Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

All of the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. Medium pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits with a slight nutty floral character. On the palate flavors of peach and melon with lemon citrus and savory notes. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, toasty oak and minerality. Nice! — 2 months ago

Adam Bryant

8.9

Good for a moderately priced Cab. I like family owned and sustainable. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Owned in collaboration with Chris Ringland, Jorge Ordonez, Miguel Gil and others, located in Valley of La Aragona inside the Murcia district of Jumilla. Very dark Ruby, purple edges with floral fruit aromas & floral spice. On the palate blueberry & sweet black cherry flavors, savory with great mouthfeel, 24 months aging on French & American oak, the 70% Monastrell & 30% Cab Sauv has fine soft tannins, well integrated with oak, long finish ending with mineral tones, Will age well! — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. Co-owned by Stephan von Neipperg (La Mondotte and Canon La Gaffelière in Saint-Emilion). A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Very attractive nose with black cherries, blackberries and strawberry marmelade, mixed with smokey oak and Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, with concentrated black fruit, smooth tannin and great spicy length. Super sexy hedonistic Bordeaux. Amazing value too. Highly recommended. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Craggy Range is a family owned winery established in 1997. Pale straw with stone and citrus fruit aromas with hints of honey sweetness. On the palate dry, with lively fruit, gooseberry, lime, melon and pronounced grapefruit flavors with subtle herb tones, vivid acidity, crisp and refreshing. Long smooth finish ending with a mineral tones. Nice value! Ready to drink now! Love the ‘19. — 6 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.0

Eagle Ridge is one of my favorite boutique wineries in Livermore. They use all estate grapes and the Petite Sirah is their signature wine. This 6 year old PS has flavors of plum and brambleberries. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Family-owned and operated artisan producer of wine, started in 1999 by Dr John and Karen Bergstrom. Had a bottle year ago, dark red with fresh berry fruit flavors with a bit of earthy spice notes. On the palate, cherry and raspberry flavors with complex herb spice notes. Fine tannins on lingering finish ending with enticing earthy character. Aged well, very nice Pinot. — 7 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

Not a fan of these blends. And shiny ultramodern wineries. 76% Sangiovese. Pretty good though and relatively decent priced 22$ cost. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.8

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Querciabella, in Italian, means “beautiful oak” and surrounds their vineyards. Founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni, now managed and owned by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglionii. Sangiovese from biodynamically grown grapes, Ruby, lovely nose of fruit, floral and spice. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors with earthy herb notes and spicy cacao. Fine tannins, good balance, medium+ finish ending with earthy character. Nice value, consistent. — 5 years ago

web bond

9.5

Henri et Georges Jayer Echezeaux 1998. Vines owned by Henri’s brother Georges. 2X with this wine. Richer and fuller in body(than the Jayer Cros Parantoux 1998 drunk alongside) and became silkier, more savory, and more elegant with time in decanter. Arguably not at apogee, although drinking fantastically now. — 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. — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2015 vintage. An unusually high percentage of Merlot for Saint-Estèphe. This estate is owned by the quality-conscious Lorenzetti family (who did such a great job at Pédesclaux in Pauillac), and it is great value. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tasted this about 1 1/2 ago, distributor indicated a new batch, some lots underwent malolactic conversion enhancing flavor & weight. 40/40/20 blend, Pinot Meunier-20%. Founded in 1776, Reims France, rare family owned company, still managed by Roederer family. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited company his uncle & renamed company under his namesake. Fresh fruit aromas, nice mousse, rapid bubbles, citrus & toasty apple flavors, crisp & refreshing, lingering ending with lemon, smoke & yeasty mineral notes. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.

This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.

I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.

The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.

The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 4 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

Nice cab. I found it lacking a bit of refinement considering we were at one of the best wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe. But solid wine, and amazing winery. Syrah leading the way in this region I strongly believe. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2018 vintage. Owned by Belgian Justin Onclin, consulted by Hubert de Boüard. A spectacular effort. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Classy nose with ripe red fruit, flowers and subtle cedar wood. Concentrated and very elegant, impressive depth, beautifully balanced with perfectly integrated alcohol (abv. 15 %) and a knock-out finish. Definitely up to Premier Grand Cru level. Highly recommended. — 5 years ago

Martin Sher

9.1

Any day of the week! Great off dry Riesling from one of my favorite wineries. Sweet orchard fruit that goes down with frightening ease. — 6 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.5

Another terrific example from one of my very favorite wineries. Dark and nearly opaque. Inviting floral nose. Rich earthy taste of dark fruit, spices, vanilla and pepper. Long, round finish. This will continue to improve for at least four or five years. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

One of CA's oldest wineries, Far Niente, founded in 1885 by world traveler John Benson. The winery flourished until Prohibition, at which time it was abandoned and fell into complete disrepair. The stately stone shell of a winery was purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel. Tropical and stone fruit aromas with complex spice and oak notes. On the palate apple, melon and citrus flavors, creamy, with toasty oak, fig and honey tones. Lingering finish ending with vibrant acidity & mineral character. Consistent. Nice! — 8 years ago