Jay Kline

9.2

From arguably the oldest vines in California, the Mission vines at Deaver Ranch were planted by John James Davis in 1854. While the Mission variety may be considered obscure by today’s standards, back in the day, it was the common variety being cultivated in California. It’s a versatile variety which served multiple purposes. Anymore, it’s rare to find a serious dry wine made with Mission. Thankfully, Tegan Passalacqua has been known to occasionally make such a wine from these historic plantings.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2019 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of confected cherry, watermelon Jolly Rancher®️, strawberry, rhubarb, semi-dried hay and soft minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. There is something unexplainable about how remarkable this wine is. There’s humility to it A wine full of wisdom. I wish I had more to try down the road alas, I was only allocated a single bottle. However, I am so grateful for the one and to be able to share it with some old friends and some new friends. Drink now through 2034+. — 12 days ago

Benjamin Durham

9.6

Brought our wine to the restaurant for our anniversary, couldn't have been a better choice. Lots of BlackBerry flavor, low in tannins, high in deliciousness. — 9 years ago

with Brittany

Paul Weil

9.0

While their lower end wines, still quite good, are available in stores, the top-shelf TdO wines must be purchased directly from the winery, While a bit jammy for a cocktail wine, this is a great accompaniment for spicy foods. We enjoyed it with spicy Cajun chicken sausage dirty rice. The acidity cut the oils nicely, and the jammy residual sugars balanced out the spice quite well. This is your archetypal Amador Zin, with lots of blackberry and currant flavors. It’s usually better than the flagship Home Vineyard product! — a year ago

Sam C

9.5

Great! Not as over powering as other ports. Good with dry desserts like cake or cookies. — 4 years ago

Scott Moye-Rowley

9.1

Powerful Zin that is perfect with pizza...and your birthday 🍷🍕 — 9 years ago

Tim Simon

9.0

Really good for a Costco bin wine — 9 years ago

Jake Hajer

8.9

Needs age. Young, fresh and tart. Cranberry and pomegranate. Comes in lighter and finishes with deep tannins. Only a 8.9, now, but in a cellar will be beautiful. — 2 years ago

JKT

9.0

No lot number and unlike the ‘70 lot2 that has gone bad, this one is holding up! Light pale red color with a promising albeit somewhat madeirized nose that gradually opened up to that more complex old wine notes. Still firm texture and acidic bite on palate but not complex and good finish that didn’t last long. Got that very old wine profile but clearly over the hill. Still, drinking history from 50 years ago, can’t nitpick! — 4 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.8

Madeira-like wine made from old vine Mission grapes from the historic Deaver Vineyard. One of the best things I've ever put into my mouth. 16.5% alc. Moderately sweet and so complex that I can't put it into words. The last vintage of this, the 1986, was just bottled 2 years ago after 30 years in barrel. Hopefully I can track some down. — 8 years ago

Zane Fralick

Production Terra D'Oro Winery

10

As a Zin lover, this is the best Zin I've ever had the pleasure to taste. It is big fruit forward which is typical of modern Zins nowadays. Big purple legs, big jammy and cherry flavors. Bold on the palate and the closest you will get to a big Cab. Mild tannins and a beautiful lingering finish that ends with a gentle taste. Velvety vanilla and burnt butterscotch. This is the real deal folks. TDO old vines from the Deaver vineyard are 130 years old. — 9 years ago