Rhonely Boy

9.2

Clear medium garnet, Slow long tears, tiny sediment specs in bottom of glass. Wood and dark spiciness on the nose. Dry, Med+ acidity, med tannin. Fresh fruit has faded a bit since release, still has plum & red fruit notes, red grape skins, along with dried fruits (dried cranberry, figs), soil & wood notes (barrel and vine), spiciness in the Chinese five-spice direction. Mature with some years ahead of it. Elegant old vine zin.

California Heritage Vineyard, 2.5 acres planted in 1882, gnarly, head-pruned, dry-farmed non-grafted vines with root system 30-40 feet deep, and is one of the world’s oldest documented Zinfandel vineyards.
http://www.picchetti.com
https://historicvineyardsociety.org — 7 years ago

Ron Chang

9.9

Boy, rich maple berries and a breeze of lavender...Drinks like a fine line of Coke zero on the grape vine...Highly recommend....especially when flying......Enjoy — 8 years ago

Anton G.

9.2

El Marciano - Garnacha grape. Label - Elon Musk on Mars. Funky nose: sulfur and sauerkraut; blackberries afterwards. Great experience - very unusual vine. — 9 years ago

with Alexey

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

Gardienne des Vignes sources Zinfandel and Petite Sirah grapes from family-owned vineyards in Napa Valley. This 100% Petite Sirah comes from 20-years old bush vines in the Oles vineyard in St. Helena. Owner Russ Oles selected cuttings from extremely old vine plantings to plant his vineyard. Hence the name "Ghost Clones". Dark red. Very attractive nose with blackberries, flowers and spices, slightly Vintage Port-like. Amazingly complex and elegant for this grape variety. Warm and full-bodied with layers of black fruit and a lovely acidity, making the high alcohol perfectly integrated. Long finish. A tremendous effort for Petite Sirah. 2013 vintage, abv 15,6%, 112 cases produced. — 9 years ago

KK

9.8

Full body, lingering fresh grape, pow, lots going on! Not boring ! — 9 years ago

with Josh

Suzanne Spadafora

9.3

Sweet for a Zinfandel but definitely tasty. I discovered this during my Palm Springs trip and found it as cheap as less than $11 at the Costco here. — 9 years ago

Drink Organic

9.0

World class producers of old vine Carignan. Will definitely change the way you think about this grape. Although I prefer the 2009 vintage, with a little more aging this baby is sure to wow! #organic — 10 years ago

mattswineworld

9.2

A very Napa take on a Spanish grape: full, rich, nutty, and textured rather than grassy and herbaceous. Very good and quite unique. — 10 years ago

Branden Bidwell

9.7

Gypsy Canyon's 100+ year old Mission grape vineyard with some 'Angelica.' Doesn't get much geekier than this. — 10 years ago

with David and Matthew

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

This is from a very old vine classic style all native yeasts 100% Bouchet and red willow vineyard two of the oldest vineyards very cool sites pink grape fruit jolly rancher candy just a touch of new oak. Ripe melon fruit tongue tingly mineral notes at the end. Bright and fresh style of SB leaves the tongue salivating for food. Finish 40+ excellent + — 11 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.5

The top of the line. Each vine only produces one to three grape bunches. It was Big, dark, chewy. Heaven. — 7 years ago

Yuki Watanabe

9.2

Mature vine grape taste, ripe fruits, love it — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 14 is a blend of 77% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc & 7% Merlot. Nose of; ruby dark cassis, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of blue fruits, pepper and liquid violets. The mouthfeel is lush & ruby. M+ body & M+ tannins. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and hues of blue fruits. Crushed rocks, soft leather, dry herbs, underbrush, loamy soil powder, notes of cigar, violets, dark florals, nice acidity and beautifully round, lush finish with sex appeal. Photos of; an aerial view of Pepper Bridge, estate grapes going through veraison, Owner-Norm McKibben, and ground shot of the estate. Producer notes and history...Norm McKibben is one of founding fathers of Walla Walla's wine industry. To his good friends and colleagues, he is better know as "Stormin' Norman." In Norm's 30 plus years in Walla Walla, the valley has evolved from a 40 vineyard acres to an appellation with more than 2,800 acres under vine. A good portion of the boom can be attributed to Norm even after coming to the game late after working for several decades as an engineer in the construction industry. Not wanting to retire after, he moved to Walla Walla to become an apple farmer. In 1989, he realized Walla Walla's potential for grape growing. Norm planted his first vineyard with help from his wife, Virginia and their eldest son, Shane. Two years later, Norm added Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These vines soon became the backbone of Pepper Bridge. Not long after he expanded his business and resume further. Norm got involved in the budding wine industry. He served as a partner and director at Canoe Ridge Vineyards, Hogue Cellars and worked with a number of Walla Walla's leading vintners. In 1996, he partnered with Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Marty Clubb of L'Ecole No. 41. At this point, McKibben had increased his vineyard holdings to 200 acres. In 1998, Norm officially started Pepper Bridge Winery. Today, Pepper Bridge Winery is a benchmark property in Walla Walla and Norm is an icon of the industry. He manages and consults for more than 600 acres of the top vineyard sites in Walla Walla; Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines. Norm also has introduced state of the art irrigation systems, soil moisture temperature monitoring equipment and sustainable farming techniques. Norm is a big believer in sustainable viticulture. All of his vineyards are certified sustainable by VINEA, the Walla Walla Valley's Sustainable Trust, and LIVE, an Oregon-based sustainable viticulture organization. They are also certified Salmon Safe and are monitored by the IOBC, the international body responsible for setting sustainability standards. In 1998, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers honored Norm as "Grape Grower of the Year." That same year, he was appointed chair of the Washington Wine Commission and served in that position until retiring from the organization in 2001. If there is a Maverick of the Walla Walla wine producers, it would be Norm. — 8 years ago

