper, violets, vanilla, old worn leather, graphite and dark soil.

The dance that ensued once crossing my lips was as sensuous as one can get from wine. The dark fruit continues with black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currants, black pepper, vanilla, a touch of smoky oak and beautiful earthy minerality.

This wine is everything I look for in a Bordeaux Blend. This wine took me back to when I first encountered this varietal. A full round bodied wine with medium + acidity, chewy unctous tannins that led to a long sexy finish.

Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this evening and I wish everyone to experience wine in the manor it should be. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 8 years ago

Blake Hampton

9.2

Fantastic Zin, alspicey goodness with some heat — 7 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

I drink a lot of Zin because you can get complex world class vineyard designates for 50 bucks. But hey, this cab continually proves you can get a great cab for the same price. I appreciate that it’s not a soft fruit bomb without structure. This has a lot of spice from the oak. While this is good, I still think the 2016 is the best silencieux i’ve had. 93-94 — 7 years ago

Cory Justice

9.0

Good after it breathes. $1.59 on sale at Ralph’s. Smooth light taste — 7 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.3

Trying this next to the 2015, it is very approachable. The 15 has a little more acid and needs to settle down. Big big big wine for 27 bucks that delivers. — 7 years ago

John Peterson

9.2

Suprised by how much I liked it. Excellent. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The Osteiner grape is a German grape variety created from crossing of Riesling and Silvaner. Despite its German roots, Rippon is perhaps the most notable producer of this variety. Nose of lemon, lime, ripe melon and white fresh florals. On the palate, fresh, clean, round and brilliant. Beautiful acidity, lemon, lime, melon, stone fruits, pear, fruit blossoms and citrus peel. Another photo of their amazing view and owner Jo Mills with my wife. Jo is such a great host with amazing passion and energy for making great wine. — 9 years ago

Ed Benjamin

8.9

Picked up the 2011 for $9.00 in Brewer, Maine today. A great dinner companion for that price. Soft tannins, good mouth feel. Can't go wrong at this price, and probably a few bucks more than I paid. I'm going to try to score some more in this price range. — 9 years ago