Tom Casagrande

9.2

To me, this smells and tastes like a late-70s, old school Napa Cab. Very dark color. Nose charges out of the gates with cassis, olives, dark green pungent herbs, gravel, and a little iodine. Approachable (and enjoyable) already on the palate. Sure, it’s a bit tannic but they’re soft, with mouth-coating savory flavors. None of that damn chocolateyness I don’t like (which seems near-ubiquitous now in Napa Cabs), and zero jamminess. What a value (I got it for $39) for a very tasty and true-to-type Napa Cab. — a month ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group. Poured alongside Mark’s 2012 Oakville Winegrowers mag.

En mag. I was curious to see how this showed upon opening, and it unsurprisingly needed a quick decant to blow off some funk. As a blind pour, it’s tough to get to Mourvèdre heavy in profile, but it absolutely is what makes older CdP so magical. Beautiful faint ruby in the glass. A bit leathery and maybe even a small hint of brett, but then it evolved to show potpourri, spiced red and black fruits and garrique. In the glass, the expected savory notes come out with smoked meat, gaminess, black pepper baked-rhubarb, little bit of truffle. Elegant. Good acidity. Delicious finish! — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Clos du Val Wine Company Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, California

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious Cabernet from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, cherries, raisins, dried figs, cedar, licorice, vanilla, spices, tobacco, black pepper and dark chocolates.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, sweet cherries, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and cherries.

This is a delicious and a classic Napa Cabernet. Exactly what you expect from one. Rich, yet not over the top and very chocolatey.

Still very young, but already very tasty. A beautiful Bordeaux blend with lots of potential. Very engaging and approachable at this young age.

Good right out of the bottle, but needs time to open up and show the tannins (90 minutes).

Showing great potential to become a 95+ point wine, and will age nicely in the next 10 years. Already showing nice complexity with a soft and smooth mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Aged for 19 months in mostly French oak barrels (58% new).

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$52. — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Angeleno Wine Company – White Field Blend 2019
Sierra Pelona Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A truly unique white field blend made of 35% Modelo, 35% Loureiro, and 30% Treixadura—all Iberian-origin grapes grown in the high-desert terroir of Los Angeles County’s Sierra Pelona Valley. Angeleno Wine Company specializes in rare plantings and unusual blends, making this wine both distinctive and a conversation starter.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh and fragrant, with notes of citrus blossom, pear, green apple, quince, and subtle stone fruit, accented by herbal and mineral undertones. Loureiro and Treixadura bring floral lift and aromatic complexity, while Modelo (native to Spain) adds body and texture.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with brisk acidity, a touch of salinity, and a rounded finish. Clean, refreshing, and balanced, with enough texture to give it character beyond a simple “porch-pounder.”

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested and co-fermented to reflect the authentic field blend tradition. Fermentation in stainless steel preserves freshness, while sur lie aging adds weight and mouth-coating texture.

Food Pairing
Excellent with ceviche, grilled shrimp, sushi, tapas, or even Mediterranean mezze. A versatile white that shines with seafood and bright vegetarian dishes.

Verdict
A rare and exciting expression of Los Angeles terroir. Complex yet approachable, this wine highlights Angeleno’s adventurous spirit and celebrates unusual grapes in California winemaking. A hidden gem worth seeking out. — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.1

The 2021 is sadly the last Pagani Bedrock will make. Just released, it’s pitch dark but full of vibrant fruit and zippy acidity. For a field blend heavy on Zinfandel, the young version has some pinot like qualities. I’m putting the rest of the allocation away for as long as I can hold out, ideally 10+ years. UPDATE 11/24: I held out for two years before going back in and it’s a changed wine — darker red fruits, plum, cocoa still with an acid zing and tannins for structure. — 3 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.2

#sauternes so sweet and balanced. Third of three bottles for my wife’s 40th birthday. We saved the best for last, as it turns out. Honeyed layers as this gently warms in a Burgundy bowl - caramel, marzipan, toasted almonds, some petrol, apricot jam. Tastes exactly how it smells with the acidity taking a step back from the honey sweetness swirling around a luscious oily mouthfeel. Touch of orange pith bitterness on the finish - lovely wine. Indeed it pairs well with Indian food but the force of this wine could have easily matched even spicier dishes. Beautiful wine and what’s amazing is it seemed this wine could easily go another 20 years. Good Sauternes is ever youthful. — 4 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

As the kids say, this one just hits different. I’m not the biggest SB fan, but Bedrock’s Sonoma SB consistently brings out the floral, melon, and pear aspects of the varietal while leaving the green aspects behind. 2024 is no different, and comes with nice acidity to balance it as well. A great a versatile food wine. — 5 months ago

Andrea Soolah

9.0

Bill recc from revelers but NOT the one just similar after the good@one sold out Tastes like Pinot. Nice — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; no formal notes. A mix of dark and red fruits with tobacco, earth and spices. The wine is finally matured and drinking very well now. It has lost all of the green tones that were more apparent in its youth. Everything is now fully fleshed out and should continue to drink well for another 5+ years. Really, these are some lovely (and age-able) wines from the Four Corners area of CO.
— 3 years ago

James R. Gilbarty

9.3

The elevation of this vineyard comes out in the wine! Beautifully made! — 5 years ago