Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

Nice evolution in this Hawkdun Rise. Good darker & lighter red fruits, black cherry cola, soft chalk and earth. Nice round ripe full finish with good acidity. @ The Clyde Food & Wine Festival...Central Otago — 9 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

This was a star when we tried it at a wine festival a year-and-a-half ago. Now, trying our last bottle, it's still got the cherry and strawberry evident, and the nose is still interesting, but everything is more integrated now and less lively. Delicate. A lovely bottle that I will remember. — 9 years ago

with Anita

Winery Explorers

9.5

This was pure joy! We opened this last night when it was raining and continued it into National Drink Wine Day! There is something very special about having a glass of wine outside when it's raining. Dare we say it smells and tastes better?
This wine is old school Napa, all the characteristics that made us fall in love with Napa Cabs in the first place. Fresh black cherry, purple flowers, anise, red pepper, mint/herb jump out of the glass. Cassis, loamy Rutherford earth and nice tannin in the mouth. What a delight! #frogsleap #napavalley #rutherford — 10 years ago

Joel Pennington #❤️🐢🍷

Owner/Winemaker Slow Turtle Vineyard

9.1

Label reminds me of ceramics found in the seaside and mountain villages near Lisbon. This blend is absolutely stunning: Touriga National (37%), Tinta Amarelle (22%), Tinta Cao (22%), and Cinsault (19%). Sour cherry, plum, and funk/musk on the nose. More of the same on the pallet with raspberry and a hint of liquorice. Earthy minerality with silky tannins and a hint of oak. Thrilled to see obscure varieties from the Barossa Valley coming together to make something so luscious and interesting. — 10 years ago

Dan Haley

8.9

Opened this 2014 vintage for National Cab Franc Day. Decanted in wide bottom glass decanter. Medium Red in color. First tastes of green pepper and unripened cherry. After 30 min decant the mouth opened and to zesty raspberries and herbs. Not bad for the price point but let if open up before you write it off. — 9 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

8.9

Another visit to this fantastic value wine, my old tasting note holds, with a prolonged drinking window. This wine is very well balanced and was already enjoyable with no decanting which is great :-) it has deep red color, on the nose a festival of black fruits, cherry, raisins, chocolate, with a touch of spices such as cinnamon and sweet paprika, the body is full rich round and balanced with sweet acidity, and a lingering finish. My score 89, drink to 2018 — 10 years ago

Beachin Wino

9.4

This wine has aged gracefully! Beautiful cherry, raspberry and vanilla. As it opened up there were more earthy notes of pine needles and euchalyptus. Another "elegant" Napa Cabernet. Perfectly integrated fruit, structure, and tannins. This was a gift from a dear friend and fellow wine lover. The perfect wine to enjoy on National Wine Drinking Day! Cheers! — 10 years ago

with Fred

Randy Fuller

9.5

2011. The nose is full of red berries, with a dark flair. Raspberry, cherry, and red currant are met with Grahm’s signature savoriness of roasted meat, beef jerky and black olive tapenade. The sip reveals that the ‘11 Cigare is a festival of darkness. The savory aspects come forward in a rush. The forest floor, the olive, the spice - all are cloaked in a dark fruit setting. Black plums, currant and berries work hard to mesh with the wine's earthy character. The acidity is remarkable and the tannic structure is firm. — 10 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

8.9

I couldn't take listening to these two so called candidates for another minute in their first national debate. So I have turned on "Pitch Perfect " and cracked open one of my favorite varietals Cabernet Franc the 2013 Lange & Reed North Coast Cabernet Franc. I have got to get that bad taste in my mouth from this National Debate and nothing better then a Cabernet Franc.

The nose brings out notes of sweet strawberries, ripe plum, raspberry puree, and wet gravel.

The first sip shows medium body with strawberry, wild raspberries, ripe cherry, green bell pepper, dried herbs and dry crushed gravel.

There is a silky smooth mouth feel with medium acidity, medium smooth tannins and a medium pleasing finish. A very easy pleasurable drinker.

Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷 — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Tasting notes from the Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival...
Dark cherry, maybe a slight cocoa finish. Pleasant and a treat to enjoy. — 10 years ago

Jessica Lamb

8.9

2012. Discovered at the charleston food and wine festival. California. Alexander Valley. Raspberry, cherry and plum with a black pepper finish. — 10 years ago

Ainsley

9.7

One of my absolute favourite reds. A Vancouver wine festival find. Amazing, smooth, hint of black cherry, low tannins, not a lot of length but still amazing. — 10 years ago

Bec Kempster

9.6

Cherry good - darling st festival — 13 years ago