Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Fruit exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits and blossom and spice. On the palate flavors of apple and pear with a touch of zesty lemon, crisp, with nitty vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, long finish, vivid acidity. — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2015 vintage. Big-boned…er…bodied as is the usual KB style. Slightly salty on the finish with oodles of front-loaded fruit. Could have used a bit more tannic involvement for balance but still pretty delicious. — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Slightly hazy (unfined?) gold. Abundant nose of honeyed tropical fruits, baked apple, and vanilla tinged orange crème. Full-bodied palate of cooked pineapple, baked apple, hint of orange, yellow lilies, and… how does one say “baseball bat” only subtly? Another quintessential Russell Bevan white that’s a monster in body, but velvet on the palate. A big wine that begs for big, complex dishes. My drinking partner (who suggested the wine was like an Adele song… you think it’s going to be a rustic stumble, but it clearly has much more going on) made an incredible pork loin, root vegetable, and apple entrée that was right where a dish should be to stand up to this wine. Similar dishes will work. Not your grandmother’s Chardonnay. Drink now through 2023. — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Strong aromatics and complexity. Lovely pale orange hue. Wild flowers, ripe peach, nectarine, apricot, cantaloupe, delicate prosciutto, chervil, and wet stone notes. Moderate acidity and well-balanced on the palate. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Ryan Colthorp

9.0

Big, dark, and rich Pinot. A lot of cherry cola flavor going on here. — 8 years ago

Susan w

9.3

8/11/17 - just wanted we needed on a Friday evening! ❤️ — 8 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.5

Delicious. Was smooth, with browning on the edges that made the fruit muted and tender. — 8 years ago

A. R.

9.1

Clean and bright. Melon and stone fruit on the nose, nuts and pears and mouthwatering acidity in the mouth. Long finish. — 10 years ago

Paul Mason

9.0

A bit oaky on day 1, better on day 2 and even better on day 3. — 11 years ago

Jonathan Self

9.0

Exactly what you expect from a blend like this. Very new world drinkable on its own. I would bring this to a party. Very low acid and big juicy berries. Not very dynamic of complex however. — 11 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Their entry-level Chard juice not too shabby. Slightly fleshy. Hints of tropicalia without boarding that ship with three suitcases and/or a trunk. Ajax-strength acidity to clean up any spills. Teases many possibilities but afraid of committing to any specific one. Still...less than $30 USD resto cost on two cases. Sold. 02.26.25. — 10 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on December 27, 2021 at Supper in San Antonio with Michael and Rachel]

Red currant, red plum, raspberry, graphite, spice, smoke and a hint of thyme. Beautiful Russian River Pinot. — 4 years ago

Jason Brater

9.3

Nose of oyster mushroom, water chestnut, and white peach. At PnP tastes of herbal green notes, but opened over time into unctuous deliciousness. Tastes of red grapefruit, toasted coconut, butterscotch candy. Absolutely layered complexity. Even greater on day 2. — 4 years ago

with Heather and Randall

Jake Hajer

9.3

A year later, even better- beef blood, iron, brandied cherries, plum, Five spice, strawberry, green peppercorn, sunshine on a forest floor. Macerated. — 5 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.4

Gave this an hour decant. Straw color. Full bodied. Nose of lemon curd, subtle tropical fruits, melon, buttery popcorn, and a mineral note. The palette seems to float. Lots of glycerol, suspended on a ball of acid in the midpalette. The acid finishes long with bright citrus. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.4

Solid Cab no matter the occasion. Worth the asking price though? The jury is still out on that one. — 8 years ago

Matt Trader

9.0

This wine held on well! — 8 years ago

Bruno Peraza

9.5

Lots of red fruit on the nose especially cherry. Light tannins. Very silky & smooth. — 9 years ago

Grant Simpson

9.0

Cherry cola, freshly tilled soil, mushroom, full bodied w nice acid. Touch of alcohol on the nose overall very nice and well structured. — 10 years ago

DAG

9.5

It's drinking beautiful at this point in time. Tons of fruit and silky on the tongue. Wish I had more. — 11 years ago

Randy Cutrell

9.0

Nice citrus taste. Strong taste but not overpowering on the finish. — 13 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Astonishing quality for their regular Estate bottling - not their individual vineyard Cuvées like Mates etc. Toasty, nutty (oak derived) notes along with yellow peach. M+ intensity on the palate. Not for long keeping but a great drink right now. — 2 years ago

Rufus King

8.9

Light and spicy Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Father’s Day gift,enjoyed with steak salad on Drakes Island — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Nice blend of aromas. Green apple, pear, white flowers and a touch of citrus. Same fruits on the pallet along with hints of almonds and yellow apple. Hint of salinity on the finish. Not buttery at all. Exceptional balance and complexity. Crisp and medium bodied. Thank You John P. — 4 years ago

Drew Schwartz

8.9

Beautiful bottle. Starts of simple enough with some currant but on the tongue the ripeness gives way to some light spice and calming finish. Very well balanced. Deceivingly so. — 5 years ago

Ashley Butler

9.5

Drank to celebrate Katherine’s graduation from USC on a rainy night in May 2020. Complex and truly delicious — 6 years ago

with Dean

Arden Barnett

9.1

Great wine but definitely needs a little aging. A whopping 16.3% abv. Fruit, little bit of spice, honey? On the nose. Pretty jammy, nice red licorice, Burnt sugar, cocoa. Better wines for the money, but was fun — 8 years ago

Michael Sinowitz

9.3

Some lemon, tropical fruit perhaps, good burst of acidity and some oak spiciness on the finish. Nice wine — 9 years ago

with Robin

Kathleen Naughton

9.5

A well deserved treat after an extremely long day from a great customer! Always fresh and on point! — 10 years ago

Joseph M Rifici

8.9

Very approachable at this time. Dark purple in color. Light on the tannins almost sweet with its fruitiness. Great with the jambalaya. — 11 years ago