Bruce Dunbar

9.0

It’s not just the name of the 2018 Under the Wire Alder Springs Sparkling Pinot Noir that is more than a mouthful. This is a beautiful, multi-layered sparkler with floral notes, hints of fragrant herbs and strawberry along with crisp acidity and a subtle mousse. It’s somewhere between a white and rosé, having taken on a copper hue from brief skin contact. The Alder Springs is a great food wine with room to develop. — 5 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Est. in 1861, first winery in the Napa by Prussian-born Charles Krug. Today the winery remains under the leadership of the Peter and Marc Mondavi, whose family purchased winery in 1943. Fruit sourced mainly from five family estates in Yountville, deep Ruby with ripe dark berry scents and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of sweet blackberry and cherry with leather, cacao and vanilla oak. Soft tannins, long ending with toasty oak and fruit! Very nice! — 7 months ago

Ericsson

9.0

The Monday kinda wine and one of the first whites that got me into white wine and still love it @Sharon B. At under fifteen bucks a pop it’s real steal still. — 3 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Holy smokes this is good! My expectations were modest due to my stereotyping its Santa Clara County provenance, but I stand corrected. This is apparently an old-vine blend featuring about 50% Zin and a mix of Carignane and Mataro (Mourvèdre) to round it out. The purity of the black and red berries on the nose is remarkable. A bit of crushed stony earth. In the mouth, there’s tremendous flavor concentration but with an athletic mouthfeel that balances nice acids and super-soft tannic support. Great length. Color me duly impressed. Shoulda got more. 14.5% alcohol thank you very much. — 7 days ago

Jae Cho

9.2

First time tasting the ‘19 vintage, and the Produttori edged out one of my fave under the radar barolistas this early on. Maybe because it released sooner? Both red fruited with sour cherries and elegant tamed tannin/acid, but the Produttori had another gear of sweet incense and hard candy. The vintage does remind me of a more approachable’13 from a tannin perspective. — 8 months ago

Vanessa

8.9

When the weather is in the 80s, an aquatic happy hour is in order!

We’re excited to try this rosé, made primarily from the Tibouren grape, coming from the Côtes de Provence AOC of France.

Clos Cibonne has been in the loving hands of the Roux family since 1793. Due to the hard work and dedication of this family, the vineyard from which this wine comes was among the 18 designated “Cru Classés” in the Côtes de Provence 1950 classification, an indication of its quality. You may attribute Tibouren’s inclusion in the list of legally-permissible varieties in the Côtes de Provence AOC to the Roux family, as well.

This rosé is 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache. It was made by direct press, giving it a paler hue, fermented in stainless steel, and aged biologically for 12 months in large, 100-year-old oak foudres under a thin layer of yeast (known as a “fleurette”), a process similar to that used to create Fino Sherry in Spain (where the “fleurette” is called the “flor”).

The result is a crisp, elegant expression with delicate lemon, gooseberry, white peach, chamomile, blanched almond, and clay notes. It also has a savory element that I’m having a hard time putting my finger on, perhaps it’s soft white cheese, along with great structure and texture.

Clos Cibonne, Tibouren, Cru Classé, Côtes de Provence, Vintage 2018, ABV 13.5%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Ron Siegel

9.5

Great showing for this wine. This had a perfumed nose of dark cherry, berry, cassis with olives, mineral, lavender, under brush, spice box & violets, — 2 months ago

Erik Longabardi

9.3

2015. Side by side compassion to the 2014. Strong love. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Consistent both days. The 2017 Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with dark cherries, ripe bruised strawberries, baked apple, hibiscus, toasted coconut, vanilla, new leather and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Medium+ alcohol. A lovely pairing with my sort of modern riff on paella for a quick Tuesday evening meal. More please!

Having enjoyed vintages going back to the early 1980’s, I think Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” is one of the last few, true bargains in the wine world. They are classic in the sense that they are unmistakably Rioja and they have the ability to age for decades. It’s very hard for me to think of another wine that is widely available for under $30 that can drink this well and cellar that long. Let’s enjoy the disparity while we can! — a year ago

Petar Radakovic

9.0

One of the best wines under $10. Nice and smooth, flavorful blend. Very easy to drink and at $7 a bottle it’s a steal. — 4 years ago