Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The Composer is a 100% Riesling and spent 18 month on fine lees in neutral oak barrels. On the nose; tropicals, cream, citrus, gentle spice and white & yellow lilies. On the palate, lemon meringue, apple, pear, tropicals, citrus blend, guava, honeycomb, peach, leehies, very light petrol, white & yellow lilies & nicely rounded acid with a rich, polished finish. Photos of; their private tasting room, tasting bar and view of their estate vines from the winery. All Raza wines are made in very small production...175 cases or less. — 8 years ago

Eric

9.2

Unusual Merlot Syrah blend. Best part in my view are the oak traits which show themselves in a long, bold finish of maple syrup and vanilla. Great way to follow up a front and mid palate of tart red fruit. Pair this with rare steak and it's a knockout. — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.1

Lilting aromas of apricot, pear, dried honey, lemon curd, anise. Stoller's Dundee Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2013 is clean and focused on the palate and more delicate than most. The perception is one of silkiness with beautifully integrated oak (you’d hardly know it’s there) except as a textural component, lending structure, allowing pure orchard fruit notes to shine through. This is a charming Oregon Chardonnay, and very drinkable at 12.9% ABV. If you haven't visited their tasting room, do. The view is breathtaking. Sample — 9 years ago

Amanda Swanson

9.0

Oh ya💋 Enjoying the view and this earthy #groth cab... Black licorice... Blackberry...oak. — 10 years ago

Mark Howard

9.4

Lovely full body tropical flavors kiwi, pineapple; ripe peach, and guava. Moderate oak finish rounds it out on an extended finish. Great choice for snacks while enjoying the view over Mirror Lake. — 10 years ago

with Elizabeth

John Vesey

9.0

View dark burgundy, nose cassis, pepper flavors blueberry,cassis,lite oak balanced good tannins — 11 years ago

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.2

Light color. Very light. American oak and vanilla bean on the smell senses. Burnt Bacchus barrel taste. Dried vanilla apricot. It's good! $14 / 89pts MartinScott609 — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A Bordeaux blend. Spends 22 months in 70% new 400 liter oak barrels. Nose of fragrant floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum. Licorice, anise, dark chocolate and fresh, dark florals. The fruits are ripe and fresh and match the nose. Black licorice, tarry notes, loamy soils, moist dark soil, lead pencil, cedar, tobacco, underbrush, great acidity and a beautiful long finish. The structure is better as is the tension and length. This bottle needs 8-10 years in bottle for a higher score but for many hard not to dry young. Photos of the view from the Long Shadows patio, another one of the glass blown floor lamps and a concrete fermentation egg...interestingly in an inverted shape I hadn't seen before, no real difference in effect. — 8 years ago

John Vesey

9.6

View garnet,nose boysenberry,spice flavors boysenberry,earthy,oak,spice rustic bodied pairs with bacon wrapped chestnuts — 9 years ago

Andrew Lam

9.3

The lingering nose of oak and berry when my glass was empty was amazing. — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.0

We had great expectations for this wine. Sadly, those expectations were not realized.
On the nose, we detected iron, tart cherries and redcurrants.

On the palette, it lacks the typical opulence we have come to expect from this producer. No plush, velvety texture. Mild root vegetables and burnt oak comes to mind. We are of the view that these grapes did not reach full maturity. Good acid structure, but the wine lacks cohesion. A good example, but not great.

We paid a king's ransom for this and Plumpjack still have our hostage. sniff... — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

Matthew Davison

9.1

I usually consider myself a Chardonnay skeptic, but on a recent trip to Santa Barbara I stumbled upon this little gem. ...Some oak, but not too much oak, with plenty of fruit & acidity to give the wine a great balance. Great with food, but approachable enough to be a great sipping wine. — 10 years ago

Sondra Watson

10

Super Buttery!! Oak! Smooth & tasteful! Will choose again! — 12 years ago

with Kristy

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The 15 vintage is still in barrel and will be for awhile longer. On the nose, bright, fragrant field of wild flowers, black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, ruby fruits of; blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries and dark loamy soils. On the palate; bright, fresh, ripe fruits that mirror the nose, nice deep spices, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, tobacco, graphite, soft leather, dry crushed rocks, edgy volcanic minerals and pronounced dusty/crumbly tannin structure. The long finish has beautiful ripe fruits with good structure, balance, acidity with a touch of strawberry cola. Photos are the other large old oak fermentation vats inside their estate and another perspective of their awesome terrace view. Notice on the label...no Merlot? The decided to rip up and replant their Merlot vines. — 9 years ago

John Vesey

9.0

View dark plum, nose fruit, flavors cassis, blueberry, light oak great balance — 9 years ago

Eric

9.3

Pretty rockin nose of cinnamon, dirt, bramble, oak and spice. Big fruit and spice on the palate with a pinch of tannin left. Still has a few years left, but thinking this is the apex. First time Bello and its a winner in my view. — 9 years ago

Jerry Edwards

9.6

Deep, Rich and Opaque in view.
Black Cherry Licorice, New Oak tannins. Lingers for 2 minutes. — 10 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.0

This gets better every time I partake. 100% new French oak aging and it shows - vanilla, oak, and juicy cherry on the nose.. Palate as smooth as a baby's bottom. Strawberry, cherry, and a hint of wild mushroom. Very enjoyable as a daily drinker. — 10 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.6

I've walked thru Balistreri vineyard out by Freestone. Beautiful ocean views and spectacular fruit. Five different Dijon clones and 70% new French oak give this a complexity that exceeds the price. Extracted yet lighter bodied. Tony Austin's efforts paid off. — 11 years ago

Stems & Skins

Sommelier/Beverage Manager Husk Restaurant

9.2

As I move through all these guys wines, some 🌞, some 🎲, but all are energetic. But for some "bad smelling" wines not covered in new oak, It's a fresh view. — 12 years ago