Mike Mayer

9.5

Upfront confession. This is my absolute most favorite winery in Napa. The Clarke family are super people (not to mention Spencer and Amizetta are from Texas). This wine is a beautiful deep ruby leaning almost to purple in color. Great hints of dark fruit, baking spices, cedar and leather on the nose. On the palate there are fantastic flavors of blueberries, black plums, dark cherries, cocoa and dark chocolate. The tannins are fully ripe and sweet. A very balanced wine with a long fruity finish. On top of making great wines they have an unparalleled view of Lake Hennessey from their outdoors tasting area. The only thing that would make this wine better is if I was sitting there enjoying it with the Clarke’s. — 6 years ago

with Lisa

Christina Hansen

9.2

Confession: I am not a huge fan of Australian wines. However, this is a really good wine! It is an inky, full bodied, high alcohol shiraz with strong tannins. The fruit is primarily blackberries and black plums, it's the other aromas I am digging though. It has a lot going on actually but is incredibly balanced! The other strong aromas are tobacco, mushroom, eucalyptus, and olive. Hang on, there is a tertiary aroma of cured meat! Someone get me a rack of lamb, STAT! — 8 years ago

Gary Grose

9.2

Ok, confession. We loved this wine and yet I was so jet lagged I fell asleep after I poured 3rd glass. Paired with Lamb ragu and was incredible. Bold cherry and oak yet didn't overwhelm the food. Good with chocolate pie for dessert. — 8 years ago

Thomas Brenner

8.9

I need to Margaux to confession because I've had impure thoughts about this wine — 8 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.4

Confession: sometimes when one of my delectable friends posts a wine I have had or still have in the cellar, I cant stop thinking of it until I pop it open again. It's even worse when that friend's tasting notes being back memories of taste, nose, or just how I felt with the wine. — 9 years ago

with Dave

Scott M Davis

9.5

Yes it's light, yes it's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. And yes I absolutely LOVE this wine for those reasons. I have come to like certain Rose's because they are versatile for food matching and sipping but this Pinot is absolutely great at both. Want to impress a group in summertime with an outstanding, stand alone sipping wine...you found it here. It is fantastic for matching with lighter food faire like barbecued veggies or squash , or for those who are not into matching Chardonnay with chicken or fish like salmon.
My confession: I rarely drank Rose because it was too darn light and often too sweet, so my only next step was Beaujolais, which often way too one dimensional, so that left me with a huge gap to move into traditional Burgundy or full bodied Pinot Noir that were way too overpowering for many meals. This is Exactly why Willamette Valley Pinot has such a superb spot in the spectrum of red wine body/texture. And Big Table Farm is hands down the best wine for value of an Oregon Pinot. Plus the owners are so down to earth real, pleasant, and love talking wine, food, farming, nutrition, etc. I don't mean to make this an ad for Big Table Farm, but they make many great Pinots and other varietals. For the money this particular Pinot is hard to beat and you truly owe it to yourself to seek it out if you are looking for a lighter style Pinot that is increasing quickly in popularity. This is one of my most valued favorites because I am not able or willing to spend $65 or more for a bottle that can disappear in less than an hour with a few friends. — 9 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Velvet as can be I picture wrapping up in a purple velvet cloak (okay confession sorta-former goth I could do that right now), hiding in a cedar closet with a glass of creme de cassis, bouquet of lavender and dark music but not to dark. The more air it gets the more interesting things come out. This is the Joy Division of Stellanbosch cabs? Dark and deep yet consumer friendly. Not pop but not quite goth. — 7 years ago

Toonie Doolins

9.1

Dry vitamins. Perfect afternoon sparkle for some confession style talks. STRESS ORGASM ANYONE? — 8 years ago

with Heather

Nicole Ocasio

9.0

Confession: This is that one bottle that one must purchase bc of the beautiful label. Turns out it is actually a really good wine. It looks light but it has a heavier bold taste, fruity with a dry finish. — 8 years ago

Matt Sterr

8.9

Mostly Sangiovese with Cab Sav, Merlot and Syrah. Raspberry fruit, hints of plum and spice. — 9 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.5

Young and brooding. This is peppered beef jerky with powerful fruit and persistent grippy tannin which was tamed nicely by a big juicy burger.

