M F

9.0

LOVE Just Because - Southhold Farm + Cellar 2019 Dolcetto Texas Hill Country
Prominent rosy floral nose. Acid and tannins. Not at all sweet. Cherries, melon, tannins and earthy stems. A little bit of cedar and meaty notes. Flavors unfold gradually on the tongue as you sip and savor. Beautiful translucent light ruby color. Slightly cloudy, but NOT inky or opaque. Tasty. The sharp acidity paired well with a spicy fresh homemade pizza. Not gulpable - makes you drink it slow, enjoy all the flavors. — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.5

Riverain is Steve Nordhoff and Dean & Laurie Gray’s label that produces just a few hundred cases from some select vineyards in Northern California, including a Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.

According to Dean Gray, Riverain is a historically French term meaning “local & friendly people who reside near the river.” @Greg Ballington deserves credit for the reco, and while I’ve had a handful of Syrahs from the Cardiac Hill Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Bennett Valley, this is my first that’s made by Thomas Rivers Brown.

Screams old world, particularly Northern Rhône. Loved it from the get-go, but the acceleration at 90 minutes open is significant. Campfire grilled meat, finely ground pepper, black olive, and creosote, with a core of savory black fruit, and a beautiful secondary combination of cedar and lavender. There’s a distinctive combination of balance, purity of fruit, and savory structure that’s hard not to recognize. — 7 years ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

Continuing in my Napa cab education this showed up at the door for me. It is excellent winter wine. It would warm you even if chilled—at 15 % abv no doubt but the taste is coziness defined too: ripe cherries, blackberry preserves on some sort of cheese on an earthy whole whole wheat cracker. The tannins could use, say, one or two more years to fully integrate but they aren’t objectable. Holiday spices and a whiff of forest floor and a long plummy finish round it out. Take this wine to an ice skating party if such things exist in your life. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

I have two of these courtesy of the man, the myth, the legend, @Martin G Rivard . WOW. Out of the 15+ wines that were opened tonight, this was easily in the top half, if not near the top 5. Intoxicating nose. Cork was basically black. Blueberry compote and blackberry preserves on the nose. Vanilla and plum finish. Hands down the best mixed black wine I've tasted to date. Martin, THANK YOU! — 9 years ago

with Mark and Weston

Randy Fuller

9.1

This wine is deep ruby in color with just a little light getting through the glass. The nose is pretty and flowery and fruity at first, but Mr. Savory sneaks in after it opens up a bit. Right at the top of the glass are smoky, leathery spices and earth. The palate is full of black and blue berries with a layer of minerals over them. The earthy component lasts well into the finish. — 10 years ago

Mike Davila

9.5

I drank this at their open house, and at the time I thought it was one of the best 2011's we tasted. This is another example of a wine that will have the "experts" pondering the 2011 vintage. This may be similar to a 2003 for selected wineries. I'll go on the record that I like it - a lot. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Wallace

9.5

I really liked this wine. Tried and bought at the vineyard. — 11 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

At the opening of the bottle a rush of clean sweet ripe strawberry rushes over my face to follow with juicy raspberries then dusty soil on a warm summer day. There is also a hint of smokey oak with a bit of caramel. In the mouth it opens with the good red fruits with a sense of minerality. There is firm ripe tannins and the fruit continues on with a good long finish that ends with wet stones. Not a bad wine at all. — 12 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

10

Picked at the perfect time. Made by a farmer. — 13 years ago

Deborah M

9.3

Late to post this from Friday night dinner at Gemma (Dallas spot with nice wine list). Surprised to find this one on the list and just had to order. Fortunately they decanted for us, but it was still a little cooler temp than my liking. Overall this is always a pleaser. Still can’t believe this is a second wine for PT. Silky smooth tannins. Approachable now, but will become even more elegant with time in the bottle. Can’t beat this QPR. Napa cab that holds true to Bordeaux style. (Drank 1/3/20) (not my photo) — 6 years ago

with Amy

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

A nice, level-tallied merlot that would pair well with pretty much any piece of meat you could chase down. The tannins are silky and the fruit vey fresh. I'm thinking cherry and red plum here. Not bad at all. — 8 years ago

Janice in Livermore

9.5

After dinner delight at the Fairmont in Maui. 2014 Chalk Hill. — 8 years ago

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.3

Just a classic old-school Oregon Pinot Noir. Absolutely essential. This was the most structured of the St.Innocent 2014 offerings. Picked up a couple for a long nap in the cellar & looking forward to what it's like at age 8 or so. — 8 years ago

