Isaac Pirolo

9.2

Château Laforge consists of a 5.8 hectare vineyard in Saint-Emilion that is planted to 92% Merlot and 8% Cab Franc. The Estate was actually accumulated over time by the local blacksmith with vines appropriated in lieu of unpaid bills. I’ve never heard of such an arrangement, but if one such as that exists in Napa Valley, consider me the newest blacksmith in town.

At twelve years old, the 2006 still shows plenty of grip. Fortunately, it’s not in lieu of flavor nor complexity. Plum, tobacco, and olive meet the savoriness of underbrush, sage, and cedar, with spice box and clove interspersed throughout. — 6 years ago

Eric Stone

9.3

Really nice Merlot from grapes on Atlas Peak — 7 years ago

Jane Day

9.5

Drinking now. Quite stunning. Black currant and other dark fruit with cedar hints. — 8 years ago

Blake Conklin

Cellar Hand Relic Winery

9.1

Beautiful Southern Rhone style blend. Also 20 bucks, you can't complain. — 9 years ago

Bob Busch

9.5

Birthday wine from Winston. Yum. — 10 years ago

with Winston

23media girl

8.9

With John D 🍷 ordered a bottle at The Finery and Blacksmith, St. Charles, IL — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

100% Mourvèdre from the Heart Vineyard on Red Mountain. It spent 18 months in 100% neutral oak. On the nose, herbaceous - thyme, bay leaf, pepper, blackberry, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, hues of strawberries and dark florals. The body is leaner with M+ tannins. Blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, raspberries and hues of blueberries & strawberries. Mocha powder, caramel, pepper, warm spice, soft leather, crushed dry rocks, fresh round acidity and a ripe, fruit, spice driven finish. Photos of; the old blacksmith shop they made their tasting room in, tasting room area and Marie-Eve (Onwer/Winemaker) doing the dirty work of cleaning the stainless steel tanks. — 7 years ago

Matt Parsons

8.9

Full bodied chocolate, pomegranate, citrus finish — 9 years ago

Donna Tinberg

9.7

Nice big cab at the Raven's Club in A2. — 9 years ago

Tom Riley

9.0

You're not gonna find a better Napa Cabernet for $18. Made by Matt Smith of Blacksmith Cellars for Dan Marshall at what used to be Du Vin Fine Wines in Alameda. Does it aspire to compete with the Napa all-stars? No. But it plays in Napa's B League way above its price point. Excellent concentration, balance and structure. Only quibble? The finish doesn't match the other components. Still, an excellent value. — 10 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Anvil Cabernet is 100% Cabernet. 60% from Pepper Bridge and 40% from Minnick Hills. 100% New French Oak. On the nose, ripe, slightly candied, blackberries, dark cherry, plum, touch of spice, black moist earth and dark fresh flowers. The body is M and the tannins are M+. The fruits are deliciously ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, black & raspberries. cigar, leather, crushed rocks, dark chocolate chalky saline minerals, spice, round nice acidity and a beautiful round fruit driven finish. Photos of; the tasting bar, Forgeron fruit sourced Vineyard, Marie Eve with her husband Gilles who is the Wine Director at Long Shadows and the exterior of the tasting room and production. Producer history and notes...Forgeron opened 2001, as the 23rd winery in Walla Walla. Marie-Eve Gilla (Owner/Winemaker) has French roots. She studied viticulture and oenology in Burgundy. The production and tasting room were a stones throw from our hotel. It's located in a turn of the Century blacksmith shop. Blacksmith translates from English to French as Forgeron. I'd never had Marie-Eve's wines until now. I was introduced to the idea by her husband Gilles who is the Wine Director at Long Shadows. However, after enjoying his wines, I was inspired to stop by and check out Marie-Eve's wines. I wasn't disappointed. Most every Walla Walla producer I met considered her wines one of the best kept secrets in Walla Walla. — 7 years ago

Brady Prouty

9.2

I like it — 7 years ago

Charles Rivas

8.9

Very nice. Showing some age, but tons of dark red fruits. — 9 years ago

Melayna Grassi

9.4

Awesome Viognier, tastes perfect with stone fruits and elegant florals — 10 years ago