Ash & Chris

9.2

A very strong 9 — 3 months ago

with James

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Cobb is another solid producer of CA Pinot Noir. A 14 acre parcel bought in 1988 by Ross Cobb and began making wine in 1989.

The nose reveals ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, hints of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb, tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dry top soil w/ crushed rocks, light, fresh tobacco, volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets.

The palate is ripe, juicy and very elegant. Fruits are; ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, raspberries, hues of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb and pomegranate juice. Tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dark, moist spice, very, dry, dusty top soil w/ crushed rocks, crumbled volcanics, dry, grey clay, light, fresh tobacco, cigar & volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets. The excellent acidity runs like a cool mountain river with a well knitted, structured, balanced, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts over a minute landing on soft minerality & spice.

This 14 has another 4-5 years of good drinking before it starts its gentle decline.

Photos of the Jack Hill Vineyard, winery gate and founder Ross Cobb. — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Quite light ruby , quite light pink watery rim . Quite floral and exuberant nose , with wild strawberry , violet and blueberry notes. On the palate juicy with strawberry , raspberry , spiced cherry , good acidity and nice juicy balanced length , soft tannins . Well made and moreish . Drink now and over the next few years — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured, enjoyed over two hours. The 2006 “Faustino I” Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dark, cherry, dried leather, cigar paper, organic earth, pencil eraser, mocha, and a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is silky and lean. The finish is tart and long. Tasty now but should drink very well over the next decade. Definitely a more traditionally made Rioja and I’m here for it. Bottle No. 1629/247680. — 7 months ago

Canon Thomas

8.9

DO Alicante — 10 months ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Garnet red in color. Offering nose and palate of dark cherry, herbs, leather, cedar, tobacco, prune, fig, vanilla and dill. Structured and long. A very good effort and a favorable pvr. — a year ago

with Judy

Jason Brater

9.0

Cherry cola, cedar, some raisins and black pepper. Solid and delicious. — 5 years ago

with Randall, Jonathan and 1 other

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.3

I love this wine. I love this wine because it exists all the way at the 'painstakingly clean and precise' end of the skin-contact spectrum. Don't get me wrong, I love the super-natty wild and wooly and of the spectrum too. But this. This is so purely and exactly what it sets out to be. And I love it. — 7 years ago

Nöel Turner

9.0

Smooth and mellow. Fruity. — 9 years ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.4

Once I read this had a drinking window of 2008- 2040 by John Gilman I had to try it. Definitely not close to being a pop & pour so maybe he’s on to something with these. 2010 vintage has a drinking window to 2060😳 — 3 months ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.4

This full body wine has blackberry, cedar and vanilla aromas with hints of juicy black currant, black cherry, spice, herb and menthol flavors alongside taut tannins. What a great wine! — 3 months ago

John Jaye

9.0

Lots of fruit, tannins are almost gone, and a nice finish — 4 months ago

J Ferrugia

9.1

Drinking beautifully… dark cherry, light spice, fruit forward with tannins dissipating after 15 minutes in the decanter. This remains a marvelous Chianti in the traditional style as Laura Bianchi continues the legacy of this great family of vintners. — 5 months ago

Chuck Walker

9.2

Blackberry, beets, Bing cherry, cocoa. Delicious. — 7 months ago

John Malcolm

9.5

Delicious! Lemon zest, grass, pineapple, honey, butter, and guava. Long, satisfying finish. — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2008 vintage. Had never come across the "Little Hill" until today. Light-medium body. Decanted and was fairly musty for 2-3 minutes before it started to blossom. Some blue fruit/menthol/eucalyptus throughout the experience. Demonstrative spice component on the back end. Could really only ding this on being slightly "watery" on the front palate. Otherwise, this is kicking now and has plenty of life and love to give. 5.27.23 — a year ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Rich dark cherry and woodsmoke with hints of oak and vanilla. Lots of flavor but not overpowering. — 5 years ago

Neil Evans

9.2

Presentation is black cherry ending with cognac taste.
$105 CND — 6 years ago

with Sony and MoKa

Mike Beltran

9.2

19 yrs old and still stunning late harvest CHARDONNY... Complex with vibrant fruit and acidity. Only two barrels made. The finest late harvest CHARDONNY I have ever had.... Lush and balanced. Only have one bottle left. Very lucky to have a few bottles.....
— 8 years ago

with Joe

Puerto Rico Wine News

9.3

Really nice stuff — 11 years ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.3

Deep purple in color; black cherries, cassis, and graphite on the nose; medium acidity; medium plus tannins; tastes like blackberry sauce, sweet tabacco, and a hint of camphor with a long finish. I really like this wine. — 3 months ago

Will Stanley

9.4

The 2015 Viña Ardanza is only the third vintage of this wine that I’ve tasted, yet it has quickly become perhaps my favourite Rioja - for quality, value, style, and sheer pleasure. This is a match for the brilliant 2010, with an outrageously pure and beautiful nose of balsamic paste, bitter orange, black cherry, fig and vanilla. The palate is supple but firm, quite dark in character, with a gorgeous medley of black and red fruits, perhaps slightly fuller bodied than the 2010, and carrying through to a long, bitter orange, tar and tobacco-laced finish.

This is just such superb stuff, and to say it sells for around £20-30 a bottle, it’s a cellar must. — 4 months ago

Eleanor Reali

9.0

Very nice, simple and tasty, complex as it warms. Marley would have liked it very much, so it was perfect for sipping during Christmas Eve cooking — 4 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.4

A big Cabernet (83 percent) but not over the top. Great with a steak. Blackberry on the palate. Also has 8 percent Malbec, 6 percent Cab Franc, 3 percent Petit Verdot. At 10 years old, Tannins have smoothed a lot, but more aging possible. October 2023. — 6 months ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.7

Still going strong 💪🏻 — 7 months ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Happy 4th of July. Nothing better to pair with the 100 degree heat index in the Florida Keys🇺🇸🥵🍷*from a magnum- #berserkerdaybuys — 10 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Dark, a bit brooding, with pure dark cherry, a bit of tomato leaf, dried herbs, shrub, a hint of undergrowth. Great freshness.
Amazing flow on the palate. Great purity of fruit, the tannins juicy & beautifully polished, nice energy & balance.
Depth, character, nice complexity yet so drinkable. Love the dark cherry paired with savoury roast, herby hints.
A truly lovely wine! — 2 years ago

Pippy Thatcher

9.0

Yes, now we're talkin' -- heavy. Cherries; slight licorice. — 5 years ago

Michael Schamis

9.2

A classic California Chardonnay nose. Full and rich with notes of oak and butter with just a touch a white peach and stone. Lush and full on the palate with a nice touch of spice. Creamy flavors of stone and smoky oak lead more subtitle flavors of spice box and citrus pith with big, lush acidity. The finish is full and warming with touches of white pepper and lingering acidity. Thanksgiving wine #2! — 7 years ago

with Jeffrey and Kati

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.2

2011: all varieties. Meaty, lavender, garden herbs, smoky, but still very vibrant red fruit. Lovely vibrancy of red fruit and all Mouvedre and Grenache aromatics. Sweet fruit, juicy acidity, hot indian spice and liquorice. Plum, cherry, spiced. Quite ready now. — 9 years ago