Robert Davis

9.2

Paired with Dover Sole at South Beverly Grill for the anniversary with @Katie Wudel — 8 years ago

with Katie

Georgina McDonald

9.0

A well balanced, well mannered and well dressed Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia; clean, smart, honest with a little zest. The perfect guest at any table. White nectarine, a little ginger with a surprising hint of lavender aromas. Incredible value for under $20. — 9 years ago

A. R.

9.3

What a nice wine for pairings. Just a beautiful match for a variety of seafood dishes at Commonwealth. Pure minerality and beautiful acidity with white flowers and wet rocks. The best Arneis I have ever tasted from the US, bar none, and better than almost all from Piedmonte. Last bottle in the restaurant! #commonwealth — 10 years ago

Chris Koupal

9.0

Consistently great producer even at the entry level wines. Not Grange but still good dinner party wine — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.0

Forlorn Hope is a producer that has received great press of late, the last couple of bottles I tried, I felt vaguely disappointed, given the reviews. Here at last, is a spot-on dry Gewurztraminer from the Russian River Valley, that is exceptionally floral and deliciously concentrated. Orange blossom, jasmine tea, Cox Pippins. Fermented on skins for seven days, it imparts a lot of texture and even some tannins. Tart, with an almost austere quality, finishes with pink grapefruit and candied orange peel. — 11 years ago

Steve Settle

9.2

Delicious. Loved this wine in the tasting room & at home. — 11 years ago

Evan Frazier

Owner/Winemaker Ferdinand Wines

9.7

Tasty older chard. Still plenty of freshness. Very balanced and complete wine. Restraint at birth yielding wisdom with age? Well made, cool wine. Minerality? Having fun @PRESS_St_Helena with Scott. Thanks for the taste of '66 La Mission Haut Brion! — 12 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Absolutely fantastic! At nine years old, this is just hitting the full effect of secondary bottle aging. Black cherries, coffee and liquored raspberries are framed by a simmered redux of eastern & baking spices. Almost as long as it is wide… The acidity is almost fully entwined with the tannins for a near seamless tour d’force. This fella is playing in the same sandbox with RdV’s Lost Mountain...it’s that good! 2 bottles remain in the cellar :) — 6 years ago

James Webb

9.3

Classic big California Chard! Oak and Butter, this is well knit stuff! Expensive and not great QPR sadly. By the glass at Bouchon. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Fortunately the stigma of 2011 has turned out in our favor on this one, continuing to find this under $50.00 nowadays, great Chardonnay. So glad @Martin G Rivard for sending me my first bottle, gone through a case since then, its a must buy at this price. — 8 years ago

Mike Knuppel

9.0

yummy long generous Clare with chocolate, dark berried fruit that's tight and complex at the price point. balanced weight and tannin...aromatic spice and dark choc — 8 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.2

13% alc.

At 14 years I think this Chard still needs time!

Initially very muted on fruit and grape characteristics it started to open up a bit after 60+ min in the glass.
I don't think it will ever be that super magic wine but would be thrilled to revisit in a decade just to see the progress.
— 9 years ago

with Kurt-Inge

Josh Spurling

8.9

Felt like something with New World style and this hit the spot. Rich, mocha-edged dark fruit and ripe, soft tannin. Not shabby at all. — 10 years ago

Chris

9.0

Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2013, a clean drink for retreat afternoon break overlooking the 18th hole at Pebble Beach — 10 years ago

Diane Kessler

9.0

This is the most un-Zinfandel like Zinfandel. An elegant and light bodied wine at 13.2 % alcohol. Light cherry fruit with lively acidity. Lovely. — 10 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.2

My wines and me are not getting any younger, so what the heck.

First impression; Crumbly cork. Big berries, tar, slight green pepper and herby on the nose. Very nice integrated taste finish is okay a slightly sharp.

With Grilled Steak Dinner; Minerality/Earthiness showing in the nose with big berries and tar. Taste is delicious and finish expanding.

Delectable has its current price at $200. I got it for about $25 which was a lot back then.

Drank the Gravely Meadow years ago and did not think it was a good as this RRT. Only have a 1984 Volcanic Hill left, should drink that soon and share. — 11 years ago

Chadwick Allenbaugh

9.4

Another tough day at the office — 12 years ago