Lauren Goetz

9.6

The 2021 Bedrock Heritage Wine is a great expression of this site. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and tobacco are front and center. This dark, virile Zinfandel-based field blend packs a serious punch. There's plenty of detail and nuance behind all of that intensity. The 2021 is a big wine, but also less monolithic than some previous editions. There's a bit more whole cluster in the 2021 than in the past, so perhaps that explains the wine's nuance. The 2021 is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from the Bedrock vineyard, and I say that as someone who is not yet fully convinced of the potential here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 2 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.4

OMG was this good. Surprisingly accessible in its infancy. The wine is clear and light colored red with very mild tannins. Loaded with dark berries, both the sweet and acidic side. As it got a bit more air, the 65% Zin in the blend showed through with delicious jammy-ness. The rest of this shipment go in the cellar for a least a few years.. — 4 years ago

Gaurav Tiwari

9.2

Opaque dark violet with clear meniscus.. couldn’t have told this is 12 yrs old looking at the wine in the glass. Medium viscosity. oak-spiced, red and blue fruit, chocolate, tobacco and floral pastille aromas.  Mocha and vanilla flourish. Plush, velvety and broad mouthfeel, it offers sweet cassis and blackberry flavors with a long spice and oak finish. Rich and energetic in style, medium acidity, resolved medium minus tannins and medium alcohol. Delicious expression of a high quality CA cab. I like this much better than bold and high ABV CA cabs. This was 14% ABV. — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Ripe and rustic...lots of mixed dark fruit and a touch of pencil shavings on the nose. Round, medium weight bright red fruit with a lovely richness. No noticeable alcohol, nicely integrated acids. And a long zin finish. — 5 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Garnet in the glass with wet dirt, cherries, and floral notes. Talk about fresh. This baby is alive and kicking. Tannins providing so much excitement here that couple with the wondrous acidity and delivers a stunning package. Wet funk, subdued cherry tartness, and dark fruits on the palate. This isn’t anything like the other New World Tempranillos I’ve had before. Head and shoulders above the rest. — 6 years ago

R D B

8.9

Inexpensive Red blend. Nice with heavy d’œuvres and red meat or Italian dishes. The blend is reminiscent of a chianti though this is a French vintage. Black and spicy fruits with some herbs. Dark, rich color. - TJ NOLA — 6 years ago

David Brown

9.0

Talk about bang for the buck! This is a big, jammy Zin that drinks very well. Another solid vintage from Dark Star. — 7 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Dark. Like the flesh of a Bing cherry. Aroma is fresh. Red berry. Very fresh in the mouth still too. Tart, tanninic and forest-y. There is this unique Tempranillo flavor in this. Reminds me of Spanish stuff. — 3 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

This recently released 2020 Blend of Syrahs from historic vineyards across California is a rich purple in the glass, doesn’t open with much of a nose, and delivers a smooth, rich mouthfeel with hints of violet and a little oak. Maybe not the greatest of vintages for this wine but still an easy drinking wine and a great value at +/-$25. Update 3/25: Some three years later this has developed nicely with a big nose of dark fruit and underbrush, and a palate with similar fruit, earth, minerality and maybe a hint of licorice. Increased rating. — 3 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

Delicious, Dark cherry, rich red, holds onto you. — 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. — 5 years ago

Austin Maples

9.0

Strong dark fruit flavors. Dry, punchy. Notes of chocolate @Farrar Langlois you should try this one — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.0

The ‘17s just arrived so that means it was perfect timing to drink my last ‘16. @Morgan Twain-Peterson says these can age 5-10 yrs, but mine never seem to make it 5-10 months while I let all of the SVs rest in peace. A splash decant really helps the bouquet jump out on these. Rose petal, spice, and dark fruits balanced by wonderful acidity and some light tannin presence. A screaming value year in and year out. — 7 years ago

Brad Taylor

9.2

Big and fruitful. A true delight. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured, no formal notes. This bottle has been stored in my cellar since release. I have always appreciated the restrained expression of Clos du Val however, this was enjoyed after the 2005 “Caravina” and there is a very clear difference in class between the two. The Seavey had a level of energy, sophistication and polish that the CdV just couldn’t match, even though it was 8 years younger. However, there was a subtle charm to it and if enjoyed on its own, would have made more of an impression. The profile was dark, with loads of earth. Structure was firm but in balance with the fruit. Finish was medium. Built for another decade but probably won’t improve.
— 3 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

8.9

Well balanced but unapologetically fruit forward #columbiavalley #cabernetfranc #malbec blend. Broad dark fruit and a touch of peppery spice nose. Rich cassis liqueur mouthfeel and taste set against a juicy acidic frame and more peppery notes on the finish. Paired nicely with basic delivery pizza. — 4 years ago

Nick Piccone

9.2

Christmas a day late! Dark, concentrated but not overpowering - black fruit and mocha - dry finish — 5 years ago

Ashley Mercado

9.6

Wow, I have been missing out… First time tasting Blaufränkisch and impressed! The deep rusty red brick red wine has aromas of wild blueberries, violets and potting soil. Rich blackberry, raspberry, cherry, dark chocolate loaded with allspice, cinnamon and pepper notes. I love the boisterous acidity, dense structure and prominent tannins. I imagine this would go nicely with smoked sausage, Gailtaler Almkäsewiener cheese, schnitzel, red cabbage and spaetzle. — 5 years ago

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

Ryan Vento

9.6

I can already tell that my palate is going to need a breather when I get back home: so many big boy reds 😅 Tonight’s pour is luscious and supple with velvety dark fruits, moistened tobacco, smoke, graphite, lavender, and eucalyptus. Looking forward to this opening up. Excellent craftsmanship right here. — 7 years ago

with Krystal