Travis W

9.4

Oh my. This is the business for my palate. Absolutely spot on. You know when a wine has some kind of energy to it, that the moment it hits your mouth you just know that it's ticking all of your boxes. After an hour the acid became a little shrill, but apart from that, this bottle was wonderful. — 24 days ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

Throwback for me. As Zin was my go to grape in the 90s, the single vineyard Ravenswood wines were my favorites! I visited in 1999/2000ish and drank from the barrels.

900 cases made, this has a bold blueberry and black pepper nose, mint adds on the palate, a bit more mellow than I remember it, which is great for my older taste. Medium plus body, medium tannins.

92 points — 6 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.1

#bordeauxblend that is comparably better than some of the Aussie blends I’ve been tasting lately. “Calentito”as we say in Spain which means you can feel the alcohol like a dragon in your lungs. #ravenswood #merlot #malbec #cabernetsauvignon (how annoying is the misspelled hashtag in @Delectable Wine of #cabernetsaugvinon) it’s the worst! And a pinch of #petitverdot #ravenswood — 7 months ago

with Rosario

Piyush Agarwal

9.0

Normally don’t like merlot and this is a 75/25 merlot/cab blend but it is very smooth with no tannins — 2 months ago

Keaton Kail

9.6

I couldn’t believe this bottle was as fresh as I was told it would be. Utter magic. Beautiful color, only ever so slightly bricked. Raspberry coulis, blood orange and new saddle leather, barely diminished acid and heavenly pillow-soft tannin. It actually opened up with air. Let it be known Joel Peterson’s legacy is still waiting to blow your mind. — 3 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

I’m not that into this one. It HAS TO BE ICONIC. But Iconic leads to over extracted over sexed over. Just lacking finesse. Lacking intrigue. Don’t get me wrong. It’s delicious and I don’t mind drinking it and can age in the bottle but it’s missing it’s MOJO. #petitesirah #alicantebouschet #zinfandel and #carignane #sonoma #sonomacounty — 7 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

I love it. #carignan #carignane #zinfandel #petitesyrah #syrah #alicantebouschet #monastrell #garnachatintorera #mourvedre #barbera #sonoma #sonomacounty it has this complexity and balance due to the blend that intrigues me and keeps me coming back for more. #ravenswood also incredibly fresh for 2014 vintage. Can age. — 7 months ago

with Rosario

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.0

One of our favorite single vineyards from Ravenswood. — 2 months ago

with Brian

Bryan Kesting

9.1

Still holding up well. Drink up. — 6 months ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.8

Wine of the Year – 2020. What a year. Maybe it should be “Wine of the Apocalypse” 1976 MOUNT VEEDER WINERY “Niebaum-Coppola Vineyards” Napa Valley Cabernet Franc. Yes, I love old California wines and every wine I have declared “WOTY” has been from the 1970’s so far, but I believe it’s time to leave the 1970’s behind and move on so 2020 – we go with an obscure variety especially in 1976, Cabernet Franc. I’ve had this wine three times with the last one being this week. Mount Veeder wines from the 1970’s and early 1980’s still sport what may be my favorite label design ever. The David Lance Goines’ label (he also did Ravenswood) just rocks. Oh yeah, the wine...
From a low neck/high shoulder bottle with an intact cork the wine poured out with a delicate aroma of dried roses, light pipe tobacco, and even a hint of cherries. The texture was edgy and tart but nothing to panic about – just a bit of oxidation which would have been surprising if it was absent from a 44 year old wine! I sat with friend Jodi @jojosommface for a couple of hours at lunch and watched as this wine slowly unwound and displayed its full panoply of exotic flavors. At about opening +2 hours it was really stroking – now the aromas had morphed into anise, blackberry, that smell from first grade when you cleaned the pencil sharpener – sort of, cedar and graphite but more complex, some fig and date notes lingering. It was extraordinary in every way and a delight to drink and share.
The 1976 was the third vintage released by the winery started by Michael and Arlene Bernstein and I have no idea how many cases of the Cabernet Franc were made. There was also a Cabernet Sauvignon (I’ve also had), probably a Chardonnay. I’d never seen this wine until it started coming up on wine auctions about ten years ago. I miss wines like this and certainly in my own way craft the Secret Door wines to perform like this over time.
I hope that you and your family get to enjoy wonderful wines together this Holiday Season. If you share one of my wines please feel free to post with your comments! — 6 months ago