Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Boars’ View “The Coast” Pinot Noir 2018
Fort Ross–Seaview AVA, Sonoma Coast, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Handcrafted by Thomas Rivers Brown at the dramatic West Sonoma Coast site, this Pinot Noir highlights maritime fog, Goldridge loam soils, and heritage clones. The 2018 “Coast” includes 100% heritage clones—Calera, Mt. Eden, and Swan—meticulously fermented and aged to express both elegance and power.  

Aromas & Flavors
Plush and aromatic: expect cranberry compote, lavender, sandalwood, and hints of violet. On the palate, it delivers black cherry, plum paste, nutmeg, quince, forest floor, and licorice—all layered over a finely tuned mineral edge.  

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet refined. Silky tannins and well-integrated acidity support rich fruit without heaviness. A harmonious finish unfolds with persistence and grace.  

Winemaking Notes
Destemmed fruit underwent fermentation and then aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 50% new, from François Frères, Remond, and Gauthier cooperages. The result is focused power with nuanced oak influence.  

Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled duck, game birds, roasted pork, or truffle-scented risotto. Its depth and savory complexity also pair beautifully with hearty stews or mushroom-forward dishes. 

Verdict
Boars’ View “The Coast” PINOT NOIR 2018 is a masterclass in West Coast Pinot—intensely flavorful, texturally rich, and meticulously crafted. A cellar-worthy wine with both grace and longevity. A rare Napa-level Pinot Noir priced in the $145–160 range. Cheers! — 2 days ago

Edward Allen

9.1

More fallback than first pick red blend, but easily solid in my view. Label claims dark cherry and toasty oak, which I do pick up but I could use more detectable toasty oak. The dark cherry is more easily detectable than the oak for sure, so having stronger oak would really drive this up in rating for me. It’s slightly on the dry side but not excessive. Still, I have no problem honoring the barn built in 1900 based on this admirable tribute. I don’t quite know who RoxyAnn is, but I do hope to one day purchase produce and leave payment in the honor box at the Hillcrest barn. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The nose speaks velvety, slightly perfumed floral, ruby fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, very black plum, mulberries, boysenberries and some hints strawberries & raspberries. Soft, subtle, sexy, dark spices, incense, potpourri, cherry kirsch, understated anise, dark, used expresso grounds, savory meats, fresh tobacco, leather, oak barrel dust, dark rich soils, graphite, dry limestone powder, dry herbaceousness, clove, light nutmeg/cinnamon & vanillin with fresh but leaning withering; dark, red, purple and blue flowers wrapped in soft lavender.

The palate is beautiful with velvety tannins that still punch as meaty & tarry. The tension & structure are just out of adolescence. The balance & length are stunning now but, show room for further improvement 10 years down the road. One small flaw is you sense some elevated alcohol vapors. Velvety, slightly perfumed floral, ruby fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, very black plum, mulberries, plums, boysenberries and some hints strawberries & raspberries. Soft, subtle, sexy, dark spices with heat, incense, potpourri, cherry kirsch, understated anise, raspberry cola, dark, used expresso grounds, savory meats, iron deposits, fresh tobacco, leather, oak barrel dust, dark rich soils, mix of dry & moist clay, graphite, volcanic ash, dry limestone powder, dry herbaceousness, black & some white pepper, clove, light nutmeg/cinnamon & vanillin, caramel notes, mocha powder with fresh but leaning withering, dark, red, purple and blue flowers wrapped in soft lavender. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is; ruby, lush, silky, velvety, elegance defined, extremely well knitted & balanced fruit & earth, persisting endlessly onto earth & spice.

If you own the 05, leave it in your cellar another 5-8 years before opening.

Photos of, a downslope view of the Estate & vines, their gated entrance, their private wine cellar & the Estate building. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

occata Classico 2020
Santa Barbara County AVA, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A uniquely Italian-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and the very rare Piedmontese grape Freisa. Grapes are sourced from Los Alamos Vineyard (66%) and Valley View Vineyard (34%), both within Santa Barbara County. This cuvée reflects the region’s versatility and pays homage to Old World traditions with a distinctly Californian expression. Extremely approachable and crowd-pleasing, it’s a true bridge between Italian heritage and California winemaking.

Aromas & Flavors
On the nose, dark cherry, ripe plum, and dried roses are lifted by subtle baking spices and a hint of tobacco leaf. The palate continues with layers of blackberry, cassis, and a whisper of earthy leather, with Freisa adding a rustic twist of red berries and herbal undertones.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with velvety tannins, balanced acidity, and a polished structure. It feels plush and seamless, finishing long yet inviting, with a touch of savory spice.

