Nate Wall

Winemaker at Troon Vineyard

9.2

Wow - best wine to pass my lips with a CA appellation in some time. Way more Tavel than Pinot Noir rosé. Rich and textured. Tangerine, white peach, celery salt, rhubarb, cotton candy and just a hint of that bubblegum that PN rosés always seem to have. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

As a Sommelier, it’s interesting to read professional reviews. Something you need to keep up on for what consumers will be looking to buy.

As someone who attends a lot of tastings, you get to get to do your own comparisons. For me, a lot of Bordeaux. It’s my true love. I’ve been to Bordeaux eleven times. Two of them En Premiers.

When I tasted this so called critically difficult/bad vintage from Chateau Belle-Vue, I saw its potential and wasn’t wrong. Now, eleven years later, this wine is singing. While the critics haven’t tasted this wine as recently as this year, they would tell you this wine was average. It is anything but! If I put this wine in a blind tasting, I am confident many would call higher end Napa Cabernet and this is a Bordeaux producer from an ancillary region, under the radar known producer and a difficult vintage.

If I’ve learned anything about wine, it’s in all difficult vintages anywhere, there are producers who still make good wine. This one is magic for around $20 upon release. I’ve had $100 a bottle plus Bordeaux and Napa Cabernet that weren’t this good.

The nose shows, ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, black licorice, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, purple flowers, violets and faint lavender.

The body is full, round and lush. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious. The tannins are dark, round, soft, velvety and slightly tarry. Ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, tarry notes, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, dry top soil & clay, black licorice, dark cocoa powder, cinnamon, dark spice, some vanilla, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, graphite, burnt charcoal, suede leather, pipe tobacco, purple flowers, violets, dark red florals and faint lavender. The acidy round & beautiful. The finish is; ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced between fruit & earth and persistent for minutes.

The well know professional critics would tell you this wine is old or late. I will tell you, from my storage, it’s has another 7-10 years of life ahead of it.

Have it with a good butchered Ribeye (not store bought) seasoned with coarse ground garlic salt & pepper.

Photos of, a modest Chateau Belle-Vue, the beautiful backside of the chateau, barrel cellar and Estate vines.
— 8 years ago

David Blanco

9.0

I like the wine! Great place to enjoy some Texas wine. The SaltLick — 10 years ago

Limor Finkel

9.4

Preview of our new vintage to be released under the "Les Enfants Terribles" label. A huge leap from previous vintages. Round mouthfeel, honeysuckle, white peach and a hint of licorice spice on the finish with insane acidity. Wowww — 10 years ago

ld cromwell

9.0

An old favorite of mine. Great taste and priced very well. Certainly a favorite of all my friends too. — 11 years ago

Justin Francis

9.5

This beautiful 2005 cab was an anniversary gift from a great friend of mine @Jeff Savigny The vintage is the year we got married. The nose is so complex and yet so subdued, it practically blew my mind. A nose full of roses, tobacco, dark fruit and licorice with a hint of molasses and vanilla. On the palate very dry, with a faint aged acidity, yet very rich and delicious. You can spend just as much time smelling this as drinking it. This was a near perfect wine and a great anniversary present! — 12 years ago

Boxer Briefs

9.3

Love this #wine. Salt, minerality, citrus. — 12 years ago

Parag Lalit

9.3

Rocky, salt water goodness. — 13 years ago

Jason Gelman

8.9

always love txakolina. this one is super minerally, heavy dose of salt and brine, good bite of lime, and some pear to round it out. this is a really enjoyable, crisp bottle but is one touch too austere (dry + salty) for me. one extra bit of roundness and acid (if that makes any sense) to cut against the salt and this is a total home run but still very enjoyable. — 8 years ago

Francisco Perez

9.1

Texas wines have grown. This is an outstanding blend of Grenache Syrah and Mourvèdre from Salt Lick Vineyard. This is a complex wine with great structure and finesse. Great to see the Lone Star State wines mature and compete in the world stage. Visited the Fall Creek Vineyards. Well worth it can’t get it retail because of the limited production but can get it online. New release of the 2016 vintage. Excellent! — 8 years ago

Hayley McCord

9.8

My go to rose. Reminds me of my birthday during the spring! Vibrant, joyful and fresh- the nose brings a delicate floral note and strawberries. The palate has lime zest, candied/salt dipped strawberries, ripe raspberries and cherry blossoms. Very balanced and tastes structured for such a young wine. If I was stranded on an island with one wine for the rest of my life this might be it. — 9 years ago

Douglas Lavanture

9.8

Like all our favorite Etnas, so very minerally. Rock salt. We had with cuttlefish and Italian seafood pasta. Perfectly paired. — 9 years ago

with Jen

Logan Bixman

9.0

Pretty sweet, yet I can't get enough of it. — 10 years ago

Matthew Metcalfe

9.2

Smoke, sea salt and peat. Soft and delicate fruit. Great 10 year old drinking — 11 years ago

Michael Descamps

9.4

Candied lemon, vanilla cream pie, cocoa nib, truffle, sea salt. Complexity for days. — 11 years ago

Zach Tirone

LCL Bar & Kitchen

9.0

Salt Crush 2014. — 11 years ago

with Allison

Mark Lindzy

9.3

Super yummy SB from high in the Sierras. Savory herbal notes making me happy! — 12 years ago

Michael Wangbickler CWE DipWSET

President Drink Local Wine Inc, Educator Discover Wine & Spirits Academy

9.6

2011 vintage. $18 retail. Banging deal. — 12 years ago

Maggie Shatt

9.2

Cab franc 100% — 13 years ago

with Ryan

Kim Andrews

9.6

Effervescent; Brook likes it; good balance — 8 years ago

Jane Kim

9.5

1981. Super smooth. Tobacco salt — 8 years ago

John McCarroll

Sales Rowan Imports

9.0

Rock salt — 9 years ago

Nick Ferrall

9.3

Tons of mouthwatering sea salt and energy, with a rounder / elegant finish from sitting on the lees. Best of both worlds! — 9 years ago

Christine Weiland

10

Fall Creek wine tasting with coworkers - finally opened it! — 9 years ago

Lauren Brooke

9.5

Red fruit, delicate, touch of salt. My kind of rose. — 10 years ago

Joe Lucca

8.9

Spring flowers and dried herbs on the nose. Tart cherry, black plum, and raspberry. Tons of minerals!!!! Himalayan salt, crushed slate, wet river rocks. A trip beneath the earth's crust in the shadow of Etna. This has the grip and saline acidity to cut through richness. Might be a good match with grilled sausages. Or a foil to long simmered tomato sauce. — 11 years ago

with Diana

Rubie skye

9.2

Jammy , fruit, delish!
— 11 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

10

I agree w the salt & minerality calls on this beautiful wine. Also excellent w fried chicken! — 12 years ago

Morgan Ford

10

Delicious. Seasonal. — 12 years ago

Shana Wall

9.8

Yummmm...! So well done. Awesome blend by #Sigalas full of lemony acidity, crazy minerality, savory aspects of Truffle salt & lemongrass... Umami happening here. Great find. Get it. 👍👏 — 13 years ago