Shay A

9.4

Standout bottle from Reynvaan at almost 13yrs. I’ve really enjoyed their syrahs with 10+yrs on them.

95 Syrah/ 5 viognier (co-ferment). Essentially Reynvaan’s version of Cayuse’s Cailloux (both co-fermenting a splash of Viognier).

Lots of experience with these but this bottle just had a little bit “more” of everything. Consumed from bottle over the course of a couple hours before corking and consuming the second half the next day. Immediate “Rocks district” funk aromatically (not quite Cayuse-level funk, but close)…green herbal crunch, olive, dark florals. The mid-palate and finish are the stars…so much complexity in flavor (smoked meat, peppered rhubarb and blackberries, stems) wrapped in a beautifully elegant profile. Oak has faded away and acidity carries it beautifully. Whereas Cayuse wines stay sanguine, savory and herbal all the way through, this has a lifted, perfumed and balanced (fruit and herbs) finish that is eerily reminiscent of Guigal’s La Turque. Best Reynvaan I’ve had.

I really liked this on day one but loved it on day two (score reflecting day two). This is at the pinnacle of its window, so don’t miss it. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.6

A bottle I contributed during a trip to Napa’s Premiere Napa Valley week. This was opened at Torc, alongside a ‘97 Leflaive Les Pucelles, ‘11 Leroy Blagny, ‘89 La Chappelle and two young Napa cabs from Simon Estate. La Mouline is always my favorite due to the amount of co-ferment with Viognier.

Deserving of a 1-2hr decant, this got about an hour open in bottle by the time we got to it. I opened the ‘04 La Turque just a few weeks prior, so I had a reference point to work with. Heady aromatics, as expected…dark potpurri, spice, mesquite and mocha. On the palate, the youthful bacon-fat of Cote Rotie was gone and had channeled the classical tangy barbecue profile alongside black olive, peppered red and black berry fruit, and smoked meat at the finish. Whereas the LaTurque was almost Burgundian in profile (elegant, light), this was somewhere in-between the “bigger” LaLandonne and LaTurque…big, but balanced, likely due to vintage. Aromatics and finish here were standouts. Open now with a quick decant or hold another few years. — 2 years ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Big, fruit-forward, oaky, a bit bitter on its own, smooths out when paired with a fatty red meat. Paired well with venison. — 4 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Dark, and full color. Smells ripe and juicy. Flavors are dense, vanilla-y and anise/licorice-y. Savory, meat stew with prunes. This is complex and strange Zinfandel. Spiced too. — 5 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Powerful, structured Syrah. Violets and meat on the extremely aromatic nose. The palate is sturdy but not overwhelming. Good tannic balance on top of the 15.1% alc and refreshing acidity. This is an indulgent wine with deep, inky, black fruits and plenty of smoky, meatiness. — 7 years ago

Louis Martin

8.9

Black cherry, tannins, medium body, hint of chocolate and coffee aroma, pairs well with both sweet cheese and spicy meat dishes. — 7 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.3

Terrific, maybe even underrated. Medium-to-full bodied. Firm tannins. Richly textured with blackberry, pepper, smoky meat, smoky meat, and smoky meat. Finishes with a hint of menthol. I opened this too soon. Let it sit. Time is your ally here. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

10

Torbreck RunRig Shiraz–Viognier 2021
Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview: 
A monumental Barossa Rhône-inspired powerhouse blend of approximately 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier, delivering extraordinary depth, concentration, and architectural structure while retaining aromatic lift and finesse. This is Barossa at its most commanding yet disciplined, massive fruit density wrapped in precision, energy, and length. A wine that commands attention, rewards contemplation, and delivers relentless momentum from first sip to finish.

Aromas & Flavors: 
Explosive black plum, blackberry compote, cassis, and dark cherry saturate the nose, layered with violets, smoked spice, cocoa nib, graphite, and subtle savory meat tones. The palate unfolds in waves of black fruit intensity, crushed stone minerality, licorice, espresso, and warm spice, finishing long, deep, and persistently resonant.

Mouthfeel: 
Full-bodied, muscular, and impeccably structured with commanding tannins that feel polished rather than aggressive. Immense mid-palate density is balanced by freshness and lift, creating a sense of power without heaviness. The texture is authoritative, layered, and built for long-term evolution.

