Ron from VA

8.9

Thick & viscous - dense brambleberry and prune at 15yr+ old. While a little over the hill, this still had rich flavor from a very sugary vintage. Decent cleansing power with fillet. — 2 months ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

The 2014 Seavey Merlot is in the zone right now. Although a lot of Seavey offerings take time to develop, this Merlot can either be kept or consumed. But, after having this one I just don't know how much better this will get. It is balanced well between brambleberry and slightly underripe plum on the front, herbs and a hint of a nitrogen note in the middle. Acidity is good throughout. Well structured, this wine went well by itself and also went well with a chicken burrito. Finished darker than it started. I think this one is right where it needs to be right now. I think you could hold this for 5-7 years but really just is a nice drinker now. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

One of 4 wines brought to Folly Beach to enjoy a pre-15th anniversary celebration. Nose of black licorice and young pipe tobacco. Entry is a little bit sweeter, but classic Rioja with terroir driven notes, full bodied black cherry, black licorice, smoked pipe tobacco, brambleberry cola, semi-sweet plums, mint. Definitely more on the full-bodied side. Finishes long with a lot of pepper and flinty character. I honestly think this one has a solid 10 years ahead of it. — 7 years ago

Ryan Guy

9.2

Day 2 and firing on all cylinders. Dried garden herbs, fresh plum and brambleberry pie. Touch of leather too. Palate is appreciably layered and complex, albeit medium minus in weight. Initial showing of black rasberry and plum, leading to midpalate spice box and gamey notes. Finish is dry with chalky and savory notes with excellent persistence at the price point. Far outshines other examples of CdR, truly a baby CdP! Stock up and drink now or over 5 years! — 7 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.1

Let summer begin. A lovely Chard. Not too oaky good grip and acidity with a very long finish. Brambleberry and honeysuckle on the nose. — 7 years ago

with David

Ryan Guy

9.2

Smokey, toasty aromas are met with brambleberry, black licorice and cracked pepper. Plenty of zip on the pallet with fresh blackrasberry flavors and a slight piecrust note. Tannins are integrated and balanced, this is in a sweet spot now.

— 7 years ago

Lauren Golanty

9.0

Delish. At first blush, it seems like this will be lighter than it should be, but then a rush of raspberry and brambleberry, with dried spice and earth comes in. Lovely. Had it with steak, and I think the steak over powered it a bit. Maybe better with a cheese plate or chicken or duck… would happily drink this again. — 9 months ago

Tegan Marriott

9.2

Well made Malbec or Cot. Deliciously rich & layered. Brambleberry, sanguine, a little chalk, toast for the most. & The best part a consistent producer to boot! — 6 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on January 11, 2020 at Home]

Zippy black raspberry, blackberry and brambleberry fruit, with pencil box, and black pepper on the finish. Silky structure with nice tannic backbone. Wine #83 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2012. — 6 years ago

Sam Shepard

9.3

Brambleberry, violet and creme de cassis. Super silky — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

A fitting wine for my 3000th (CT) review. This wine is in the wheelhouse. Nose of black cherry, brambleberry, cola. Entry is full, mature, ripe sweet black cherry and Cherry Coke. The middle has a bit of a smoky character, tobacco leaf, mint, grilled mushroom. The finish showed great acidity and moderate tannins. With hummus, more of the savory side of this wine came out. With a spicy turkey and brie, more of the sweeter side. Full bodied wine from Dyer, and probably one of the best balanced and integrated Diamond Mtn wines I have had in a LONG time. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This is Cabernet Franc in a Beaujolais style. Nose of this wine alone is worthy of 89. Bing cherry, brambleberry, oregano, white flowers, honeysuckle, full of cheer! Entry is medium bodied. Touches acidic for about 0.2 seconds and then goes to a brambly mineral dense red cherry fruit and wildflower. Gets quite a bit more brambly in the middle. Finishes with a candied cherry minerality almost like a dusty Luden's cough drop. Would have almost expected some bitter notes here but it never went that direction. Really quite a complex wine for the price paid. Although I don't really think this is a long term ager, it did require about 2 hours to fully express itself. Really neat wine. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Thanksgiving wine number 7. The last of the celebration before we switched to beer! I will tell you that most of the reason why we opened this one was because it was on the counter and we were talking about Napa Valley experiences. Next thing you know, the cork on this one is out! Pours a slightly violet color to the glass. Sweet briar patch brambleberry and mint nose. The entry of this wine is medium to full-bodied. Very acidic at first, displaying almost a blood orange zest. The acidity flattens out in the middle, displaying a very robust sweet fruit characteristic. Steel finishes with a lot of acidity and a lot of tannic grip. In all honesty, this one needed to stay in the chiller to rest for a few more years. Why wait? Drinking rather well, although if I had to do it all over again, I would probably decant for about 2 hours before serving, or better yet just wait 3 to 5 years. — 8 years ago

Jennifer Pletcher

8.9

Warm, dark fruit and baking spices. Reminds me of brambleberry pie. — 3 years ago

Susan Hanners

9.0

Smooth cab franc, no nose, dry brambleberry taste, medium body, light dry finish — 4 years ago

Tegan Marriott

9.1

Brambleberry, sanguine, a little underbrush. This was better on the 2nd day. Flavors became more pronounced! — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Playing a little catch up.... I have some younger Archive, which I was going to open within a couple of years. However, this GSM blend crafted in a year arguably more difficult has really made me rethink my decision. This wine is doing just fine tonight. Took about 45 minutes for some of the oddities to blow off. Started with an orange rind kind of note which did resolve. The nose at first was brambleberry, ginger, tangerine, herbs, black cherry and flowers. The entry after 30-45 minutes was more on the black cherry and brambleberry side. Wildflowers. The nose never quite blew off that tangerine note, but the palate went solid red and herbal and even drew some green olive and tobacco to the middle. Good acidity from front to back. These wines are very well made. I do not believe that this one is on the way down, but it certainly isn't going to get any better so this is the time to start enjoying these if you have not done so already! — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Cleaning up some things in the boss' cellar and forgot this one was here! Thought this one was over the hill as usually these are VERY approachable right at release. Really impressed with the structure of this at almost 10 years old. At release these seem to have lush fruit. This one had a wealth of chewy fruit, but it was half blackberry, half brambleberry, hint of vanilla and clove. Good acidity. Soft all around with integrated oak. Black pepper finish. Really impressed with this wine. Still has 3 to 5 years, but then again I wasn't even sure it had 0, so take that for what it's worth! — 7 years ago

Michael Schamis

9.2

This remains one of my favorites in the Ravenswood line because of its approachability. Soft and juicy with wonderful brambleberry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry flavors along with soft oak and spice with just enough acidity to keep it from being flabby or fat. — 7 years ago

with Kati

Rochelle

9.5

Full bodied a bit brambleberry undertones a Smokey Tobacco essence but not over powering a refined wine — 8 years ago