Brian S

9.5

Truffle cheese — a month ago

Deb Hollander

9.1

Loved the hint of cherry and the balanced tannins. — 4 months ago

Ted

9.1

Herbs, cinnamon and hints of incense. Light color. Pretty damn good. — 5 months ago

with Jeni

Ericsson

9.0

WEST3 London. Very good wine. — 7 months ago

Tegan Marriott

8.9

Santa Barbara highlands radiance in a glass! Yo, I'll pretend I'm rolling through da Wine Ghetto! — 7 months ago

TwiLea Fletcher

8.9

07.1125
Quite quite nice. — a year ago

David Koenen

9.3

Fantastic showing. Hazelnut, ginger, pineapple and toast, brilliant balance. Impeccable midpalate followed by a persistent finish with brioche, orange blossom and whipped cream with lemony notes. At its peak. — 4 years ago

Tobin Spratte

9.3

This is the first wine I've rated where I stood right on the soil where it grew. Classic blackberrry-raspberry and strawberry jam aromas of domestic Zin but significantly more character and earth as it breathes in the glass. — 2 months ago

Frank Soldano

9.2

Drinking the 2018 in 2026. Dark thick long lasting legs. Nose has dark fruit and cherry notes, slightly sweet. Light flavor for a cab. Very smooth with a fruity finish. Nice wine. — 5 months ago

Sándor Jaguar

9.0

Possibly a potential go to medium $ Pinot noir. Can't think of what is better except for stuff we have equity in — 6 months ago

with Sydne, Ryan and 22 others

David Shaw

9.1

Dark ruby red, excellent clarity. Raspberry with a hint of sandalwood in nose, raspberry, rhubarb, white pepper and black tea in mouth. Tart — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Etude – Heirloom Pinot Noir 2012
Grace Benoist Ranch, Carneros AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Estate-grown from the celebrated Grace Benoist Ranch, this Heirloom Pinot underscores Etude’s mastery of Carneros terroir. Over a decade since harvest, it has aged with remarkable poise, offering proof that Carneros Pinot can rival the greats for longevity. This one delivers the wow-factor in spades.

Aromas & Flavors
Dried cherry, black raspberry, and plum layered with rose petal, tea leaf, and subtle leather. Mature accents of forest floor and truffle bring savory depth to the fruit core.

Mouthfeel
Silky and seamless, with tannins fully resolved into finesse. Bright acidity carries the wine gracefully, while the finish lingers in layers of spice, earth, and fruit. Quite literally, the wine dances in the mouth.

Food Pairing
A natural match with duck confit, wild mushroom risotto, or aged Comté cheese. The wine’s silky texture and earthy notes intertwine beautifully with savory, umami-rich dishes.

The Verdict
A captivating Pinot Noir that reaffirms Etude’s finesse and Grace Benoist Ranch’s pedigree. This 2012 shows the sweet spot for Etude Heirloom around the 10–12 year mark, where fruit, earth, and structure harmonize in peak expression. Among Carneros’ top benchmarks for age-worthy Pinot. Cheers! — 10 months ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Decant and pour. On the nose: Terrific nose of stewed plum, eucalyptus, herbaceous, smoke, black olives, and mushroom. Taste: smooth, creamy, dry wine with blackberry, pencil lead, dried herbs, smoke, dark cherry, earth, and a medium finish. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Ben Lehman

9.3

What can I say I love anything Angela makes, and the new Tribute to Grace tasting room in Los Alamos is a gem. My Dad declared this was his favorite wine ever and my mom is from nearby Cucamonga, so let’s just say everyone was happy. For that reason, wine of our trip out west after not seeing the folks for 18 months. As always, just incredibly elegant Grenache, light on its feet, but not without its nuanced power — 5 years ago

Gregg Siegal

9.2

A gift from a friend, this is lovely, with a bit of tobacco on the nose and lively cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate. The finish goes on and on. — 3 months ago

Bonnie Chu

9.0

With tabonette sabich platter — 4 months ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.1

This is the fullest bodied and ripest 2007 Willamette PN I’ve had. 14.5% stated alcohol. Just a bit over the top but still enjoyable. — 6 months ago

Kurt Schuster

8.9

Vivid clear, color and tight, concentrated fruit. Cherries and plums and juiciness. Very delicious, but also seem to fade very quickly and it’s flavor. Corked it for a day and a half and came back to something that was quite quickly on its way out and had become round and just grape juicy. Maybe that’s on me for leaving it.  — 6 months ago

with Denise

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Bella Novello – Cabernet Sauvignon – Vintage 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A tribute wine named after Teresa Novello, this Cabernet Sauvignon carries the elegance of heritage with the power of Napa terroir. Crafted in limited production (just 850 cases), Bella Novello is youthful yet already expressive, shaped by winemaking that blends Italian finesse with Napa Valley boldness.

Aromas & Flavors
Aromas of blackcurrant, ripe plum, and blackberry intertwine with cedar, graphite, and touches of dried violet. Subtle hints of mocha and spice round out its aromatic depth.

Mouthfeel
Structured and youthful, with firm tannins and a focused core of dark fruit. The mid-palate shows promise of expansion, leading to a lingering finish marked by cassis and savory spice. Designed to reward both patience and curiosity.

Food Pairings
Pair with classic dishes like bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised lamb shanks, or wild mushroom risotto. Its backbone of tannin and freshness makes it ideal for rich, protein-driven meals.

Verdict
Bella Novello is a Cabernet with poise, combining Old World inspiration and Napa’s hallmark concentration. Drinkable now with decanting, but truly a wine built to age gracefully over the next decade.

Did You Know?
The Novello family’s Italian roots are deeply honored through this label, bringing a personal story of heritage to the heart of Napa winemaking.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This Cabernet feels like a future classic, bold yet refined. While still youthful, it already hints at the elegance it will achieve with time. A bottle worth cellaring, but also one to enjoy now with the right meal and good company. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Pretty deep , almost opaque , thin rim . Quite wild , dried herbs , touch of rounded red fruits . More fruit on the palate , quite ripe red fruits , quite soft but fine , nice balanced acidity . Slightly warm. Quite good length though quite dry finish . Nice now , wouldn’t want to leave this too much longer however . — 4 years ago