Chris Wheaton

9.5

So good on a rainy SF Friday evening…. Dense and serious with the lightness and lift of bubbles. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Woodcutter is entry level for Torbreck. For just under $20, a very good Shiraz for the money.

This is young and full throttle. Alcohol seems hotter than 15%. But their reds need time.

Lots of ripe; mulberries, blackberries to pie, gooseberries, black raspberries & dark candied black cherries. Anise into black licorice, sweet tarriness, black ground pepper, fresh tobacco, leather, barrel shavings, dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, dry crushed rocks, red flowers, lavender, violets, full round acidity and nicely balanced, big tensioned, well structured, lush, elegant, well polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on spice and pleasant earthiness.

It needs to shed its baby fat. Let rest another 3-5 years before opening. In Australian Shiraz hard to beat at this price point. — 8 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! — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Clean, crisp sparkling wine from a vineyard near Chalone, nicely aged, longish finish, very good. — 2 months ago

with Jim

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Holy smokes this is good! My expectations were modest due to my stereotyping its Santa Clara County provenance, but I stand corrected. This is apparently an old-vine blend featuring about 50% Zin and a mix of Carignane and Mataro (Mourvèdre) to round it out. The purity of the black and red berries on the nose is remarkable. A bit of crushed stony earth. In the mouth, there’s tremendous flavor concentration but with an athletic mouthfeel that balances nice acids and super-soft tannic support. Great length. Color me duly impressed. Shoulda got more. 14.5% alcohol thank you very much. — a year 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

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

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 — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Est. in 1861, first winery in the Napa by Prussian-born Charles Krug. Today the winery remains under the leadership of the Peter and Marc Mondavi, whose family purchased winery in 1943. Fruit sourced mainly from five family estates in Yountville, deep Ruby with ripe dark berry scents and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of sweet blackberry and cherry with leather, cacao and vanilla oak. Soft tannins, long ending with toasty oak and fruit! Very nice! — 2 years ago

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