Bill Bender

8.5

Extremely underwhelming and dull. Thin and almost watered down as if two ice cubes were left in the glass to melt. No nose to speak of. Crisp and tart on entry and then it just falls off a cliff. — 14 days ago

Bill Bender

9.3

Seems a cut above and more distinguished than most of the other KB offerings. I get the distinct cherry cola note that I’m used to with Kosta Brown but there’s some real nuance here too. Very rich but absolutely no heat and markedly silky and penetrating. Could still use some time in the bottle to be sure but in a nice spot now. — 24 days ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Subtle and balanced. Good lift, fruit driven and in a very nice zone. Solid intro to this producer. My guess is this is an early drinker so get to it. — 25 days ago

Bill Bender

9.3

The Matthiasson was another standout this week as was spending time with my youngest daughter. Very low alcohol but subtle punch. White peach and wild strawberry. So smooth and fresh it almost glides over your taste buds. — 14 days ago

Bill Bender

9.5

I absolutely f’n love this stuff and it is so damn perfect for the warm summer nights. Vibrant juicy red fruit, a dash of funk and just plain delicious. So effortless and fulfilling. — 24 days ago

Bill Bender

9.3

A hearty, bold Pinot noir to be sure. Certainly youthful but not so much so that this cannot be enjoyed now. Matt Courtney worked with Helen at Marcassin and he clearly soaked up a lot—his Chardonnays are superb. I’d wait on this 2-3 years but they are tough to be patient with. — 25 days ago

Bill Bender

9.4

7 days of sunsets and at least 8 bottles of rose’.....this week was a good one on both accounts. A super dependable mineral driven, herbal, melon and fresh cut nectarine rose’....consistently solid on several bottles I had this week. — 14 days ago

Bill Bender

9.3

Beach week staycation begins. True Believer has been by my side the last few years. A little spritzy on pop. My preference is to have this cold—50 degrees or cooler to smooth it out. — 20 days ago

Bill Bender

9.2

If not my favorite Howell mountain Cab producer it’s certainly 1A. The True bottling is without a doubt on an echelon above level but this is always very gratifying. I opened this the day I received news of the sale of the winery. I hope I still have the opportunity to sit on the mountain top there and look over the valley. It’s definitely a serene and gorgeous highlight when I visit Napa. — 24 days ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Big fan. Exceptional balance and nice acidity. Smoke, pepper and bright red fruit. There’s a bramble quality and my guess there’s some stem treatment. Works here. — 25 days ago