Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine is a deep garnet color a near opaque core and some significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some signs of maturity. There are fascinating notes of tart, ripe and dessicated black and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, tart red cherry, accompanied by some tobacco, cigar box, green bell pepper, some leather and beautiful baking spices. It smells like money (expensive, lavish oak treatment). On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (well integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some coffee and cocoa also showing up to the party. The finish seems to go on forever. This is a very balanced wine in a very fun spot.

Initial conclusion: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, a Tempranillo or Sangiovese-based blend from the United States, France, Spain or Italy with 25+ years of age. However, the fruit was kinda the star of the show so, final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from the United States, from California, from Napa; vintage 1990. Ha!! 1992 Bryant Family!? Suhhhhweet! This is in the zone. Drink now through 2032. — 8 days ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Needed this tonight. Going to drink the whole thing solo. A beautiful purple color, a seamless round bouquet of blue/berries, vanilla and cedar, and a hint of trailing cherry. I get a bit of cinnamon on the palate, with follow through from the black fruit. A slight hint of white pepper provides a wake up call.

Medium plus bodied. Medium minus acidity. No residual sugar. Pleasant, medium plus tannins.

Maybe I just really missed the United States of America, but to me this is fairly near the top of my scale at 94+ points. 2nd half of the bottle will be paired with my ribeye.

94+ points — 5 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

First time trying these Malbecs from Jesse Katz and Devil Proof. Thanks Lauren for cracking these for us! Lush purplish red that completely coats the glass. Rich and dark on the nose with spices, dark cocoa, a bit smoky, mocha and black cassis. Heavy smooth tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Love the texture on the palate with layers of lush dark blackberries, blueberries, cassis, sweet spices and a bit spicy too. Long finish. Drink till 2038.


Wow. This is the best Malbec we have ever had from the United States and possibly even from any other wine region. Excellent work Jesse! This is made up of 100% Malbec from the Rockpile Ridge vineyard which is managed by the Mauritson Family and dry farmed. It is aged in 100% new French oak barrels and comes from an elevation of 1,100 feet.


First stop (Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards) on our very first trip to Sonoma, and we were not dissappointed. The wines made by Jesse Katz have a ton of finesse, power and character, but the wines under his Devil Proof Label are at another level. Definitely a Malbec that needs to be on any wine collector's radar. The photo for the label was taken by Andy Katz, Jesse's father, back when he was commissed by the Cuban Government to take photos of their way of life. We love the saying for the label "Live well, drink well, and the devil can't get you". We do not know about you but we will follow her lead and hopefully become a little bit Devil Proof. — 6 years ago

with India

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.4

14.5% ABV Dark concentrated color.

Celebrating Mr. Scheffler’s 2024 Masters victory with a wine rooted in the east bench of Dry Creek. This Zin blend is explosive, possesses tons of energy, and like Antonio Galloni states is “stunning”.

In addition to Scottie’s east roots in New Jersey, his game is explosive and stunning. A Dry Creek wine because Mr. Scheffler avoided the water at Amen Corner during the final round, unlike several of his competitors in close pursuit.

A stunning wine, and a stunning victory.

Congratulations M-T-P and Mr. Scheffler! — a month ago

Connor Smith

9.5

#Nebbiolo is a surprisingly rare grape. Even in its native Piedmont, it accounts for only 8% of vineyard land. There are fewer than 100 hectares planted in the United States. 🕵️‍♂️🍇
Over 80% of prewar Italian immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Piedmont was the wealthiest and most politically dominant region. But if fortunes were reversed, could Nebbiolo have taken Primitivo/Zinfandel’s place as a grape relatively uncommon on the boot but dominant in California? 🤔🇮🇹🇺🇸
Probably not. The Nebbiolo vine is *not* for beginners. It flowers early and ripens late, making it susceptible to both spring and autumn frosts. It loves the occasional fog bath (some say the name is derived from ‘nebbia’, Italian for fog ☁️☁️☁️) but is prone to the mildew that may result from such humid conditions. Its fussiness would make Pinot Noir blush: it demands southwesterly exposure, a proper gradient, constant sun above, and fog licking at its toes. #diva
Sound anything like California’s Central Coast? 🌅
In the Santa Maria Valley, where the East-West Transverse Range bends back into the North-South Coastal Range, it’s possible. Vineyard selection still requires extreme discretion - an eye like @JimClendenen’s, perhaps.
Jim began the Nebbiolo program at the legendary #BienNacido vineyard in 1994. Production is small, but if you track down his “The Pip” Nebbiolo, it will only run you about $30. You’ll believe anything is possible when you have real California Nebbiolo of this quality come wafting out of the glass at you! 🙌🙌
🏞.“The Pip” is named after Jim’s old cellar dog Pip, a border collie. So it only seemed right to include one of our own pips! 🐈 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

The Venge (ven-ghee) family has farmed grapes in Napa Valley for nearly a half-century, beginning when Knud Venge migrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1900’s. Aged in French oak, 65% new, for 18 mos. A big wine, decant for an hour! Deep ruby with aromas of fresh blue and black fruits. On the palate blackberry and blueberry flavors, well balanced, good structure, full body, firm tannins, medium+ length ending. Will age well. — 6 years ago

Brendan Devine

8.9

Bumped this one up a bit on the ol rating because @Briana states this is her #1 Zin. It’s good. So I get the affection. It has that note of spice that I think really makes the dry creek zin different. — 2 years ago

Mark Kimble

8.9

Surprisingly good. — 4 years ago

Willem Booij

9.2

Quality from the States — 5 years ago

Kimberly Eber

8.9

Really delicious. Less delicate - more fruit than a lot of Sonoma coast wines. Merry’s Sonoma Coast is always a little more fruity. We opened this the night that Forrest won the Western States 100 lottery! — 5 years ago