(Confession: it was a double double from In-N-Out. Animal style. And the pairing was magnificent. #keepitclassy) — 9 years ago

with Adam

Michael Kotrady

9.0

Confession: I drank a lot of this. — 10 years ago

John Padilla

9.0

Confession: I love dessert wines. And this was a good one. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

Confession: I have a soft spot for Bérèche. I've tasted the Campania Remensis Rosé NV on more than one occasion, though this is the Extra Brut, with notably more focus and mineral verve than the regular Brut. What it shares, however, is joyous complexity, and a hue that is the exact color of ripe nectarines. The mousse is very fine, with creamy texture upfront and lush layers of apricot, red berries, rhubarb, candied orange peel, and allspice—all of this dissolves into chalky minerality at the close. Pairs beautifully with rare roast beef. — 11 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2008 / Confession: I am really bad in recognising #tempranillo. So I ‘punish’ myself regularly to taste and drink it 🤨 Today it makes me really happy. A nice roof tiles colour, a smell with spices, warm cooked summerfruit, but above all: E L E G A N C E. Beautiful mouthfeel, satin, smooth. A wine you can easily underestimate, with finesse. Probably I would not recognise it as #rioja tasted blind, it is such a fine wine. Great effort of this Spanish winegrower. / technical: 85% tempranillo 10% graciano and 5% maturana. 30 months aging in French oak barrels. — 7 years ago

P A

9.7

Delectable friends: full confession I am not a vodka drinker but last night at the Ice Bar in the Lizard Lodge with friends we enjoyed this Swedish hand crafted vodka that blew us away. Smooth with a peppery mouth feel this vodka could make me a convert. Cheers to the Sweden 🇸🇪🥃 — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

10

2002 Sine Qua Non “Just For The Love Of It” Syrah. 15.2% Alcohol. So I have a confession to make. When this wine was released and Mr. Parker rated it 100 points (and correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this might have been the first Parker SQN 100 pointer), I couldn’t wait to pull the cork. And when I did, I was totally.......underwhelmed! I began questioning Parker. Questioning Manfred. Questioning my palate. What was I missing? What was my problem? Could I continue on in this world? Well, I never did reconcile things, and then “Papa” was released and all was right with the world again. So here we are, 15 years hence, and I’m here to report that Mr. Parker knew what he was talking about after all. We’re talking absolute perfection screaming from my Zalto stem. Notes of exotic flowers, toasty oak, anise and spice box on the nose. Just gorgeous. I could swirl and sniff all evening. On the palate, a predominance of sweet black currant, white pepper, blackberries and plum jam. Juicy, opulent, intense, pure. Stunning really. Endless finish. I haven’t tasted this wine in ten years because as I said, it never impressed me. But it just jumped up to co-number 1 SQN Syrah with me along with “Poker Face” and “The 17th Nail In My Cranium.” One addendum to Mr. Parker’s review which stated this wine would drink well for 10-15 years. This piece of art is just getting started! Remember, “...never for money.” — 8 years ago

Dr.Meandor

8.9

Tasted 20/01/2016

Yes! I've opened by Holy Grail (Sveti Gral) right after my first conscious Confession and Holy Communion! :)

Elegant, refined, emotive and feminine 100% Prokupac, aged 1 yr in barrels.

Dark garnet to dark red of some transparency, carmine rim.
Obducing nose of creamy cranberry, rosemary, raspberry, vanilla, dill, oregano.
Finely structured, well-rounded medium-bodied palate, flavored by lingonberry, cherry, pomegranate & ashberry hint.
Cranberry-driven silky lingering finish.
Pair: lamb leg baked with garlic and herbs. — 9 years ago

Ben Lehman

9.2

I have a confession to make...I don't always love broc's wines, but I love this! — 10 years ago

Jay Svoboda

8.9

Allow me to start with a confession: I love Carmenere. Never had a glass I didn't like. Oddly enough, it's really the only grape from Chile I've truly enjoyed (that's probably not fair, so let's just say Carmenere is definitely head and shoulders above any of the competition. And this doesn't even factor in the ridiculous value - this particular bottle fits into the sub $10 range. It's kind of like a new world Rioja, which incidentally, also tends to be a bargain (and delicious). Dark red fruit - plums, stewed raspberries and blackberries - meet tobacco, farm pasture, eucalyptus, and menthol (and a touch of petrol) on the nose. Silky smooth tannins greet the palette, with black and red fruits forward and a bit of rich, black soil in the background. Everyone's tastes are different, of course, but if you haven't found your wag to a Chilean Carmenere yet you should really give one a try. — 10 years ago