David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I haven’t really enjoyed this producer due to how much ABV it shows, This was the first time it didn’t burn the back of my throat. Still big and dark. It’s a 30 plus year wine. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.0

As far as I’m concerned, these School House Mescolanzas are like, the anti-Napa Zinfandel. They are just so different from anything else out there. Until they get close to 10 years from vintage, they are backward; lean, green and mean. But if one has the patience, they eventually become quite charming. For this bottle, I did not follow my own advice.

Popped and poured, consumed over four days. On Day 1, this was completely coiled and the oak seemed a bit out of balance. I finished my glass and placed the cork back in the neck of the bottle. I checked in for a small taste on Day 2 and 3. By Day 4, it had opened enough to really enjoy. The 2016 School House “Mescolanza” Zinfandel Blend pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. There appears too be some very faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing. Expressive of dark bramble fruits, stone minerals, and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium(+). This has all of the trappings for very nice expression of this wine but it’s a little young to my taste. Best after 2025 and these will drink well through 2037…and possibly longer. — 9 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

Twos year later from my last tasting reaffirms my last rating. Still amazingly soft for a Cabernet; the tannic structure reveals itself on the back palette. Dark fruit and leather - some more time opening would improve the experience. Beautiful balance; we are enjoying sans food but some red meat would complement nicely! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Small production, 150 cases, aged 11 months in French oak, 35% new. Met winemaker David Rossi who makes small batches by buying fruit from top vineyards and using a shared winery for crafting his small batch wines. Deep Ruby with a full range of berry aromas with wafts of earthy notes. On the palate blackberry & ripe cherry with oak and subtle spice. Fine tannins, lingering ending with fruit and some dusty spice. Nice now but let’s see if it aged well. I’ll grab a bottle and put it aside. Check back! — 4 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Just lovely black plummy fruit, some minerality as well, shows very youthful appearance and flavors, like the Bouscasse VV, 12.5% ABV and shows great freshness and no overripeness, long finish, back when I was actively tasting and following CA red wines, I loved the balance of the 1995 vintage, super fine with years to go, bravo to Patrick C!! — a year ago

with Jim

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.5

Consistent with my last notes. Bramble mountain fruit, violets, black pepper. Complete and integrated front to back, including the fine tannins at the finish. Wonderful wine. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

100% Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Very complex. Dark ruby color with a garnet rim. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, black currant, baking spices and dark chocolate. Nice hint of toasted oak on the long and lingering finish. Totally New World in style. Smooth tannins and excellent mouthfeel. Full bodied and juicy. Tannins have relaxed with bottle age. Quite expressive. High quality. — 5 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment and pour. Still a wondrous dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: beautiful gotta keep coming back notes of dark plum, smoked meat, cigar box, touch of barnyard funk, vanilla spice. Taste: silky smooth with brambly cherry, dirt, leather, cedar, grilled peppered meat with a medium plus finish. YUM! Still drinking well at 33 years old. — 10 months ago

with Brenda

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

Released Fall ‘21. A a blend of Zin and other varietals from two vineyards high up in Howell Mountain. The 2019 was inky purple with a surprisingly vanilla/creamy nose. This carried through to the palate but it also had a great back-end kick loaded with bright berries and soft tannins. Another very good player in the Turkey line up. — 2 years ago

Donald Williams

9.1

Wellington 2006 week drawing to a close with a spectacular Cab. Three single vineyard Cabs from a wine.woot offer back in 2012, and a single vineyard Zin, all from the 2006 vintage. It’s been a week of superb food and equally superb wine. — 4 years ago

with Bonnie