Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby, slight purple edges, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak, 100% Tempranillo, aged in American oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with licorice, cacao, vanilla and toasty oak tones. Full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! — 2 days ago

Hum

9.2

Rich cassis and tobacco … vanilla frosting … everything well integrated… faint graphite ? Touch of bell pepper. — 20 days ago

Stuart Pollack

9.1

Strongest Pinot Noir I have had. “Masculine “ to the extreme. It’s a mistake to open this wine now. Maybe in five years. I can tell this wine is well-made but it is not close to being ready to drink. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened with the help of a Durand; cork was 4/5 saturated but did its job! Color looked fantastic so I poured slowly into a wide bottom decanter and enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1989 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruit: black cherry, fig, brambles, leather, mushrooms, cedar box, earth, cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This was a lovely showing by a perfectly cellared bottle. Drink now through 2029.
— 13 days ago

Sarah Dennison

10

Delicious — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 2 months ago

Turd Ferguson

9.3

A little shy at first but really opens up and shows after a couple hours of air. Classic Santa Cruz Mtns Pinot. Earthy. A touch candied. Long finish. Pretty wine. 👍🏼 — 15 days ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Lemon curd and a zesty acidity that lands with some sweetness and then bite.

Pairing with an avocado really mellowed this wine out and made it delicious.

Lots of tension and bright lemon citrus flavor. Touch of lime. — 25 days ago

Brian S

9.7

Perfection, even in a bad glass. — a month ago

Sam Friedland

9.2

Very pleasant, soft tannins — a month ago