David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

My last bottle of 03 Alder Springs. I still have one bottle of the 02 Fortuna (better). Bottles from the earlier days of Behrens & Hitchcock. They’ve gone from B&H to Erna Schein to Behrens Family Winery. Back in the day when we first acquired these wines, we had to open them the night before, decent and put them back in the bottle overnight and re-decant the next evening in order to drink them as they were monsters with huge alcohol. 13 bottle years later, it’s more complex, rounder but still a big wine. While the alcohol has tamed some, it’s still hot...just not unbearably hot. This wine still has a ton of life in it. The nose still shows alcohol and is starting to take on a dark fruit liqueur/Port style. Blackberries, dark cherries, raisins, prunes, dates & blue fruits. Anise, black cherry licorice, a little eucalyptus/mint, dark chocolate, black tea, layers of baking spices, dark, sweet, rich, turned earth and fresh, dry crushed rocks and decayed dark florals. The body is full, round, lavish and lush. The palate also shows a dark fruit liqueur/Port character. Ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, stewed plums, raisins, prunes, dates, blue fruits, anise, black cherry licorice, a little eucalyptus/mint, dry sage, medium, dark intensity spice that heats up as it rises off the palate, dark chocolate, black tea, layers of baking spices, chocolate pudding, well used leather, cedar, dark, sweet, rich, turned earth and fresh, dry crushed rocks, decayed dark florals and fading violets. The acidity is nicely rounded, the length, tension, structure may outlive some people 55+. The finish is; big, round, well balanced but just a little hot. After a couple hours in the decanter, it really rounded out and the alcohol decreased quite a bit. Photos top to bottom and left to right; the latest incarnation of the winery, workers in the Alder Springs Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker Les Behrens and their tasting room; which is actually a restored 1947 Westcraft trailer. A quote on Les’s philosophy on winemaking, “We let the vineyards steal the show and the wine speak for itself.” They are also well know for some of the coolest wine labels. One of my favorites was, “The Heavyweight.” — 6 years ago

Rich Friedland

9.0

Chewy and textured. Pungent brie rind. This thing is so interesting. Pair this with something simple like pasta. This glass is the main dish. — 7 years ago

Christina Hansen

9.5

Wow, Fortuna was with me today when I picked up this amazing Amarone. I wanted a wine to pair with the chicken marsala I was making for dinner and at $16, it was a bargain I couldn't pass up! It is still very young so it is a fruit forward wine. Almost like a mox between port, dry sherry, and primativo. The raisins used to make this produced a wine with aromas of ripe black cherry, stewed plums, clove and cinnamon. The pairing was superb but it has the structure to stand up to game roasts or osso bucco. I may buy a few more bottles to open in 5-8 years. At this price, I can't lose! Need to run to TJ'S to stock up.

Edit: this wine really came together after being open for two hours - tannins. Alcohol, and body are well integrated and balanced. — 8 years ago

Martha Mason

9.0

A beautifully balanced palette of cherry, chocolate, tobacco and green pepper. Love this! — 8 years ago

Angel Martinez

Brand ambassador GHMumm Spain, Wine reviewer www.theluxury.es"

9.0

Els Bassotets Brutal. Esa suerte de ruleta de la fortuna en forma de vino, esta vez: muy bien. — 8 years ago

Paolo Bacci

10

Great Pinot Nero — 9 years ago

Federico Cingano

9.1

Buono. Ottimo se rapportato al prezzo. Fruttato ma non persistente (per fortuna) — 9 years ago

Judy Byrd

10

Loved this — 10 years ago

Brittany Sink

9.0

Dinner at Meadow Ridge, CT. — 11 years ago

Mary Morley

8.9

Excellent! — 6 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.2

I wasn’t sure I would like this as much as I did. Lots of dark inky purple texture ( as expected) but really nice and well balanced. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

2014 Frias Family Cab Sauv PRADO
Medium purplish ruby red. Love the nose on this bottling, deep and dark berries with a little black cherry liquor. Some graphite and floral notes too. Heavy tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Thick dark red fruits on the palate with undertones of dark cocoa and sweet tobacco. Needs some time to balance out. Long and lingering finish. Also from the Fortuna Vineyard. Drink till 2030. (93+) — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Jeanne Heavner

8.9

Very good! — 7 years ago

Rob Curto

9.0

Well balanced! — 8 years ago

Bri Howard

9.1

Crisp lemongrass and pear on the nose. Delightful medium body with a short finish. Great for summer drinking and lunch. Would buy again! — 8 years ago

Rich Cross

9.3

Hinta of goat cheese and peppery delightfulness... Great way to start the weekend — 8 years ago

Shannon Westfall

9.5

Velvety smooth. — 9 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.2

Amazing. Good stuff! Definitely worth the wait! — 9 years ago

JR Grillo

9.0

For the price, a fantastic daily drinker — 9 years ago

Matteo Bonaguidi

9.7

Che fortuna bere questo in azienda Le Macchiole. Una cosa sicuramente fuori dalla norma, un po' sul finale.. — 10 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.2

And 2 years later this wine is even more complex. Tannins are still prevalent, raisin and roasted meat mid palate, finish is all sandpaper and tobacco ash. Incredibly ashy throughout. Quite a wine for the price. — 6 years ago

Jeanette Bangs

9.0

Pub ashtrays, Tapas and sunshine. Fortuna-te to be heading to sunny Spain 🇪🇸 soon, Y Viva España! — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Deep ruby red. Lots of oak influence on the nose, notes of toasted almonds, charred cedar, cinnamon and vanilla. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Tons of layers on the palate starting with cedar in the attack followed by baking spices, dark berries, purple floral notes and a little gravel in the finish. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2029. (92+)

All fruit from the Fortuna Vineyard. — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.6

Great nose definitely needs a decant,
Parker 99 ,
Its a blend of their best Cabernet barrels from Leopoldina & Fortuna Oakville — 7 years ago

Maya Kaczorowski

9.2

Red fruit, full body. Solid, good — 8 years ago

Theo Shu

9.1

Delicious. — 8 years ago

with Dominique

Brennan Brown

8.9

Light and delicious! Great with truffle dinner! — 8 years ago

Scott S

9.0

A nice carmenere. Enjoyed it most on the 2nd night. — 9 years ago

Viktor Klajn

10

Amazing wine that is very affordable! Goes down easy and goes well with this Salmon I just ate. Highly recommended. — 10 years ago

Chris Clifton

9.5

Excellent and goes well with Filet — 10 years ago