Kiley Hickman

8.9

Pleasant, smooth, very fruity. — 9 months ago

Des Adams

9.3

Beaver lake beer wine and spirits $5 cooking wine sale. Can't remember if we aerated it — a year ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Valserrano – Tempranillo & Graciano – 2018
Rioja DOCa – Rioja Alavesa, Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A classic Rioja Reserva blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in oak. The 2018 vintage delivers a modern, fruit-driven expression with refined structure, balancing ripe fruit intensity and traditional Rioja elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, redcurrant, blueberry, and dried cherry with hints of vanilla custard, nutmeg, and aromatic herbs. Subtle raisin and toasted spice add depth without heaviness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, smooth and polished with rounded tannins just below medium-plus. Fresh, balanced, and still fruit-driven through a long, refined finish.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, pork loin, Manchego, earthy paella, or mushroom tapas.

Verdict
A thoughtfully crafted Reserva that bridges classic Rioja character with a fresher, contemporary profile. Approachable, flavorful, and quietly elegant, a great value in the category.

Did You Know?
Rioja Alavesa wines often show brighter acidity and finer tannins than Rioja Alta or Rioja Oriental, thanks to higher elevation and limestone-rich soils. — 2 years ago

Kyle Gross

9.2

A big wine start to finish. Beautiful balance, firm tannins, a delight. — 6 years ago

Michael Williams

9.0

Really loved this red blend. It has a strong dark flavor. I got no fruit, but it was very smooth. I found this at Trader Joe’s and would pick it up again — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

From high in the Mayacamas Range, at elevation of 1,700 feet, lies Spring Mountain and the Robert Keenan Winery. Cab Sauv sourced, 73% from Spring Mountain and 27% from Pope Valley. Dark opaque Ruby with aromas of red fruits, oak, smoke, sweet herbs and spice. On the palate black raspberry and blackberry flavors with notes of tobacco, cacao and espresso. Fine dusty tannins, satisfying acidity on complex long smooth finish ending with sweet oak tones. Nice! Drink now! — 6 years ago

Milad Zabihi

9.4

Amazing. Soft — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Tensley – Syrah – 2023
Colson Canyon Vineyard – Santa Barbara County – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation Colson Canyon Vineyard, a benchmark site that consistently delivers powerful yet balanced fruit. This vintage shows tension between ripeness, structure, and freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cracked pepper, violet, licorice, and a subtle smoky undertone. Dark, spicy, and focused.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with sleek acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Concentrated but not heavy, with a long, peppery finish that lingers.

Food Pairings
Grilled lamb, beef skewers, duck confit, pepper-crusted steak, or roasted mushrooms.

Verdict
A balanced, expressive Syrah with depth, spice, and length – a great example of why Santa Barbara continues to challenge the top Rhône-style regions.

Did You Know?
Colson Canyon sits at nearly 1,500 ft elevation, producing small berries with thick skins, a key reason these Syrahs show intense color, aromatics, and age-worthy structure. — 10 months ago

Mimi Diamond

9.2

I really liked it. Great with steak. Easy to drink and a great price at Publix. — a year ago

Maggie Harrison

8.9

blend of communes, high elevation. boysenberry, firm and fruity juicy tannins, lighter on palate weight wise. lots of complexity. dusty tannins that open up. not grippy. — 5 years ago

Chris

9.0

Great wine. Lots of fruity flavor. Robust and rich. Paired perfectly with beef Wellington. $21 — 6 years ago

Ben LaBolt

9.0

Medium bodied cool climate Pinot. You can almost taste the climate. Structured and well balanced - not one of those pinots that just disappears in your mouth. — 6 years ago

with Leo

Byron Hewett

9.3

Such a good beer. Really enjoyed this after a 58 mile bike ride with 5500’ of climbing! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Had this 2 yrs ago. Mather Teresina, flagship wine of Celler Vinos Piñol, made with grapes grown in high elevation region of Terra Alta. The nearly extinct Morenillo grape is indigenous to the area & makes Mather Teresina a unique wine, a blend of 50% Garnacha, 30% Cariñena & 20% Morenillo. Nice aromas of berries & sweet spice. On the palate cherry flavors with vanilla spice adding pepper notes on fine smooth tannins which opened much quicker. Long ending with sweet fruit tones & bits of earthy floral. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Signature Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill (Mountain Fruit) – Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
A cornerstone of Chappellet for over three decades, the Signature Cabernet Sauvignon continues to define what Napa Valley mountain Cabernet is all about: power, elegance, and longevity.
The 2022 vintage carries a subtly adjusted blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Merlot, featuring a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and slightly less Petit Verdot and Malbec compared to the 2021 (see my v2021 notes).
This shift gives the 2022 an extra dimension of muscle and purity, heightening its mountain-driven character.

Aromas & Flavors
Undeniably dark and expressive. Notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, plum, and cassis rise first, followed by cedar, sage, aged tobacco, thyme, and beautifully integrated toasted oak.
As it opens, deeper nuances emerge, espresso bean, cocoa, graphite, and subtle mountain herbs.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and impeccably structured.
The increase in Cabernet Sauvignon amplifies its power and linearity, while polished tannins deliver a glowing richness across the palate.
Flavors of black cherry, currant, chocolate, espresso, and warm spice saturate the mid-palate. The finish is long, confident, and built for aging.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, lamb with rosemary, venison, black-truffle dishes, or aged gouda/cheddar.

Verdict
A formidable yet seductively elegant expression of Pritchard Hill. The 2022 is slightly more commanding than the 2021, with enhanced Cabernet purity and structural depth. A true benchmark in Napa’s hillside Cabernets, age-worthy, expressive, and unmistakably Chappellet. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill’s volcanic, iron-rich soils and elevation create Cabernets known for density, refinement, and remarkable longevity, which is why so many iconic Napa producers source or plant here.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Among my personal favorites in the mountain Cabernet category. The 2022 delivers that unmistakable “whoa” moment, especially when shared with friends and family. — a year ago

Paul J

9.4

PnP. Dark purple, almost black color. Smoky, brooding nose. Dark fruit, meat, and earth on the palate. Deep wine but medium finish. Very good! — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Matt

9.2

Firing on day 1 and a mousy mess by day 3. Found the extraction and balance quite interesting considering vintage and winemaking technique. A sunnier expression but true to form for Hervé. Perhaps the elevation of St. Epine escaped some of the warmth? — 5 years ago

James R. Gilbarty

9.3

The elevation of this vineyard comes out in the wine! Beautifully made! — 6 years ago

Dimes

9.2

From nice :) — 6 years ago

Jamie Sonneville

9.2

Super smooth. Really enjoyed this with chicken parm. — 6 years ago