Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A small winery in the Carneros region of Napa managed by Tony and Jo Ann Truchard successfully growing grapes for over 40 years. Complex aromas of red fruit, floral, citrus and earthy tones. On the palate strawberry and cherry with orange citrus, green tea, and sweet spice. Soft tannins on long finish ending with delicate spice and mineral notes. Nice. — 7 years ago

Cole Ingram

9.0

Great! Drank at Le Grapiot in Pupillin — 8 years ago

Bill Bishop

9.2

One of Tony Soder's early PN. Still fruit there after 31 years. Middle of the pack from flight of 1986 PN. — 8 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.5

This time it is the real Patria Avoyelles...Thanks Paul T for pointing out my gaffe between the Patria Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and this amazing blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% PetitVerdot! Not that the Cab was any slacker, but the Avoyelles is a noticeable jump in depth and feel across the tongue. Tony Biagi is killing it! — 8 years ago

with Katherine

Matt Trader

9.2

A beautiful classic Amarone, and one of my favorites! VERY aromatic; tobacco, espresso, dried fruit and rosemary, and rose water on the nose, with a gorgeous spoonful of cherry cobbler, dried fig, vanilla spice, dried herbs, and a lingering spice on the finish. Drinks like an older vintage of Amarone used to with the rosemary notes, which is fantastic and unique for a very unique style of wine. — 9 years ago

Caleb Joseph Zion Irby

9.7

Medium body, fruit forward. Nice coating mouth feel. Slight tobacco. Very good! — 10 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.6

I've walked thru Balistreri vineyard out by Freestone. Beautiful ocean views and spectacular fruit. Five different Dijon clones and 70% new French oak give this a complexity that exceeds the price. Extracted yet lighter bodied. Tony Austin's efforts paid off. — 10 years ago

Amanda C

9.0

Light, fruity, sweet, easy drinker. — 11 years ago

with Vince

David McNally

9.6

With: Matt Lichtenberg, Tony Garcia, Howard Horowitz, David Amador, Bryan Thomas, Conrad Greene — 11 years ago

Sarah L

9.6

Wonderful red table wine. Montepulciano. Bought and enjoyed with Anca and Tony in Mamaroneck. — 11 years ago

Rob Sternthal

9.2

@Anthony Biagi done it again! If you don’t have this, call Tony tomorrow! Pop and pour. — 7 years ago

Chelsea Hoff

10

Tony Arcudi crafts this wine from multiple renowned Pinot Noir vineyards so the wine has many more layers of complex flavors. Gorgeous fruit in the mid palate. A very yummy and drinkable wine! — 8 years ago

George Chen

9.3

Wow! Ash volcanic toasty nose with great mid palate of clean pure dark fruits like hard candy and balanced well made smoking wine! — 8 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Tony is still rocking it. Mellow with Vanilla hints. — 9 years ago

Melissa Jamison

9.0

What a surprise for $10. Highly recommend. Lighter cab than I'm used to but I like not being kicked in the face. — 9 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.6

Wine of the night for me. Loved it. Amazing fruit but balanced and complex. Had it open for many many hours in the bottle and it continued to evolve. — 9 years ago

with Ilida

Keith Petersen

9.4

Crisp, tart and funky, light years from a traditional cider. — 10 years ago

Bernard Rethore

Owner, Fion Wines

9.1

Back in 2006, I had the good fortune to invest in a box of the Neal vineyard designated bottlings pre-release. They have been sleeping in my cellar ever since. Last night, Tony the Fish, who is a frequent contributor to these pages, arrived with a bottle of the 2010 Neal cab sav. It was a solid effort and Mrs Fish quite enjoyed it. As we finished the bottle I remembered I had some of the 2003 vineyard designated wines in the back of the cellar and figured it was time to check in on them. We started with the Second Chance from Atlas Peak. Generally I am a mountain fruit guy, and like the volcanic soil that yields low yielding structured wines. There was plenty of stuffing left after 11 years, and a nice contrast to the 2010 cab sav blend. We then moved to Chafen. Another mountain- Howell this time, slightly lower elevation vineyard. This wine was bigger than the Second Chance with mouthfuls of ripe cassis, berry fruit and coffee- almost a cocoa powder character to it. The final wine of the night - and best of show - was the Howell Mountain Estate. Dark rich tannins with intense velvety chocolate cake flavors. This was a fun night going from the 2010 blend to the all 2003 single vineyard designates. Most of us aren't patient enough or buy them as a group so you can taste them altogether at once. Everyone should do this from to time. It reminds me at least of how different climate and soil can be in the same year. It's even better with friends. Thank you Mr Fish for the inspiration. — 10 years ago

with Susan

D Lynch

9.5

Very dry, hint of chocolate — 11 years ago

Wes Raska

9.8

First experience with Opus - Tony Mandola's — 12 years ago

Jonathan Drummond

9.0

Full bodies paired great with tenderloin tonight! — 8 years ago

James Keneally

9.6

Is this the best to date? Since 2002 I am not sure I have seen a better Kalleske Greenock in its youth. 2012 was excellent with 2013 being a tad more elegant but in the end as excellent. As for this vintage, more on the darker fruit spectrum with spice influences. Appears at first like a full frontal assault that settles down as the senses become attuned. Love it...well done Troy and Tony and team. — 8 years ago

Michele Juliana

9.1

Loved this with Italian starters - fig and Gorgonzola flatbread, meatballs, tomato and mozzarella. First course with Wine Chef Tony — 8 years ago

Dan Cobb

9.4

Perhaps a little too light but precocious for the vintage. Hint of raspberry. clean finish. w Michelle Carr, Tony Hawn, Geoff Stanczyk, Alan Zonno, Janet Rucker — 9 years ago

Suchitra Dasika

9.6

Tony Arcudi, an amazing up and coming winemaker. The Fruit is from 2400ft elevation with floral aromas with ripe blackberry & cassis. Well structured with good body, length & tannins. Age worthy. — 9 years ago

Li Yan

9.7

Very refreshing and rich taste. Super good. I feeling of romance and passion. Bright taste. — 10 years ago

Ronnie Fung

9.3

Gina, Tony and Angela — 10 years ago

Brian Collins

9.8

Tony Rynders is one of the most dedicated winemakers in the world. His Tendril label reflects his passion for crafting wines that express the terroir of the various Oregon microclimates he chooses for his wines. — 10 years ago

Victor H Jimenez

9.2

Wine Friday with Tony — 11 years ago

with Tony

David Green

9.8

A great wine shared with Tony Rocks. — 11 years ago