Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 8 months ago

John W

9.0

Dark ruby coloration. On the nose, cherry, plum, spice, leather, and chocolate. On the palate, mirrors the nose. Full body, not nearly the same complexity or lengthy finish as the grand reserve, but a nice value wine. — 9 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Deep tawny color. Heavy nose with lots of drama going on. Notes of old wet cedar desk, red fruits, pepper, mocha, dark moist earth and some spice. Great structure. Has a perfect balance of fruit that strongly remains in the picture with structure and acidity. Silky, coats the mouth. Might have been the WOTN until the next bottle was poured. — 3 years ago

Anupmeera Gokli

9.6

Daddy and mom liked — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose on this wine is stunning baring the alcohol heat. Perfumed red florals and candied dark and lighter red fruits. While the wine is truly elegant, the alcohol is seriously burning the back of my throat. The bottle reads 14.1 but I think over 15 degrees. Maybe, they wanted to save on the higher alcohol tax. The wine starts so beautifully only to burn the back of my throat. The fruits are ripe, elegant and beautifully soft. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, faint back palate of strawberries, sweet/soft leather, black licorice, violets & roses, rich delicate & sweet wet black earth, soft light baking spices, caramel, milk chocolate, figs & dates, amazingly sweet dark minerals, touch of black tar, touch of spice and a rich long elegant dark fruit liqueur finish. I would score this wine higher if it didn't punish my palate and throat with the burning alcohol finish. — 9 years ago

Andrew Mecoli

9.6

This one's from last Summer, but had to rate this amazing 1987 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza. Beautiful light brick color. Cherries, spices and tobacco on the nose. Smooth as silk. Was in perfect shape and confirmed the quality and value of aged Rioja. Fantastic. — 11 years ago

Sean Grullon

9.4

Classic CdP and an iconic producer. Blackberry, dark fruits, herbs, spice, olive, earth. Full bodied, but low-to-medium tannins and great concentration. Fantastic with Mediterranean food. — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This has stared to show some secondary notes. Black fruits, with nice spice, floral & tobacco. Off their list — 8 months ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Very good Nebbiolo with hints of cherry, spice, licorice, and pepper. Enjoyable with our meal or simply sipping. — 10 months ago

Henry Boshoff

9.3

Nice and spicy... — 4 years ago

Ken Venezio

9.2

Loved this RRV Pinot. Beautiful red berry, licorice and spice. This is what fine winemaking will give you out of the region. KB never disappoints. — 7 years ago

Jinglin Zhang

9.5

Hot brick and opulent sweet red cherry. Under layer of sweet spice and liquorice. Burgundian elegant mixed with Chateau-neuf. Such an amazing example of admirable Grenache blend! — 10 years ago

with Phoebe and Cheryl

Blake

9.0

1985 vintage. Leather spice red fruits drinking very well for its age... — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 65% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 14% Petite Sirah & 5% Mataro. Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, oak and spicy and scents. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with pepper, cacao, espresso, floral and smoky oak. Well balanced, fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, smoke and dried spice. Will age. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, & Charbono. Deep Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum with cacao, baking spice and vanilla. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and tobacco notes. — 9 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Lovely savory fruit. Sale leather and iron inflected red fruit. Some spice and lovely rounded, balanced, resolved fruit. Long and pure and excellent. Great stuff — 2 years ago

with Chris, Tony and 1 other

Jesse d

10

Favorite red blend — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Night 1 of the Fall WNH event in San Antonio. What a killer start to the extended weekend, all courtesy to Shawn and Jennifer for hosting! Tonight was Italian wines.

Another in the running for WOTN. Maple and rich! Cherry and vanilla tobacco on the nose with herbal spice and a strawberry tart finish. Young and acidic! There is a very underripe red fruit dominant profile here. Crazy how young it tastes for 23yrs old. Bravo @Shawn R ! — 7 years ago

with Mike, David and 5 others

Keith Herrick

9.3

1983. Elegant and subtle cab with soft red fruit, spice and cedar, probably just beginning to fade. — 10 years ago

Nick Boulas

9.0

Very nice pinot noir but not traditional by pinot standards. Very clean and complex. Layers of great berry fruit and spice. Interesting textures. Very pleasant finish. — 11 years ago