True Oak

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.

Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.

A nice sipping wine.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.
— 9 months ago

Ron, Tom and 13 others liked this
Ron R

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That’s a weird looking bottle 👀😀

Lorenza

True California Carignan Rosé Blend 2023

This rose from Lodi is made from Mourvèdre Carignan Cinsault and Grenache- $22 — 10 months ago

Dave, Dawn and 12 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2021

Vanilla, oak and spices on the nose that beautifully integrates with tart cherry, blackberry and soft tannins on the palette. Very young wine that is of exceptional quality that would certainly benefit from aging to have tertiary flavors and aromas develop. — a year ago

Dave, Andrew and 9 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2012

This is spectacular. That roughness that is characteristic of Rioja is prominent but exists alongside a beautifully dry, luscious dark cherry 🍒 and oak flavour. And even with all its complexity, it’s a nice sipper too. — a year ago

Gillian Koh
with Gillian
Doug, Ron and 1 other liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

2014, in its youth you can smell the petite verdot and it isn't shy on the oak — 8 years ago

David, Kurt-Inge and 2 others liked this

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Meghan Hamilton
9.3

Really nice. Red currant, spicy, herbaceous and some oak. — 10 years ago

Bodegas Faustino

Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001

Marc Stubblefield
9.0

Classic cherries, leather, dirt, sweet and sour, balsamic and American oak. Better after a couple hours on the decanter. It doesn't knock my socks off, but it's an amazing value at the price. — 10 years ago

"Odedi", David and 10 others liked this

Bodegas El Nido

Clio Jumilla Monastrell-Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

This is astonishing. Beautiful and powerful with a smoky, oaky, black-fruity, spicy nose that won't quit. Palate is rich with loads of fruit, sweet vanilla oak, and a port-like quality. This wine has monastrell's blueberry, black fruit, iron tincture, and beef blood signature. Skip the steak and pair this with savory for foods for a fantastic contrast. Finish is long and playfully tasty. — 11 years ago

Anthony and Robin liked this

Outpost

True Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

A stunning wine! Cedar, black currants, fig, dark chocolate, and truffles. Deep purple with a fabulous finish. — 9 months ago

Parducci

True Grit Reserve Mendocino Petite Sirah 2015

Very dry but very smooth. Full bodied with a hint of berry. Very enjoyable — 10 months ago

Mike Tomasello
with Mike

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 10 months ago

Paul, Dave and 12 others liked this

Oak Ridge Winery

OZV Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2013

Dark in color. Super fruity on the nose. Blackberry and plumb notes. Peppery, leathery, earthy finish. — a year ago

Bodegas Navalon

Gran Reserva Anciano Años 10 Years Oak Matured Valdepeñas Tempranillo

Jason brought for boys golf week. Spainish. 10 yr great. — 7 years ago

Oak Ridge Winery

Ancient Vine Lodi Zinfandel

Rich, thick, smooth, just yummy!!! A smoky essence that was surprising. Had it with grilled chicken and tomatillo salsa. Divine. would be awesome with a steak or lamb. 8/10/18 — 8 years ago

Lynn Derbyshire

Lynn Derbyshire

Oh, and I forgot...blackberries!

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Reserve Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

This wine is incredible! Soft and smooth as silk. Herbal and violet aromas. Red cherry fruit with hints of chocolate and tobacco. Outstanding balance between fruit and organics. 14.4% alcohol but not overwhelming in the least. Thanks to Kieth Soltis for opening this bottle. — 8 years ago

Trefethen liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2010

Definitely some noticeable oak here but it's exquisitely integrated leading to plush texture and plum, tobacco, some black pepper and coke(the liquid form). Black cherry. This is long, soft and delicious — 9 years ago

Taylor and Anthony liked this

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Chardonnay 2012

👍👍Solid chardonnay. Well balanced. Fruity. Crisp. — 10 years ago

La Finca

Oak Aged Mendoza Malbec 2012

3.99 at trader joes. — 12 years ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

Opus One 2011
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most iconic estates, co-founded by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The 2011 vintage was a challenging, cool year in Napa, producing wines of lower alcohol, more restraint, and higher acidity compared to the opulent, sun-soaked vintages before and after. Blend typically centers on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and dried cherry layered with graphite, violets, tobacco leaf, and hints of cedar and espresso. As it evolves in the glass, notes of leather, savory herbs, and cocoa powder emerge.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied compared to more powerful Opus vintages, with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and balanced, showing more finesse and structure than richness. The finish lingers with red and black fruits, spice, and a touch of earth.

Winemaking Notes
Aged in French oak for 18 months. The cooler season resulted in smaller yields, but a style closer to classic Bordeaux restraint rather than plush Napa ripeness.

Food Pairing
Beautiful with herb-crusted lamb, grilled duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté.

Verdict
A vintage that divided critics due to its lighter profile, but for those who enjoy elegance and classical structure, the 2011 Opus One is a refreshing outlier. Drink now, though it still has a few years of graceful life ahead. Cheers!
— 9 months ago

Ira, Ted and 9 others liked this

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Merlot 2021

Gratifying Oak Knoll #napavalley #merlot - medium plus body, calibrated acidity, some vanilla and toasty oak notes so it’s pretty young but well executed Merlot. My hot take - Merlot at the $50 retail mark will outperform Cabs at this price point. — a year ago

Dave liked this

Oak Ridge Winery

Reserve Ancient Vine Zinfandel

Jammy dark fruit, some barrel aromas and flavors. Pretty complex and enough tannin to keep you from getting overwhelmed. Great sipper for the price point! Would buy again. — a year ago

Matthew HeyboerEthan HeyboerJody Wycech
with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Beringer Vineyards

Luminus Oak Knoll District Chardonnay 2014

Tremendous & Intense Nose Clean Crisp Honeydew Melon. Butter Toffee on the Palate. @Ron R channeling my inner you on this description — 6 years ago

Nicole C. Russo
with Nicole
P, Tom and 15 others liked this
Ron R

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Lol @Robert Evans Jr. You did a very fine job, sir!

C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España)

Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Got to work on getting back to Rioja. It’s been 20+ years. Majestic and a bit to big for my taste but still very enjoyable. Very soft tannins and oak quite present but not vulgar in any way. — 8 years ago

Oak Ridge Winery

Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Oaky berry campfire. Not a typical cab. Lay down a few years to take off some fruit for some more substance. — 9 years ago

Paul liked this

Hammell Wine Alliance

True Believer California Red Blend

Grenache love — 10 years ago

Steve, Bill and 3 others liked this
Bill Bender

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Give Wendy her wine back Neil

Trefethen Family Vineyards

Oak Knoll District Dry Riesling 2011

Typical German Reisling petrol nose with light fruit and pleasant minerality — 11 years ago