Neil Valenzuela

9.5

Bottle #3537 -

Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. — 2 months ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

This wine IMO has matured and is in the ripe drinking window right now. This wine has some blackberry influence but a lot of the fruit in the front and middle seems to be boysenberry, black cherry, dates, and sweet plums. Compared to other vintages that I've had (they've all been more current in the last few years), they have all been darker for sure, but Aloft has always seemed to be a touch sweeter than the Charles Krug Cold Springs and has also usually had a bit more punch. I think this one is starting to show a tiny bit of age. I think it's been a while since I decided to open an 09 Aloft. Finished with some pepper notes and a little eucalyptus. Went well with a huge variety of seafoods in the fact that it wasn't a unidimensional blackberry bomb. Enjoyed on the last night of our beach trip. — 4 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.2

Continuing to work my way through the 2017 Turley lineup. Definitely the most drinkable bottle so far. The Mead Ranch still takes the cake for me though. Love me some mountain fruit Zinfandel! — 5 years ago

Ted

9.3

Funny story. I took this bottle in my luggage to Florida. Bubble wrapped the heck out of it and it still broke. Lesson learned. Reminds me of some the middle to late 90 Burgundies that I have had but this is only 5-6 years old. Not sure how much life it has left but it’s good now. — a year ago

with Jeni

Tobin Trevarthen

8.9

Love their Merlot. A go to middle of the winner treasure. Consistent. Cherry cough drop, less the cold part. — 4 years ago

Clive McNish

9.3

Worked up a lockdown sweat wrestling with this one. Day one it was like trying to raise a teenager from bed on Sunday morning in the middle of a pandemic. Needed four hours in the decanter before finally revealing a nose and some flavour on the palate. When i left it later in the evening, some really nice complexity coming through with blackberry, cassis, green peppers and wood but not necessarily oak. Tannins are fine but a little drying in the first glass or two. This is a Bordeaux style Napa Cabernet, much more subdued and savoury than many of its neighbours. Day two this is really good, finally forgiven me for waking it up before 2030 and offering soft, dark fruit with, vanilla, chocolate and cherry flavours . Nice long finish with some sweetness creeping in.

This is a complex wine, deep colour and character and it needs time. Well worth the effort and it goes without saying this will age for many years before reaching its peak. Fine sediment, needs filtering. — 5 years ago

heidi schlegel

9.9

Lovely stone fruit, minerals in the middle and a dry finish. Unusual to get a Reisling from Napa, but this is nicely done. — a year ago

Tor Kenward

9.1

1985. I picked the grapes on this wine with Ken and friends. Still hanging on with some bright acidity. Edges tawny. Middle dark for Pinot. — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

Full ruby to the rim. Superripe, deep scents of cherry, mocha and gravel. As fine-grained and suave as the last two but enters the mouth with more obvious definition and mineral firmness, giving the middle palate more energy and thrust. Finishes with unmistakably powerful yet suave Howell Mountain tannins and outstanding slowly building length. Unlike the other two 2010s from Dana Estates, this very large-scaled wine really still needs a couple more years of patience. Good minerality and structure here, but still plenty of alcohol at 15.7%. Finishes with outstanding length and excellent lift. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2020)
— 4 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Last time I opened one of these was back in 2012....what a difference six years has made! This wine has come to full maturity. Drinking at the very top and showing everything it has. Dark black mulberry, balckberry, figs and sweet roasted plums. Middle goes dark and gritty. Espresso bean, while still retaining an overt sweetness. the finish of this has great balance, nice acidity, resolving tannin, roasted black fruits and black pepper. Dang. Happy 4th of July everyone! — 5 years ago