Willie Carter

8.9

A really nice introduction to Snowden Vineyards with this one. Deep cherry color with a thin rim. The amount of earth on the nose is really nice. Graphite and soft red cherries leads to just about the right amount of cedar. Juicy blueberries take the lead after a heavy decant.

Single vineyard Napa Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in just for good measure. Medium bodied with tannins on the supple side. 14.0 but doesn’t get the balance off. Nice acidity and structure. The palate mirrors the nose with brambly fruit and toasty wood elements. Long finish with spices and herbs. Next time your dumb friend starts quoting Sideways, give them this.
— 5 years ago

Adam Beasley

8.9

Unlike any Malbec I’ve tasted in recent memory with none of the overripe fruit and sweet violet notes I so often find. There was a funky / meaty note on the nose with pepper and red fruit. More earthiness than I was expecting for sure. Blind I may have guessed it was a blend from the Languedoc. Balanced and subtle wine. — 7 years ago

Jay Miner

9.0

The 2015, the other half of the night's comparison. Less subtle, more floral. Jasmine, rose petal, honey. All powerful, but all a bit separate and distinct. I think this could lie down for a good while. Will be pleased to try another bottle in a few years. — 9 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

In a battle of chards, this one wasn't really the best one there. Lost to an 04 Marcassin and a 13 Aubert Ritchie's. This one was pretty grassy for a chardonnay. The buttery characteristic kind of saved it, but a lot of the savory fruit just wasn't there. Definitely agree more with DANIELBLEIER's interpretation of this wine in that it was somewhat buttery, but just didn't seem to have really excellent fruit behind it. I cannot POSSIBLY believe that this one will continue to age all that well, and if I had 12 bottles of this wine left, I would probably try to spend the next 12 days drinking the rest of this one. Completely agree with the 2011-2017 range for best enjoyed, as this one probably was quite a bit more forceful 2-3 years ago. — 9 years ago

Barb Anderson

9.1

Medium violet in color, supple tannins, berries & tar. Medium finish. — 9 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.4

It's the electric citric sour acidity that carries the day here, as the fruiter and funkier components are still getting their ducks in a row. [Sorry] Really good now, will reward patience. — 9 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. This time, a wonderful Chilean Cabernet.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, earth, spices, peppercorn, leather, bell pepper, sage, peppermint, eucalyptus and smoke.

Full bodied with medium acidity and beautiful long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cherries, figs, cloves, herbs, earth, cola, vanilla, oak, spices, light vegetables, coffee, chocolates, bell pepper, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and black pepper.

An elegant, Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, with lots of complexity and fitness, but not fully balanced yet.

Still young now, but very enjoyable by itself, and better with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a cheese platter, crackers and nice company.

Grapes are grown at the foot hills of the Andes Mountains, on stony soils. 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Perfumed nose of violets plus blue and red fruits a note of red liquorice. On the medium weight plus palate , ripe plum and chocolate. Differs from Cabernet with no herbal bay leaf characters and softer tannins in this case but persistent. This is a perfect wine to have with steak, in this case T bone. The Argentinians worked this out ages ago. One of the 1001 wines where it is summed up succinctly - The hallmark of the Catena style is refinement and balance but with a big personality. These wines supercede the Malbecs from Cahors because the vineyards are planted between 780 metres and 1500 metres in the Andes. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This was one of the best visits we had. It was also the most beautiful. The best in Chile and right in there with the very best sites we’ve seen in all our wine region visits.

They have their wine program dialed in and do everything right. All their practices are organic/biodynamic. They also control every aspect of them start to finish. There is no money spared or practices skimped on.

On the nose; dark currants, smoldering ambers, elegant spice, incense, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, some black licorice, elegant minerals, soft loamy soil and fresh dark floral with violets.

The body is beautiful and full. The tannins are velvety, round and just a touch sticky. The structure, length, tension and balance are excellent. Dark currants, smoldering ambers, elegant spice, incense, cinnamon, light clove, vanilla, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries and strawberries on the edges. Some black licorice, elegant minerals, tobacco, beautiful medium spice, underbrush, used leather, crushed rocks, soft loamy soil and fresh dark floral with violets. Beautiful round acidy. The long, elegant, ripe, beautifully balanced finish is lovely and goes on for minutes.

The Photos don’t even come close to how beautiful their property and view are. It would have helped if the fog had not be in. It’s a stunning view. Photos of; their Estate vines as seen from their hillside hosting terrace. Eduardo who handles all their vineyard practices and set up their biodynamic program. He is an amazing person to talk vineyard management..,not to mention a very nice and salt of the earth person. Examples of all the different organic products they make and use in the vineyard to keep it and the echo system in perfect balance. Last but not least, the beautiful Andes Mountains as again seen from their hillside terrace. — 8 years ago

LM Segal

9.3

Fruit, acids and tannins faded into the background, initially lost (and thought off and nearly tossed!) due to extreme undergrowth funk. That blew off in 30 mins and what remained was Syrah turned all burgundy, fleshy but light. Not best example, but delicious. — 9 years ago

Steph Anie

9.0

Grapes sourced from the foothills of the Andes mountains with a combination of altitude and generous Sunshine produces concentrated aromatic fruit. The Aging in Oak barrels during nine months at 7 s Harmony and complexity. Malbec with beautiful deep red color and violet hues, sweet aromas of blackberries and plums with an elegant touch of smoke and vanilla. velvety texture and a sweet long aftertaste (back label)

Great malbec — 9 years ago

Jamael

9.6

Beautifully balanced with just the right amount of fruit hints. Has substance as well. '12 in delicious. — 10 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Cherry, an earthy note, violet, some spices too. The palate is well designed and quite fresh, with a strong acid backbone, a beautiful cherry note all along, a good width and a soft mouthfeel. The mid palate builds up slowly and expands nicely, with a slight layer of grainy tannins. The finsih is long and fruity with a spicy note. This wine is very precise with that sheer acid drive, you can bet it was grown in high altitude from that freshness and that energy. Good one! — 5 years ago

Momo Sa

9.2

Happy hour at Rocco’s at the Brick in Newtown. — 5 years ago

with Steve and Mike

Brent Morgan

9.4

Delicious. Will wait before opening opening. Really good Shadow Canyon fruit, cool climate acidic. Lots of tannins and lots of oak. Will be great when it mellows in a few years. — 8 years ago

Ara Aslanian

9.0

Lost most of its fruit. Great nose, drank a little funky at first but came around after a little time in the glass. — 9 years ago

with Emil and Edward

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.4

Wow. Sounds weird but in a hot day, YES — 9 years ago

Victoria Batey

9.0

Berries and spice on the nose. Menthol - but in a good way. Smoke & spices. Wish it were a bit fuller bodied but no other complaints! Really good w sausage pizza. — 9 years ago

jerod peitsmeyer

9.4

what it lost in verve (which isn't much), it gained in depth. amazing. — 9 years ago

John Needham CSW

9.2

Best South American Rose I have tried to date. I haven't had many, but this is made in the Provincial Style. Great job! — 10 years ago