Food Pairings: 
Dry-aged ribeye or wagyu. Slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary and garlic. Venison with black cherry reduction. Smoked brisket. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego, or aged Gouda.

Verdict: 
A truly elite expression of modern Barossa Shiraz, concentrated, complex, and unapologetically serious while remaining beautifully balanced and energetic. This is a reference-point wine that delivers immediate impact and exceptional cellar potential.

Did You Know?: 
RunRig is sourced from some of Barossa’s oldest and most revered Shiraz vineyards, with Viognier co-fermented in the traditional Northern Rhône style to enhance aromatic complexity, texture, and freshness.

🍷 Personal Pick: 
This wine completely captured my heart 100%, layered, commanding, and dangerously irresistible. One of those bottles that makes restraint impossible and reminds you why great wine can be genuinely emotional. A true benchmark experience.
— 5 months ago

Shay A

9.5

Opened as part of a 2-day tasting with Alex Macdonald while he was in town. Day two was a small group of us with killer wines (2010 Chave Hermitage, mag of ‘02 Krug, Selosse Substance, 1996 Latour, 2003 Mouton, 1992 Dominus).

Quick one hour double decant to prep this beauty. While La Mouline is my favorite, La Turque still incorporates the co-ferment with Viognier. 93 Syrah/7 Viognier.

Beautiful translucent ruby in the glass. As I get with certain Cote Rotie wines (especially Guigal), barbecue and bacon fat can be overwhelming when young, but this has channeled a really balanced profile. Aromatic notes of smoked meat, cherry liqueur, and espresso. Beautifully rich yet elegant on the palate. Great nerve of acidity with a finish sporting plenty of tannin to carry this a while. Black peppered raspberries, black fruit on the palate with a little bacon and a hint of sweet/tangy barbecue sauce note (delicious). Enjoy now with a short decant or hold another 5yrs. — 2 years ago

Ming L

8.9

Spotted this 100-year co-op bottling front the great 16’ vintage for only $25, and could not resist to pick up one.
Stewed black and blue berries, black currant, ripe raspberry, dry herbs, hint of cured meat and leather on the nose. Medium body. The candied red fruits on the the palate feels a bit syrupy to me. The medium acidity leaning towards sour.
Predominately Grenache. Great price for a CdP. — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.2

My first time trying a wine from Bedrock, a Sonoma producer who have a reputation for creating exceptional wines from old-vine Zinfandel.

This entry level bottling is very good - and very young. Brambly, with blackberry, black cherry, smokey barbecued meat, tobacco, black pepper & chocolate. Very full bodied, spicy, certainly not jammy but quite serious in its fruit profile - I actually found this quite Cabernet-like - with angular tannins and dried cherry acidity.

Nice to have a Zinfandel for the first time in what must be over a year! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A pre-tasting of my heavy meat red sauce in order to fine tune the spices and seasoning it before serving for 30 people for our friend’s 60th birthday party tomorrow night.

The sauce is 9 cans of whole tomato’s crushed & drained, 9 can cans of tomato sauce, 3 cans of tomato paste, 6.5 pound whole pork roast braised in diced garlic & olive oil that falls apart & shreds when done, 5 pepperoni sticks sliced, 4 pounds of meatballs (with Italian bread crumbs, garlic salt, coarse black pepper, eggs with warm water) and 14 seasonings & spices slow cooked over 36-48 hours. It’s a blend that once it’s done is magical harmony in the mouth like a well crafted & aged wine.

The wine works well but, I’ll have better pairing wines tomorrow night.

The nose reveals; dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender.

The body is medium full, round with great mouth presence. The tannins nicely, rounded, slightly tarry and baby teeth. The tension, structure, length and balance have just started to tango. Dark, sweet & slightest sour dark cherries, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, ripe, bright blackberries, baked black plum, ripe, juicy, strawberries, slightly candied black raspberries, blue fruits, mixed berry cola, medium intensity dark spice with a little palate heat, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry stems, leathery, dry tobacco, shades of graphite, soft, leaner, sweet, tarriness, nutmeg, clove, a touch of dry herbs with the most amazing, bright, red, dark blue florals, violets and shades of lavender. The acidity is nicely executed. The long finish is nicely knitted, balanced fruit and earth, polished with soft, brilliant florals and persists minutes.

