Josh Morgenthau

9.2

In a dumb phase, but when it opens it’s good. Black currant, licorice, dusty black cherry. Fine acids paired with subtle sweetness. — 4 years ago

Jeffrey Zhao

9.0

Fresh berries, pomegranate, black currants, with hint of cacao and chalkiness on the finish. Light and easy to drink with mild tannins. Valdiguie shines through. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, dark chocolate, limestone minerals, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

The body is still firm, thick, grainy and full. The structure, tension are still tight. The length and balance are working their way into adolescence. Sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, black raspberries, juicy, black plum, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, semi-sweet tarriness, understated herbaceousiness, limestone minerals, powdery sandstone leather, dry tobacco, saddle-wood to cedar plank, dark spice, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

It’s still a youthful wine with another 10-15 years ahead.

Photos of; the hilltop town of Barbaresco with the Produttori tasting room underneath and right of the tower, the Produttori tasting room and the co-op of Produttori. Third largest in Europe. — 6 years ago

Matt Varrelman

9.2

Affordable and tasty. Cherry, plum, and spice (black pepper). Smooth with soft tannins. Nice earthiness. — 8 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.5

This is pretty incredible, even young - finding it difficult to unpack the complexities of the palate, actually. Black olive, and a suggestion of black fruit, mostly black currant, but not in a terribly jammy way. — 8 years ago

with Lynne

Tree Kilpatrick

9.5

A hint of band aid/trainers tape on the nose. Flavors are very nice. Black pepper and curry powder. Strong stuff. — 9 years ago

Nick Piccone

9.2

Christmas a day late! Dark, concentrated but not overpowering - black fruit and mocha - dry finish — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has mashed blackberry, ripe black current, ripe black cherry, wet saddle leather, horse barn, dried mint, fried green herbs, chopped bacon, muddy garden soil, constantly developing...

Palate has mahogany shavings, black cherry 🍒, dried garden soil, day old bacon bacon 🥓, over-ripe black currant, warm dark chocolate, (minor) baking spice with a very long and intense finish. This wine has at least a decade in front of it tonight. Perfect, supple cork on extraction.

Still quite tannic, decanted 4h, needs much more time to reveal it's true self.

My retailer commented this was not a standard CA Cabernet, more Bordeaux-like, and he was fully on point. The stink on the nose really pointed us away from CA right away.

Paired to some expertly grilled, medium-rare Delmonico steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm), well salted (in advance). Finished with Maldon smoked sea salt, best which exists in the world, IMHO. Also roasted beets with goat feta from VT, where I can only image goats listen to Phish and eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream daily, because only a stress free life like that could yield cheese this good.

I'd like to know the blend on this, should anyone know, I can't believe it's 100% Cab based on the stinky nose, which we appreciate. — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Floral, med + acid, crunchy red and black fruits ⚡️😋 — 6 years ago

Madeleine Ray

9.4

Bright high toned red fruit, black pepper skirts around edges of petrichor and a fleshy greenness that’s very understated. — 7 years ago

with Gavin

Louis Martin

9.5

Delicate nose with a medium bodied and crisp and clean finish. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This Friday my Cabernet fix is from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Nice nose of blueberries, plums, cherries, vanilla, cedar, cloves, chocolates, light green bitter vegetables, earth, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Medium to full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet plums, green pepper, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, oak and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and black pepper.

This is a nice and pleasant Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley. A bit unbalanced now, but very enjoyable by itself or with food. A good sipping wine too. Resembles a good quality
California Cabernet.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in a year or two.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.3

This is one of the better cab francs I've had (though I need to try Detert on @Carl Fischer's recommendation). La Jota is becoming a favorite of mine...shouldn't be surprised as I'm a die-hard Howell Mountain fan. No traces of green pepper at all with this...got a nose of very slight toasted oak and blackberries. Long legs and a gorgeous purple ring/black core. Plum and cinnamon on the tongue. I'll take some more please. 👌 — 9 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.3

Ahhhh this was so damn tasty!!!! Super clean, delineated, rich black fruits with perfectly balanced acidity. Mouth watering delights abound. I could see this getting even better. This was a stunner. — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Ripe red and black fruits sweet ripe tannins. It’s a very delicious wine. It seems a little simple though, not much complexity with no tertiary aromas or flavors and the alcohol feeling for me is on the high side. Very good. #redblend #redfruitblackfruit #californiazinfandel #sonomawine — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

This is a tasty Napa Cabernet. Showing black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, chocolates, mocha and coffee.

Full-bodied and smooth with soft tannins with nice length on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity. Spicy and tangy.

This will be beautiful in 5 years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$80. — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.1

The fruit is starting to mellow just a little bit but these still benefit from an hour of air. Rich dark fruit, with lots of syrah character. A little black pepper but not overwhelming and a little green pepper too. Drinks well now with more improvement short term and should be in its prime for another 8-10 — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

When Clos du Bois was founded in 1974, Sonoma County was better known for its prunes, walnuts and dairy farms than for its wine grapes. Dark ruby with aromas of black fruit with spicy herb notes. On the palate black cherry and blackberry flavors with toasty oak, cacao and some sweet spice. This full body wine had soft tannins and finished with earthy toasty oak. Good value! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Last of the two blind Zinfandel blends paired with our turkey burgers and black bean veggie burgers. Deep and dark mix of garnet and ruby red. Mute nose with notes of gunpowder, brambles, and a bit savory. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and medium to medium plus bodied. Dark and rich on the palate with lots of pepper. Some dark berries, graphite and purple floral notes. Long finish. Drink till 2020.

This is the inaugural vintage of this Heritage wine bottling from the Nervo Ranch in Alexander Valley with some vines being planted as far back as 1896. The 2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Nervo Ranch Heritage Wine is made up of an insane amount of varietals, twelve in total. Consisting of Zinfandel, Pinot St. George, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Grenache, Carignane, Trousseau Noir, Cardinal, Burger, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Solid wine with some good layers. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Martin Redmond

9.2

Opaque slightly cloudy violet color with expansive floral, mixed black fruit, olives, and bacon fat aromas. On the palate it's medium/full bodied, with a harmonious structure, supple texture, sweet dusty tannins and abundant blackberry, plum, black raspberry, cacao, and subtle spice flavors and an appealing kiss of minerality. Long finish. 14% alcohol — 9 years ago