Winemaking Notes
A thoughtful blend composition highlighting both classic Bordeaux varieties and the rare Italian Freisa, fermented and aged in French oak to achieve elegance while preserving fruit vibrancy.

Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with osso buco, Tuscan-style grilled steak, roasted lamb, or rich tomato-based pasta. Also versatile enough for charcuterie and hard cheeses.

Verdict
A standout example of Santa Barbara’s Italian-driven winemaking spirit. Elegant, smooth, and versatile — this blend is both serious and fun, making it perfect for casual gatherings yet polished enough to impress the connoisseur. — 7 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily (83%) Cabernet Sauvignon with some other Bordeaux varietals blended in. Pleasant aromas of violets, roses, black currant/black berry. Dark cooked fruit flavors with hints of soy sauce and beef jerky. Pleasant touch of oak on the finish. Fresh acidity. Good balance. Pleasant surprise. — 3 years ago

Jean Kim

9.0

Cranberry, citrus, potting soil, woody herbs, menthol. Juicy, light, acidic. Doing a side by side tasting with Great Oak Vineyard — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I view Turley Zinfandel much like Williams Selyem wines when they are young, good not great.

They need ten years plus to show you greatness. There is no faking bottle age properly stored.

I can’t drink their wine young. Too primitive, astringent, all tannin, wood & baking spices.

The nose reveals, ripe, ruby, candied fruits that are; stewed & naked, jammy fruit of; black plum, blackberry, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, blue fruit mix, rhubarb & ripe date & some figs. Steeped black tea, creamy violet cola, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, tobacco leaf, dark spices, vapors of alcohol, dark spices, limestone minerals, moist, fresh forest floor, some mushroom, black pepper, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, rounded oak, spiced florals of; dark, red, candied florals with withering dark florals set in old violet & lavender.

The palate is full, round, ripe, candied, baked, stewed liqueured, ruby & lush w/ high viscosity. ripe, ruby. Jammy fruit of; black plum, blackberry, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, blue fruit mix, rhubarb & black raisins, ripe date & some figs. The tannins, stern, tarry & chewy. Steeped black tea, creamy violet cola, black licorice to anise, dark chocolate/dry mocha powder, caramel, sweet, dark, chewy tarriness, tobacco leaf, dark spices, touch of alcohol burn, dark spices w/ soft heat, limestone minerals, moist, fresh forest floor, dry top soil & clay, some mushroom, black pepper, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cedar/oak plank, spiced florals of; dark, red, candied florals with withering dark florals set in old violet & lavender. The acidity is like a fresh, clean river. The finish is a little too ripe, sweet but, well balanced with great complexity and persistent length.

I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel but, this is the style that speaks to my origins. This is good with food or some berry desserts.

This still needed a two plus hour decant & has another 5-7 plus years of pleasure ahead of it. At its current evolution, it is bordering on dessert wine & should be treated as such going forward.

Photos of; Turley tasting room in Paseo, very old, taller & slimmer than normal grape press, 2008 Winemaker- Ehren Jordan and their Cedarman Vineyard on Howell Mtn. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

One of my favorite stops in Chile. Amazing property that Robert Mondavi had a hand in siting & starting. The view from the top of their mountain side beautifully overlooks their vineyard and the Andes Mountains.

This producer is meticulous in every step of product. If they are not certified bio-dynamic, they follow that practice.

94-96 with another 5-7 years of cellaring

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Malbec, 17% Carmenere and 6% Petit Verdot, fermented mostly in stainless steel and 10% in oak foudre.

WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 4 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Like Chardonnay through a vintage View-Master. Hirsch giving me old school Cali vibes with an honest nod to Burgundy.

Despite the decade, high acid and oak seasoning in pastry like measurements. Opens up just barely into the tropicals - banana and mango - as little sprinkled hints in hazy rays of sepia sun and a Polaroid filter. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Here's a nice Merlot for #MerlotThursday.

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Nose of black plums, cooked cherries, oak, spices, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, pencil lead, earth, herbs and espresso.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot blend from Bordeaux. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Needs an hour to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too. Tannins show up after an hour of airtime.

This 7 year old is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

I had this vintage a couple of years ago and it is drinking much better now.

Spicy and entertaining, and good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses, crackers and a beautiful view of the lake.

A blend of 65% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 4 years ago