Jeffery Heavner

9.0

Not one to drink a lot of white wine but this is a very well balanced wine . Good fruit, acids, minerality , and a bit of cream on the finish. Definitely a great white wine — a month ago

Kevin Dale

9.2

Old-vine mixed varietal block from just west of Calistoga. Dark fruits and full bodied.  — 3 years ago

Ron from VA

9.3

Stunning maturity in the cellar - concentration of brambled fruit - reds/blacks. A touch of spice from the oak. No substitute for complex hot summer fruit. Holding out much better than the 2007 hot vintage. This is consistent with the stunning 2010 Merlot that M. Finot made.  — 5 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

An enormous nose of white pepper, dried cherry.

Juicy! In a good old Rhône kinda way, with precise herbs de Provence, fruity interlays of dried red and blacks, pepper and lip smacking tannins. The acidity carries a rare old mountain tune.. not unlike the fairytale of New York.. by the Pogues.. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Inspired by “mixed blacks” first made by Italian immigrants originally settling in Napa, blend of Zinfandel, Cab Sauv, Petite Sirah, Syrah & Charbono. Deep Ruby aromas of berries and complex spice. Aged 30% on new oak, combo of French/American barrels. Palate shows big flavors of cherry, blueberry & raspberry, bold spice lively acidity, vanilla & cedar notes, good balance. Fine tannins, long finish. Nice, cellar this for a while. Note, ‘17, bigger & bolder than ‘16. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.0

Broke this out for a family gathering, unsure of the response it would receive. Pleased by this blend of ‘mixed blacks’. Surprisingly medium bodied, fresh and easy going. Crowd was happy, glasses were empty! — 8 years ago

GabWine

9.2

A surprising sparkling with woody flavors. Like a white of blacks but Italian way. Tannins rather present that makes this wine special. The length in the mouth is short but the complex and mineral side allows to enjoy it at its fair value. — 8 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

ripe, delicious, nice acids, lighter side of dark, holds together well, big fan of blends. — a year ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

(While the pic is of this makers Chard review is for the Blaufrankish); Probably the darkest & most savory expression of Blaufrankish I’ve ever tried, & it works: black cherry & kirsch color, dense; on nose pretty open knit raspberry & black currants; the blacks currants, raspberry, & also kirsch/ beet notes on palate, with a pleasant chewy texture. For 24$ on sale a whole lotta wine, imagine the relatively long aging prerelease- over 3 years in amphorae etc -probably helped. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Sparkling Shiraz is a tradition on Christmas Day in Australia and is a great match with Roast Turkey and Baked Glazed Ham. A foamy mousse amongst the dark Ruby red colour. Aromas of blackberry plum and spices. A wonderful palate - sweet and rich with soft velvety tannins. Plenty of life and freshness with red and black fruits. Just plain delicious. My only bottle sadly and I hope I have the willpower to leave my 2004 until next Christmas. These Rockford Blacks are rare birds even in Australia. Disgorged 2002. Postscript: Only purchased in mid 2020 from a private cellar. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Grabbed another bottle, keeps getting better with age. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Fruit from vineyards in warm Oak Knoll and cool-climate Carneros with just a touch of Roussanne. Pleasant aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. Fresh flavors of peach, apple and lemon zest, well balanced, vivid acidity with nice mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with mineral notes. wow! — 7 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.0

Very aromatic. Fruit forward on the palate with notes of red cherry and plum. Surprising structure. Zinfandel sourced from various Russian River Valley vineyards including Banfield, Saitone, Carlisle, Montafi, and Papera from vines planted between 1881 to 1934 with interplanted mixed blacks. — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Rich and oaky, there’s a lot of black fruit and gravel in the nose. In the mouth, it’s dark and ripe, very intense but not super heavy. Needs steaks, and, fortunately, that’s what we’re having! — 9 years ago

with Angelo

Eric Urbani

9.2

In the early 1850s the first significant vineyards were planted in Sonoma. Over the next half century, through a rigorous process of trial and error, the components were narrowed to four distinct varieties – petite Sarah, Zinfandel, Carignane , and Alicante Bouschet– each demonstrating extraordinary quality. Ravenswood ICON is a revival of this traditional “native Sonoma mixed blacks“ blend produced from old, low production, vineyards planted before Prohibition and is a tribute to Sonoma County’s incredible ancient vines. 14.8% ABV. — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 2018 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is even better from bottle than it was from tank last year. What a wine! In 2018, the Carlisle Zinfandel is off the charts. Exotic floral notes, crushed red berry fruit, spice and wild flowers give the 2018 magnificent inner sweetness and perfume that just gains in intensity with time in the glass. The blend of 86% Zinfandel and 14% Mixed Blacks works so well. For readers who want to know why 2018 is so magical in the Russian River and Sonoma more broadly, the 2018 Carlisle pretty much sums it up. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 5 years ago

Ryan McClellan

9.5

This got buried behind a myriad of whites on Xmas eve, 3 days later this thing is crazy good. All the blacks and blues you’re looking for, with an almost candied quality. Perfectly balanced and a super long finish. Fun now, prob awesome is another 10 years. — 5 years ago

with Deb and Chris

Jody Scharf

9.2

Nice blend of dark fruits. Really enjoyed — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Michael Cruse’s 2017 Monkey Jacket, a Valdiguié/Petite Sirah/Carignan and mixed blacks blend, is dark, racy and absolutely gorgeous. Black cherry, plum, spice and leather notes race out of the glass in this pliant, super-expressive red. $25.00 (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 7 years ago

Eric Godin

9.6

Among the infinite layers intermittently displayed by this wine you will find juicy reds blues and blacks. In particular it opened with a nice blueberry and from there the palate was a roller coaster experience, the story changing continuously. What an experience! I am sure this is just the beginning of my quintarelli journey. — 8 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.1

Snowfall kinda came out of nowhere. Making the evening a bit more wintery and festive. One hour decant on this, needs some bottle age. Juicy, juicy black fruit. Hints of smoke and eucalyptus. Nice acidity. Thanks so much @Shawn R for the hook up with these guys! — 9 years ago

with Diana