Bob McDonald

9.0

An entry level Semillon from Mount Pleasant. More user friendly and fruit forward without the acidity and austerity of their Flagship Semillon, Lovedale, at this age. Crisp with Citrus flavours. Thought I detected a little oak but not sure. Sometimes used in young HV Sem to make it more palatable. Would never be used in the Flagship - stainless steel all the way. From a good vintage in the Hunter. — 3 years ago

Nicole Schilling

9.2

Happy 21st Matt!! 🎉🍷 — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Justin & Deborah Baldwin acquired their land in 1981, planted 72 acres that year. Initially they were wine growers, then in 1987, they harvested their first grapes bottled under the Justin label. Pale lemon with tropical fruits, grassy citrus and floral scents. On the palate peach, tangy lemon citrus and melon flavors with gentle acidity. Medium+ finish ending with bright herb mineral character. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Dates back to the late 1800s, & have been owned by Solari family since 1948. The historic Estate has 145 acres. Deep Ruby with complex aromas of fruit, sweet cacao & spice for this Bordeaux blend of 42% Merlot, 35% Cab Sauv, 13% Malbec. 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Cab Franc. On the palate well structured with big fruit flavors of blackberry, raspberry & sweet cherry with espresso & cacao notes adding a bit of leather. Fine tannins, big finish, pops out of the glass ending with beautiful fruit & a bit of sweet oak. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1996, with 76 acres on hilltop in the Yakima Valley, and planted 10 acres of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc & Syrah, with first harvest 2000 and created L’Orage, blend of the 3 planted grapes. Deep Ruby with rich fruit aromas with floral oak spice, for this Napa offering. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with cacao and toasty cedar notes. Fine tannins, a bit tight, long finish, well integrated, nicely balanced. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had this Year ago. More than 40 years, Ponzi Vineyards set the standard for New World Pinot production with many innovations & techniques. All 130 acres of Ponzi vineyards are certified sustainable. Aromas of rich ripe fruit and osk spice, aged for 20 months on French oak (30% new) with fruit from Ponzi's Aurora, Abetina and Madrona vineyards. On the palate cherry and strawberry flavors with currants, herb and licorice notes. Lingers, well balanced frame ending with spice, cedar & mineral tones. Nice! — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Joe Martin, established St. Francis Vineyard in 1971, planting 22 acres of Chardonnay & 60 acres of Merlot. He opened the winery in 1979 with partner Lloyd Canton. Dk berry fruits, spice & cedar aromas. Black cherry and blackberry flavors with tobacco, oak and pepper spice. Well structured firm tannins (needs decanting) lingering, complex ending with subtle earthy tones. Very Nice, easy drinking will age a bit. — 8 years ago

Jason Keefer

9.0

Another great Saxon brown expression of chard. Lively, malo action going on, orange rind and some spice with a few floral hints. — 3 years ago

with Natasha

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried a new batch. Roederer Estate sparkling wines are crisp & fresh reflecting the cool, fog-shrouded Anderson Valley, home to estate's 600 acres of vineyards. Blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. Light salmon color, good flow of bubbles, firm mousse, aromas of berry fruits and biscuit notes. On the palate flavors of strawberry, ripe apple and peach with a dash of pepper spice. Long finish, lively acidity ending a tad creamy with toasty yeasty tones. Very Nice! — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This blend is named in honor of the butcher shop that David’s father started in San Francisco. His butcher shop(s) launched them into a 1956 Pritchard Hill land spending spree with the thought of starting a cattle ranch. When they were done buying parcels, they had amassed 984 acres in Pritchard Hill. The third most expensive fruit today at $28,000 a ton. If you sold all of that land today, it would be worth over a billion dollars. I bet they didn’t pay anything close to that in 1956.

This was opened the day before we’d had it. While I enjoyed it, it had leaned out a bit more than I would want it. It was round with softer tannins but may have given a false sense of its ability to cellar.

The fruits are nice, ripe, lush & juicy; blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, mid baking spices-nutmeg, cinnamon, light clove, vanillin, light spice, barrel shavings, crushed rocks, savory, grilled meats, dark, red, & purple florals with very nice acidity and a wire to wire finish that was leaner but, clean. The finish was well balanced, elegant, on the leaner side, nicely polished and persisted minutes. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Founded in 1996 with 76 acres in Yakima Valley. 100% Cab Sauv aged in 100% new French oak. Dark Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, oak, spice and some flinty notes. On the palate blackberry, currants and blueberry flavors with toasty notes and bits of cacao. Firm tannins, nicely balanced with generous acidity, long finish ending with a dark fruit mineral character. Nice! Will age for 10+ years! Tasting Sample! — 6 years ago

Michael Peterson

9.1

One of my favor producers of CA Chardonnay. Bright, no ML, great balance, delicious... — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another chance to try this wine. Family-owned and operated growing just over ten acres of grapes and producing around 1000 cases per year. Berry, spice and floral aromas explode on the nose. Fresh fruit flavors, raspberry and cherry, citrus notes and hints of vanilla, great balance with acidity. Firm tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy tones and a bit of pepper. An enjoyable Pinot at a reasonable price. Has short term aging benefits, but why wait. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Groth Vineyards & Winery is a family owned winery producing Napa Valley wines since 1982, sustainably farming 121 acres of vineyards. Dark Ruby with aromas of dark fruit and smoky spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and plums with a touch of tobacco and pepper spice. Firm tannins on this full body wine, long finish ending with fruit and toasty oak notes, needs more time to develop and soften. Tasting Sample. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tony and his wife Herta purchased 30 acres of land in the Napa Valley with the magic ingredient - location. With a splash of Malbec added, aromas of dark berry fruit and cigar box spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and raspberry with cacao, licorice and herb notes. Fine tannins, nice acidity, good balance on long finish ending with fruit and cedar notes. Drinking well now! — 5 years ago

K L

9.2

Lovely and aging well. Very smooth and bright with cherry notes but not overly so. Earthly and interesting but still light. — 5 years ago

with Matt

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Only 15 acres planted with grapes grown in Rutherford (warmer with rich ripe fruit) & Oak Knoll (cooler with fresh acidity in grapes). Pale lemon, with fresh & crisp citrus & stone fruit aromas, no malolactic fermentation. Palate shows peach, apple & Asian pear flavors, with lemony & toasty notes, lively acidity & balance with touch of vanilla oak (9 months of French oak aging (25% new & 1-year old, remainder neutral oak). Long finish ending with fruit, spice & biscuit notes. Very Nice! Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Kandis Schaper

9.8

Been farming since 1976. Original 4 acres of farmland. — 6 years ago

Adrian Fischer

9.1

Buttery, slight oak, not too sweet, great character develops through the whole pallet and nose — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located just east of St. Helena in Napa where Conn Creek flows out of Howell Mountain. Their 26 acres of vineyards are in the heart of this 40-acre grape-growing paradise. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot. A big wine with complex fruit and spice aromas. Juicy black berry fruits, with underlying smooth sweetness combined with smoke, spice and oak. Well structured, tannins still tight, gave in after 90 minutes, ending with earthy pepper character. Enjoyable now but let it sit in cellar. — 8 years ago