Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon is named for the shield-shaped block that casts a watchful eye on the entrance to Monte Rosso Vineyard. Deep Ruby with aromas of rich dark fruit, cedar and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry, blackberry and currants with vanilla oak and toasty nutty notes. Fine soft tannins, well balanced with acidity, long finish ending with berry fruit, cacao and toasty vanilla oak. Nice! — 6 days ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

A gerwurz like no other. From high elevation, dry farmed old vines. More green melon, lemon, white rose, and lychee. So. Much. Acid. (especially for this variety). Stunning.

wine country 2022 with the boomers — 13 days ago

Shay A

9.3

My 2016 Rivers Marie Pinots are about gone…SummaOV is left. Occidental, Silver Eagle and SummaOV are always my favorites. I’m between a 93-94 here.

Great example of a Pinot that has a lot of power but plenty of balance. Deep black cherry colored in the glass but the aromatics are much more savory than expected. There’s an animalistic/feral quality to this initially (that I love) showing a smoked meat flair alongside dark blood orange and ripe black cherries. Commanding mouthfeel and great acidity. Continual back and forth of dark berry fruit and savory/herbal notes. The use of whole cluster is noticeable but it does a good job complimenting the wine (more high toned) and not taking center stage (as in, not overly stemmy/green). Wonderful lengthy finish. More brooding and savory than Silver Eagle but certainly not in the vein of a “cab lovers pinot” style. This was delicious and likely hangs in this window for at least 5+yrs. — 6 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Popped too young, but I just wanted to open it, dammit. Classic fairly old-school Zin nose, with brambly blackberry, a bit of American oak, and stony gravel. Fairly tight in the mouth. I love the focused fruit, which is not jammy in the least. It’s very dry (which is almost jarring these days of jammy Zins with residual sugar), and it’s got some youthfully drying tannins. Needs, and will be better in, at least 2-3 years, but enjoyable now. — 8 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a delicious Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. Rich, complex and elegant.

Light burgundy in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing red currants, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, light vegetables, tobacco, chocolates, light barnyard, coffee and peppercorn.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself as a sipping wine.

This 8 year old is peaking now, although it will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Thank you Scott for sharing.

Wine Spectator 90 points. Robert Parker 94 points.

Grapes were aged in a mixture of new and used French oak barrels, and concrete vats.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 4 days ago

with Scott

Jeffrey Woo

9.0

Medium ruby hue. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, bramble, dried fruit, and pepper. Medium-plus body, with medium tannins and medium acidity. Elegant and lighter in character than other California Zinfandels (or Zin blends). 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 12% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet. — a day ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

OG California Field Blend Goodness… inky black with waves of Ripe blackberry bramble, cherry, and a touch of smoke. I fell in love with these hyperbolic field blends 30 years ago. Rice, ripe, smooth, with s hint of green stem and leafy forest flooor. I forgot just how these wines scratch my zin/oak/mid-weight itch. I am making my response to find more… — 11 days ago

Mark Farrell

9.5

Color is deep ruby and brick with a nose of black currants, prunes, and vanilla. It also includes herbal notes of oregano and maybe green peppercorns. I also pick up dusty notes. Great fruit on this wine with well integrated tannins and flavors pumping through the long, impressive finish. This is a really good wine. — 10 days ago

Mark Farrell

8.9

The wife and I did a fun Syrah blind tasting with the coravin. We ranked the wines exactly the same. I feel like a Modus Operandi fanboy, but their wines really do perform well in these blind tastings. #1 Modus Operandi 2018 Caldwell Vineyard Syrah #2 Dumol 2016 Wild Mountainside Russian River Valley Syrah # 3 Kimsey 2017 Syrah. The MO and DuMol were much better than the Kimsey. I was really disappointed in the Kimsey. It just wasn’t there. Since DuMol is tagged here, the nose had dark fruits and a bit of funk. Flavors were nice, and the finish lingered a bit, but not as long as I would have liked. Score is for the DuMol. — 8 days ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Ripe strawberries, ripe raspberries, tart cherry; Mashed strawberries, red apple peel, black cherry.
In a fine spot today!
2018 blend is 87% Pinot Noir, 8% Syrah & 5% Grenache.

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On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with our first show of the season, a popular artist event with The Mavericks / Nick Lowe / Los Straitjackets. A lot of guitar talent on stage today! — 8 hours ago