Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 8 days ago

Stuart Pollack

9.7

Beautiful Syrah. Cranberry and leather and earth. So complex. Earth and red fruit nose. A paradigm of Syrah. — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Medium-dark color with some bricking, this is more backward and less evolved than the 1990 side-by-side, showing dark fruits, some Brett, but some tannic structure as well, lacks that sweet American note of the 1990, long, lingering finish, and I’d guess another 3-5 years of further improvement.

I really adore these early Pesquera Crianza (the regular cuvée, the Gran Reserva was always too much of an oak show for my palate), a wonderful find a few weeks ago while doing some cellar rearranging!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

From 375ml. @Lira Restaurant The Chef is the Gordon Ramsey winner.

Resolved, velvety M+ tannins. Ruby fruits of; blackberry pie, black raspberries, blueberries, both plums, dark cherries & raspberries. Dark chocolate bar, slightly moist tobacco, sandalwood to barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry herbs, light cinnamon, clove, vanillin, mocha, dry, volcanic clay, dark, withering flowers, some lavender framed in violets, excellent round acidity with incredible, balance, perfectly tensioned, softly structured, elegance finish that lasts a full minute. — 10 days ago

Tracy Byrnes

9.2

A stunner. The way Zinfandel should be made. — 22 days ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Cork didn’t want to come out of this bottle, medium color with some bricking, lovely sweet American oak aromatics with some faint Brett notes, soft tannins, excellent acidity and balance, long, lingering finish with some sweet fruit, excellent!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Janice in Livermore

8.9

2019. At Kuumbwa Jazz enjoying a Christian McBride concert — 7 days ago

Remington Remmel

9.8

Medium body, dark chocolate, light acidity, black plum — 11 days ago

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.5

13.0% ABV Dark purple color. Nice oak . Very good wine. Paired w/ beef bourguignon. — a month ago

Todd Anderson

9.3

This is drinking really nice right now. Great mature fruit. Drink while it's at peak. Very nice upside surprise on a regional (vs vineyard) designated wine. Prost! — 2 months ago