Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Tasted with the winemaker Matt Brady. Nearly equal (and maybe better) to the 2021 vintage. Jumped at the 2021 effort so no room for this one but absolutely delicious follow-up. Spice, tannins, fruit all in balance and verry harmonious. It’s Pinots like this that keep me sold on the Santa Rita Hills as dayumed likely the best pinot-producing area in CA. 03.12.25 — 2 months ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

Scratches that itch. Hard to tell whether it’s a “true champagne” or a very good cremant, but at closeout prices who cares? 90. — 7 months ago

Lauren Goetz

9.6

The 2021 Bedrock Heritage Wine is a great expression of this site. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and tobacco are front and center. This dark, virile Zinfandel-based field blend packs a serious punch. There's plenty of detail and nuance behind all of that intensity. The 2021 is a big wine, but also less monolithic than some previous editions. There's a bit more whole cluster in the 2021 than in the past, so perhaps that explains the wine's nuance. The 2021 is one of the best wines I have ever tasted from the Bedrock vineyard, and I say that as someone who is not yet fully convinced of the potential here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 2 years ago

Timothy Lynch

9.3

My father (a man of very humble beginnings) suggested to me that if you need to ask how much it costs you probably can’t afford it. Thank heavens I can. Absolutely terrific commune effort. — 3 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

I heard Bill Murray on a podcast recently raving about the bramble-berry pie he had the night before, describing the many berries that went into making it so delicious. It’s a fitting description for the current release of Bedrock’s Dolinsek Heritage red too, which is loaded with a rainbow of berry flavors and all their sweetness and bright acidity captured in a bottle instead of a crust. There’s an added bonus of a long, peppery finish thanks to the 70+% Zin in the field blend and some firm, drying tannins that signal a great future ahead. — 3 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.4

Palmer turned my head in general at a recent tasting—if you can get your hands on the 1996 vintage my gosh…but for exceptional Champagne at (if not everyday) more frequently do-able prices lean in. Toasty white bread with these citrus notes that…can I be honest? It reminds me when as a teen vegetarian in St Louis I’d do late night runs to Steak and Shake where my friends got burgers but I’d order toast and butter with a lime freeze. Those toasty but piquant and refreshing notes. Expect like that on a platter with even more nuance. Obvi it doesnt taste like that precisely but its toast and citrus vibes don’t let go and cream and apple butter are backup singers. Do drink Palmer. — 2 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Chalky grape and balsa, blackberry, and plum nose with soft smoke and jasmine with a sweet petrol gloss. Soft mouthfeel turns bing cherry and underripe blueberries bordering green. Chewy. Big fruit tannins. A spicy pepper that always turns piquant-fruit. Young in every way, would love to see this chrysalis emerge.


#lajotavineyardco #laJotahowellmountainestate #lajota #howellmountain #merlot #napa #napavalley — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Very fresh, lively, primarily redfruited aromas and flavors, some spicy notes as well, super nicely balanced, great acid, shows admirable restraint, should age nicely midterm (5-10 years?), very good “entry level” Zinfandel, long finish!! I’d read that the 2023 Zins, grown in a relatively cooler year, had a very long growing season, with excellent acidity, and I’d say this shows all of those characteristics. Morgan nailed this, it was great to finally meet his “adult” version, my wife and I first met him about 35 years ago at a ZAP event at Ravenswood hosted by his father Joel. — 7 months ago

with Jim

Ned Gray Creed

9.7

Haven’t posted in years, but was doing some cellar work with Freund and this was supposed to an open to get rid of it bottle. Nope. It’s just that hammer. It’s going to keep on getting better and better as the night goes on, and I don’t think that is the dessert talking. Surprise, you didn’t know I was awesome until I hit the glass. — 2 years ago

with Mark

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

Yesterday for the 4th of July we opened the 2019 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon. From Napa, California Napa Valley.

On the nose there was black cherry, blackberry, plum sauce, black currant, spice, graphite and earth.

On the palate there is a black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, chocolate, spice, green bell pepper, toasty oak and earth.

This is a full bodied wine with a smooth mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium + grippy tannins that leaves you with a long dark fruit graphite finish. I hope everyone had a blessed 4th of July enjoying family and friends. Please have a wonderful week ahead and stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago