Colin Cahoon

9.2

Dark cherry and spice nose. More dark cherry on the palate with cola, plum, cooked strawberry, cinnamon, clove, oak, with a hint of cocoa. Medium plus alcohol, medium minus tannins, and high alcohol. — 4 years ago

with Susan

Randy Fuller

9.1

This Chilean Pinot Noir offers a nose that is heavy with cola, black tea and coffee grounds. The savory aromas actually outweigh the fruit. It is a medium-weight wine, not very deeply tinted, and it rides light on the palate. The acidity is brisk and the tannins firm. This is not a Burgundian take on the grape, for certain. It is more playful than elegant, more rustic than beautiful.
— 6 years ago

Daniel Taub

9.5

Omg. Drinking outstanding. Kudos to the Bear! — 6 years ago

Jen & Will

10

This was the 1999 Barton Family Reserve zin. Not the big bad wolf. Couldn’t find this in the DB. Amazed it held up. Very soft for a zin, closer to a Pinot, plum, cloves, earth, apricot. — 7 years ago

Michal Sulkowski

9.1

Big body. Not quite as huge as a bear, but pretty big. — 8 years ago

Arun Raniga

9.1

Smooth and soft 2012 vintage on 1 Sept 2017 — 9 years ago

Taylor Leigh

10

Love this dry red wine ❤️ — 9 years ago

Sean Lyons

9.5

I hate to say it, but this stuff really is a higher class of vodka. No off, medicinal notes. No cloying artificial sweetness. It just tastes like the cleanest, purest spring water was made magically alcoholic. — 4 years ago

Frank Fahs

9.2

Only a few sips left. Pairs well with air and probably fatty foods but I only bought one bottle so just enjoying. so glad I don’t have to share. — 6 years ago

Kevin Hicks

9.2

Easy drinking cab. I like a stronger cab but throughly enjoyed it. — 6 years ago

with Lisa

Jake Hajer

9.1

Aromatic, charred red bell pepper. Extracted, dark, serious. — 7 years ago

Chris B.

9.3

This will only get better with age and it’s already terrific. The biggest takeaway for me was the lingering taste of hot chocolate mix; subtle but undeniable. The bouquet is stuffed with cedar shavings, the dark fruit is strong but not obnoxious and the tannins coat the tongue, rather than attack it. — 8 years ago

Ryan Johnson

9.0

Not usually a white fan, but love this. Very drinkable, not too sweet, very nice chilled. Not gonna lie, drank a whole bottle in a sitting. — 9 years ago

Steven Mendes

9.1

Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. — 9 years ago

Charles Mires

9.3

Excellent+ — 5 years ago

Dan Whitaker

9.0

Great wine for the money. Fruit forward. Soft for a cabernet. Not much oak. Very fruit forward for a cabernet. — 5 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

This wine is dark and savory. The black fruit comes along with cedar, vanilla and a chalky earth tone. Nothing like Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, but more in line with Paso Robles. Lots of South American minerals having a bit of roughhouse here. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago

Kelly Buckley

9.6

Really light, well balanced, crisp and lightly fruity. Very refreshing. — 9 years ago

Justin Lees

9.5

Went down a treat — 9 years ago