JoeDavid Guzman

9.5

Good and cheap, $4 a bottle — 9 years ago

Marc Pavan

8.9

Ive been trying to have a theme each week. Either grape varietal or region or technique etc. this month - everything must be on sale! Found this gem for $3 off. #tempranillo will never go wrong. A nose of dark raspberry jam sans the sweetness is married to blackberry notes on the finish. Crisp to bitter on the palate and does not linger. Low acid. Little tannin. Enjoyed without food, late evening, took the edge of too many coffees from a day of work at the firehouse. — 9 years ago

with Leslie

Chrystal Clifton

9.0

A white wine that comes from a mutated rondinella grape. One day Dark Rodinella grapes & white grapes were discovered growing on one 60yr old vine. Honeyed palate, Aromatic nose. — 10 years ago

Matthew Steilen

9.1

My daughter Willa described the nose as "grape, eraser, berries." There's a chalky character, even on the nose, she's right. On the palate, there is concentrated fruit, lots of tannin, green vine. — 10 years ago

Alex Wettersten

9.7

All stainless young vine Gaglioppo. Great baseline expression of a grape without influence from others. — 11 years ago

Khris Tabaknek

9.3

Grape connection pt loma — 11 years ago

James Goldman

9.5

Love the grape. Smooth light sour — 12 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.1

Love these Tessier Cour-Cheverny blancs. This one is from a single site with an average vine age of 30 years planted on limestone bedrock with upper layers of silica and clay. Romorantin is such a curious, interesting grape. Simultaneously rich yet also cutting and angular. Always kinda gives me Chenin-y vibes but it’s still so different even from that. This pours a medium (-)/medium bright gold hue. Moderate concentration of aromatics of Granny Smith apple juice, wet rocks, preserved lemon, a slight honeyed aspect, and a floral spice that I’m having real trouble placing specifically but it’s quite nice. On the palate, there’s both Granny Smith apple juice as well as ripe intact Granny Smith apples, a more prominent wet stone minerality, preserved lemon, beeswax, and pickled ginger. HIGH acid, dry, medium (-) body with a slightly oily texture, and medium (-)/medium alcohol. On the palate it feels like there’s possibly the tiniest bit of phenolic action going on but it’s incredibly subtle. Solid stuff and begging for some oysters or perhaps a bright shrimp-based dish. Also had it at our wedding earlier this year so it feels nostalgic to enjoy another bottle! — 8 years ago

with Cassie

Arielle Gardner

8.9

Old Vine Love 🙌🏼 from Spanish Hustlers. After that sophisticated grape, Mencía. — 8 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

Tonight's fare is the 2013 Soter Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir.

A beautiful expression of the Pinot Noir grape from the Willamette Valley Oregon. Totally enjoying this wine. This is why I love the Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir.

On the nose there is beautiful red fruit, sweet strawberries, red raspberry, cherry, mushroom, dusty soil and minerality.

This wine shows on the palate enjoyable tart strawberries, tart cherry, red raspberry, mushroom, dry earth and some wet rocks.

The wine give a smooth mouth feel with a medium overall body. There are fine tannins and medium + acidity with a crisp langel's finish.

A very enjoyable Pinot Noir overall and is a great expression of Oregon burgundian Pinot Noir.

Love these wines. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of dark purple with brown hue on the rim. Nose of sweet bomb, such as ripe grape and plum. It mixes with herbs and tobacco note. Taste of sweetness like dates, concentrates apricot, dressed with soy sauce flavor. It is a crowd pleaser for sure. Aftertaste of herbs, low tannins, silky and mouthful.
Having a 2nd bottle on 10/15/16, I am pretty certain the notes I described hold. For people who have sweet teeth, this shall be under your radar.
— 9 years ago

Kieran Roberts

9.0

Chenin is a grape in favour at the moment and this is a well priced example. — 9 years ago

Fabrizio Tittarelli

8.9

Marvelous white vine, a 100% made by Zibibbo's grape. A taste of Sicily on your table. — 10 years ago

Teresa Park

10

Tastes like the grapes I grew up eating fresh from the vine. Just a pure grape flavor. — 10 years ago

Amy Rehagen

9.1

Old vine Australian Grenache, who'd a thunk it? — 10 years ago

Deborah Heath

9.3

Rosewood Vineyards old vine Mourvèdre. Elegant addition to Dirty & Rowdy's terroir variations of this fine grape. — 11 years ago

with Hardy

AlexP

9.7

Buttery. not sweet. Nice slight tang. Great stand alone wine. Grape Connection Sam Diego — 12 years ago