Dexter Freeburg

9.4

Opened with notes of black tea balsamic, Mushroom violets once breathing well done — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.1

Another wonderful Merlot. Mountain wines are known for beautiful dark color, intense aromatics and full bodied flavors. This Howell Mountain wine does not disappoint. Beautiful ruby red color and great aromas of blue fruit, cedar and a little earthiness. The tannins on this young wine are very apparent but seem to integrate nicely with the intense flavors of blueberries and baking spices while in your mouth. I am sure this wine will improve with age but it drinks very well today. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Medium ruby red with garnet edges. Layered nose with notes of smoke, very dark, touch of cocoa, baking spices and some tight dark berries. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Well rounded even at a young age. Notes of bark, dark berries, broken twigs, a touch savory with medium plus acidity. Dry and long finish. Drink from 2018 till 2026. (91+) — 9 years ago

Mono Head

9.0

The first serving of this wine I gave it an 8.5. It was after the second tasting that I gave it a 9. Full body fruit forward. Well balanced. Good but not great. $85 — 9 years ago

Charine Tan

9.0

Backstory: Tasted this at the winery and loved it so much that we bought a bottle to take along with us to Mexico. Chad Melville is the owner and winemaker at Samsara. He's also the chief winegrower at Melville Winery.

Winemaking Process: Single vineyard wine with grapes harvested from the Cargasacchi vineyard, which is in the middle aka sweet spot of Santa Rital Hills. 75% whole cluster fermentation with native yeast. 50% in new French oak barrels for 22 months, followed by 12-month ageing in the bottle. Unfiltered.

Tasting Notes: Colour is ruby red with some clarity, no sediment. On the nose, it has blue fruit, cherry, cassis, cigar, asphalt, lambskin leather and pronounced earthy notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with full, mouth-filling texture. Red fruit notes appear first, and then the taste turns into an earthy, allspice notes, and finishes off with something so bright and refreshing that reminds us of orange peel. The tannins are soft. End palate is long, around 10 seconds, marked by minerality and cherry. I love this wine because unlike many Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, it isn't over extracted and not too sweet (like fruit pastille). There's a fleeting burst of sweet red fruit flavour on the mid palate and the flavour quickly transits to earthy notes and tannins. It's a more earthy Pinot Noir but yet still elegant and ready to be consumed. At $55, I think it's well worth the price. — 10 years ago

Antonio Vasco

9.1

Frutos rojos, gran entrada, final redondo y ciruela. Para mí, muy muy rico — 11 years ago

Ben Hearns

8.9

great light red, well paired with sushi — 11 years ago

Sean Hardiman

9.6

Amazing wine would not let it age past 2006 still maintains its body well but past 2006 I think would be too much age. — 11 years ago

Michael Retter

9.7

Great fruit. Soft tannins. Really well balanced. Great bottle of wine. — 12 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.1

A little richer syrah expression than some of the single vineyards but well balanced. Dark fruit with a spice and pepper note that should continue to evolve for several more years. — 7 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

I'm a big Bedrock fan. Bravo to them! Such a nice full well blended blend. Great term. Blended blend. Lol. God bless. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, dark sour cherries, dates, burnt figs, grilled meats, burnt ambers, liquid smoke & dark dry florals. The core color is dark with garnet edges. The palate is; slightly sour but mostly sweet dark cherries, stewed plum, cooked strawberries, rhubarb, dates, figs, tomatoes, smoke, grilled meats, brewed coffee, light tarry notes, dry crushed rock powder, volcanic minerals, dark rich earth, dusty tannins, dry dark florals, soft chewy leather, nice round acidity with a decent, soft, elegant finish...50-50 fruit & earth. This is the largest co-op producer in Europe with 50 members. They collectively have 250 acres; which is about 1/6 of the total under vine. Photos of; the town of Barbaresco (their tasting room near the tower), Produttori cellar and their tasting bar. No appointment necessary. Close to Gaja and the town has one of the best one star Michelin lunches as well as the best service we've experienced. Just right of Gaja. Good with our Veal Bolognese. — 9 years ago

Mark Helsom

9.2

Needs additional time however, loving the potential of this well made wine. — 10 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.3

This is so well rounded! Dried flowers on the nose, followed by a palate with cherry up front and black licorice (anise) that's been rolled around in the dirt and picked up some spice along the way on the finish. — 10 years ago

Tuomas Vaittinen

9.1

Creamy while still well balanced. Not the type I usually look for but perfect with artichoke risotto — 10 years ago

Madeline Ceara

9.1

Cranberry, rose, strawberry, thyme and rainwater. Fresh acidity makes for a well balanced new world rose. Not jammy, not fruity. Love. — 11 years ago

Bertus van Zyl

Assistant Winemaker Regusci Winery

9.2

Extremely well balanced and fresh. Should age really well! — 11 years ago

James Gutierrez

9.1

Not too much of a white drinker, but it's a simple everyday Chardonnay. Buttery pear aroma with a hint of Granny Smith. Smooth entry distinguishing the buttery taste. Well balanced — 12 years ago

MaryAnn DeSantis

9.8

Cherry flavors practically jumped out of glass. Although the color is light, the wine is delicious and flavors well balanced. — 12 years ago

James P Grover

9.1

Currants, dried strawberries, and dark cherries, with spice, oak, and I think even a little cocoa, maybe orange peel too. This is darker and deeper than a lot of west coast Pinots. The acidity is pretty strong and balanced the dark fruit well. Tannins are moderate to light. I had this with salmon, roasted potatoes, and cabbage cooked in duck fat. The salmon was farmed and a little too light for the wine, but cabbage in duck fat was a treat with this. — 8 years ago

Alton Komori

9.2

Tried 2 bottles at Miku at Mandalay Bay Hotel - medium body, slightly sweet bouquet; went well with Japanese, sushi rolls, onigiri and sashimi; $120 per bottle; like quadruple; good to have tried; would pay $35 on sale. — 9 years ago

Brash Higgins

9.3

Great structure, oak a real factor as well as a minerally element -rocks? — 9 years ago

dan boedeker

9.4

Best surprise in a long time, had a bottle sent to me from my college roommate half a country away. Very floral, well hopped balanced with a good malt backbone. A balanced beer more IPA than traditional pale ale. Only 10 days old. Would definitely buy if they ever distributed to CO. — 9 years ago

Rochelle

9.4

I like this it has anise, white pepper and smoke on nose a tannic medium to full finish a well developed wine for price ! — 10 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.2

Great berry, bit if of raspberry. Nice balance. Alc is higher but it works really well — 10 years ago

Carol Kellett

9.5

Beautiful flavors on the palate. So well balanced and delicious. — 11 years ago

César Pérez León

9.0

DO Montsant Zerran 2012
Ripe fruit, spices and earthy aromas. Well bodied, round tannins, fresh and well balanced. Excellent price-quality. — 11 years ago

Robert Morris

9.0

Good body, a bit spicy. Would pair well with salami & cheese. — 11 years ago

Heidi Beachner

9.4

Thick delicious apple! Best cold — 12 years ago

Pete Hegedus

8.9

Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, and a touch of spice. Nice acidity and well balanced. — 12 years ago