Third largest Co-op in Europe and they produce some quality wines. Especially, for the volume the make.

Delectable has this @ $99. I bought it at Costco upon release for $28.99.

Photos of, the beautiful, quaint hilltop town of Barbaresco, my meat sauce, their tasting room just to the right at the feet of the clock tower with Gaja just a little further down to the right of there and the best Michelin star restaurant we’ve experienced for lunch. We dined there right after our visit to Gaja. What service, food and a day!
— 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Tensley – Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2022
Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation, rocky Colson Canyon Vineyard—a benchmark site for dense, expressive Rhône-style reds in Santa Barbara County. The 2022 shows trademark intensity with lifted aromatics and serious structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry and dark plum core with waves of pepper, smoked meat, coffee, and anise, plus subtle floral and stony/mineral undertones. Opens steadily in the glass, gaining savory complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with firm, well-knit tannins and lively acidity. Long, graceful finish. A touch of youthful CO₂ “ping” on opening can appear—vigorous swirling knocks it right back.

Winemaking Notes
Site-driven, concentrated Colson fruit; crafted for purity and power. 2022 has the stuffing to age 15–20 years, but is compelling with proper air today.

Food Pairing
Grilled lamb chops, pepper-crusted steak, duck confit, wild-mushroom ragù, smoked brisket, or aged Manchego/Gouda.

Verdict
An explosive yet composed Colson Canyon Syrah—all spice, smoke, and dark fruit wrapped in precision. Fantastic now after a hearty decant; built for the long haul. — 10 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Popped and double decanted to remove sediment (there’s quite a bit). Deeply fruity nose. Loads of dark berries, with deep cracked stone minerals. A bit of cured meat. The palate is much more savory than the nose. Liquid rock leads, but some crisp, dark berry fruit. Surprisingly nice acids. A fair amount of soft tannin. Long, clingy finish. Drinking very nicely now. Might be solid for a few more years, though I’m not sure it will improve much from here. Another really good wine from this top notch co-op. — 10 months ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group. Poured alongside Mark’s 2012 Oakville Winegrowers mag.

En mag. I was curious to see how this showed upon opening, and it unsurprisingly needed a quick decant to blow off some funk. As a blind pour, it’s tough to get to Mourvèdre heavy in profile, but it absolutely is what makes older CdP so magical. Beautiful faint ruby in the glass. A bit leathery and maybe even a small hint of brett, but then it evolved to show potpourri, spiced red and black fruits and garrique. In the glass, the expected savory notes come out with smoked meat, gaminess, black pepper baked-rhubarb, little bit of truffle. Elegant. Good acidity. Delicious finish! — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.3

Nose of blueberry, warm spices, dark chocolate, cured meat, and hint of violet. Full body. Dense yet lively on the palate. Plush tannins. Long elegant finish.
95% Syrah from Carneros and 5% Viognier from St. Helena, co-fermented.
Deliciously approachable, but will age gracefully for 10-15 years. — 4 years ago

Tim L

9.2

2014 Sonoma Co. Cabernet. Agree "as expected" but perhaps a bit more respect due. Excellent balance, big fruit, smooth silky palate, long finish. Great with red meat. Pricey, though for not quite top tier full bodied... — 6 years ago

Laith A

9.3

This has lost some fruit forwardness over the years! Now with smoke, grilled meat juice and dark-berry aromas and flavors. Drink now! — 7 years ago

Turd Ferguson

9.1

Open it. Pour out a glass. Pour that glass back into the bottle. Cork it. Stick it in the fridge. 24 hours later, drink it cold with grilled meat while watching NBA playoffs. Fart on your wife’s leg while she’s napping next to you on the couch. Repeat next weekend — 7 years ago

R D B

8.9

Inexpensive Red blend. Nice with heavy d’œuvres and red meat or Italian dishes. The blend is reminiscent of a chianti though this is a French vintage. Black and spicy fruits with some herbs. Dark, rich color. - TJ NOLA — 7 years ago