Bruce Dunbar

9.0

Beautiful golden color. Toast, lemon pith, slate, bright acidity. Chablis meets champagne in California? A great food sparkler. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Clean, crisp sparkling wine from a vineyard near Chalone, nicely aged, longish finish, very good. — 7 months ago

with Jim

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Small production. RSV has under 200 acres of vineyards in 5 Carneros locations & a winery in the Stags Leap District. The wines are 100% organic. Ruby with berry, cherry & spice aromas. On the palate flavors of wild strawberry & cherry with complex spice, citrus, oak and balanced acidity. Fine soft tannins, good balance, long finish with an earthy characteristic ending with notes of vanilla spice. Nice! — 4 years ago

Severn G

9.2

2018; Under-ripe strawberry, clementine zest, red raspberry, delicious.
There's a reason we buy at least a couple cases of this every vintage, over delivering on value! — 4 years ago

Vanessa

8.9

When the weather is in the 80s, an aquatic happy hour is in order!

We’re excited to try this rosé, made primarily from the Tibouren grape, coming from the Côtes de Provence AOC of France.

Clos Cibonne has been in the loving hands of the Roux family since 1793. Due to the hard work and dedication of this family, the vineyard from which this wine comes was among the 18 designated “Cru Classés” in the Côtes de Provence 1950 classification, an indication of its quality. You may attribute Tibouren’s inclusion in the list of legally-permissible varieties in the Côtes de Provence AOC to the Roux family, as well.

This rosé is 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache. It was made by direct press, giving it a paler hue, fermented in stainless steel, and aged biologically for 12 months in large, 100-year-old oak foudres under a thin layer of yeast (known as a “fleurette”), a process similar to that used to create Fino Sherry in Spain (where the “fleurette” is called the “flor”).

The result is a crisp, elegant expression with delicate lemon, gooseberry, white peach, chamomile, blanched almond, and clay notes. It also has a savory element that I’m having a hard time putting my finger on, perhaps it’s soft white cheese, along with great structure and texture.

Clos Cibonne, Tibouren, Cru Classé, Côtes de Provence, Vintage 2018, ABV 13.5%. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve everyone! 🎄🎅🤶⛄️❄️🎁🍷

On the nose, leap dark currants & cassis with bright red, dark, blue & purple florals at pop & pour. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals.

The body is; round, ripe, & rich. The tension, structure, length and balance are just beginning their sweet spot. The tannins are; rounding, tarry & still chewy. Plenty of life left in the 09...8-10 years. Dark currants & cassis. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, cherries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry stems, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals. The acidity is round & spot on. The ripe, rich, ruby, elegant, balanced & polished finish is splendid and persists nicely on the palate with mid, dark spice on the long set. So much better with this much age. Really delicious tonight!

A steal now at under $35 upon release at Costco.

This wine is close to its peak and will hover there 3-4 years.

Photos of; the Estate, old large oak vats and David Heitz.
— 7 years ago

Caleb Krell

9.3

Epic. Balanced. Pear/apple/floral- but not too much acid… just enough to keep things fresh. — 3 months ago

Chris Wheaton

9.5

So good on a rainy SF Friday evening…. Dense and serious with the lightness and lift of bubbles. — 6 months ago

Dave

9.0

This wine has the kitchen sink in it. Dark fruit is hiding under the prominent leather, herbs, mint, tobacco, and earth. It's a fine sipper for jazz nights by the fireplace. Made my teeth red.
Listening to Bill Evans — 7 months ago

Ericsson

9.0

The Monday kinda wine and one of the first whites that got me into white wine and still love it @Sharon B. At under fifteen bucks a pop it’s real steal still. — 4 years ago

Ken Z

9.0

Drank 9\20\20. Nice with a bacon cheeseburger.

Medium nose of black and blue fruits with some spice and a bit of herbaceousness as well. Big, but balanced with cassis, blueberry, and a bit of spice all backed by medium plus tannins. Long finish and great balance. I can't think of too many good cabs for under $20, and this one delivers for closer to $10. Incredible value.

3\21\8\4\4 +50 = 90 pts. — 6 years ago

Matt Hanley

9.4

One of the best Riesling for the money (under $30). Sweet but not too sweet. Green apple, honey, some minerality and zip. Great with food. Just great. Would buy again soon to have a bottle on hand. — 6 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.4

Wonderful example of how there can be surprises in these under rated vintages. This was full of life. — 8 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.4

love this , jammy fruity smooth... — 3 months ago

Dave Auerbach

9.6

Bright red fruits on the nose, and it follows on the palate. There’s a seriously structured core under there, with hints of vanilla and spice. 2011 vintage is at it’s prime now, and could be ideal for another 2-3 years. Just an outstandingly made wine. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Consistent both days. The 2017 Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with dark cherries, ripe bruised strawberries, baked apple, hibiscus, toasted coconut, vanilla, new leather and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Medium+ alcohol. A lovely pairing with my sort of modern riff on paella for a quick Tuesday evening meal. More please!

Having enjoyed vintages going back to the early 1980’s, I think Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” is one of the last few, true bargains in the wine world. They are classic in the sense that they are unmistakably Rioja and they have the ability to age for decades. It’s very hard for me to think of another wine that is widely available for under $30 that can drink this well and cellar that long. Let’s enjoy the disparity while we can! — 3 years ago

Nicolas Lau

9.2

Delish. Well done. Perfect amounts of wood, fruit and earth. Great balance. Awesome if you can find for under $28 these days. — 4 years ago

Petar Radakovic

9.0

One of the best wines under $10. Nice and smooth, flavorful blend. Very easy to drink and at $7 a bottle it’s a steal. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.1

Nose has cold green table grapes, tart green apple slice, wet slate, distant petrol, lime peel, under-ripe peach slice and dried tangerine peel.

Palate has dried lime, sweet green apple slice, slate gravel, under-ripe peach, under-ripe pear, bright acidy, medium finish. As the label states, (very) dry. Future bottles should be 2027+ — 6 years ago

Charles Garrison

9.1

Stunning color...refreshing without heaviness... — 7 years ago