Tom Casagrande

9.2

Bought this at the winery 2 years ago in Amador County, where it had been a surprise for us. We’d gone out there excited to try Zin and Rhone varietals, and so were surprised that we liked this Cab blend so much. Intense and open and with a bit of complexity and elegance. So good.

PS- If you’re on CellarTracker, please leave your handle in a comment so I can follow you there, as I’ve started an account because of this app’s constant issues. — a month ago

Ron R

9.4

This is a typically rich and voluptuous example from Tor. It’s flashy on the mid palate displaying roasted pineapples and a hint of lychee. This is a multidimensional example with delicate wood treatment and soft acidity. The finish extends and expands with a sexy sweet conclusion. Take a look if you can find it. — 8 months ago

Anna Karos

9.6

Drinkable cab. Little throat spice. — 4 years ago

Donald Williams

9.5

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating, Susan Tipton’s wines never disappoint. — 5 years ago

with Bonnie

Rodney Rosser

9.4

Needs 90 Minutes to open up - worth the wait- 100%pommard planted twenty years ago stands up to burgundy thrice the price — 6 years ago

Kara Stockman

9.5

Amazing! Very smooth, subtle Carmel flavors. worked well with appetizers and soups. — 7 years ago

William Hughes

9.4

Superb! Earthy and savory with some real stuffing to age well for another 10-12 years. John Lockwood crafted this sensation with hillside grapes growing 380 meters above the Pacific. Cool climate Syrah I want to drink a whole lot more often. — 7 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

My 7th bottle of this vintage. PNP. Ripe fruit, sweet chocolate finish, great mouthfeel. Wonderful wine. — 3 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

The Vineyardist 2nd label.
This one surprised me by how much air it needed to open up. Had a splash on day 1 and immediately corked it back up for a day 2 decant. Definitely not an over extracted Cabernet just to please the masses. My ratings might be higher than others but I work these wines to get the best out of them.

Interesting note I found-

The Vineyardist is a Diamond Mountain property with a long history. In the late 19th century it was purchased by a Dutch shipping captain who planted vineyards and made wine. During prohibition the vineyards were replaced with nut and prune orchards. In 2000 the property was purchased by Dirk Fulton and Becky Kukkola, who began replanting some of the 80 acres to vineyards. — 7 months ago

Lars Miller

9.0

Strong raspberry on this one. Smooth and silky with medium tannins. Nicely balanced — 5 years ago

J Chechik

9.4

Wonderful, elegant Pinot. What a great, clean style! Had it w/ a lightly spiced ahi tuna/slaw salad. Just terrific & opened-up tremendously by the 2nd glass. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde.

This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty.

The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is a sample of the 16 Insignia still in barrel.

On the nose, the dark fresh florals exploded. The fruits are very dark currants and well extracted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries and blue fruits hues on the edges of the glass. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, core of anise and fields of violets.

The body is thick and full. The wine still very fresh. The tannins big, meaty and chewy. The dark fruits are quite floral. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries with blue fruits. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, crushed dry rocks, river stones, tough leather, cedar, core of anise with red flowers and fields of violets. Very good round acidity. The long, big, ruby, lush, well balanced finish is beautiful.

The fruit, tannins and acidity all speak to it being 95+ and a long cellar.
— 8 years ago

Heather Rostker

9.2

Smooth easy Pinot. Dinner with dad. — 4 months ago

with Emmett

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.1

Nice aged pinot — 7 months ago

with Tammy, Emmett and 2 others

Doug Powers

9.1

Mineral, floral, and lemon aromas and flavors, nice balance, long finish, Jonathan and Susan have long made this lovely Sierra Foothills Viognier that I buy vintage after vintage!! — a year ago

with Jim

Neal Ferry

9.0

Good Show…. — 5 years ago

with TwiLea

Dezel Quillen

9.3

Fields Family Wines ’14 Stampede Vineyard Zinfandel (SRP $28): Ain't no fun if the homie—The Spaceman—can’t have none (lol). This delicious Zinfandel is produced from 75-85 year old vines and made in small lots (only 100 cases made) with minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar. A bright ruby color, this medium-bodied wine is juicy with beautiful raciness—showing a good sense of balance between richness, freshness and finesse. It offers appealing aromas and flavors of cherry and tart plum (gorgeous fruit), with notes of dill, spice, perfume, and loam adding complexity. This wine paired exceptionally well with the cherry/pecan baby-backs I smoked over the weekend. If you enjoy vibrant, food-friendly Zins that flirt with elegance, then this is your ticket. Put this producer on your wine radar if they’re not on it already. You can visit fieldsfamilywines.com to learn more. And for the record, of the four 1978 [Kiss] solo albums, Ace had the best one! — 7 years ago

Dan Cruz

10

Great evening relaxing wine. — 7 years ago

Michael Piaker

8.9

23 April 2018. La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, New York, NY. — 8 years ago