Jon Hanlon

9.4

Fantastic, stoney and dry. Had with lobster. — 3 years ago

TheSkip

9.2

So young and primary. But so delightful!!!! — 5 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.4

It’s an anomaly to me why we don’t remember to cellar Zinfandel more often. This Turley from Lodi reminds me why we should. The aroma offers a distinctive patina - antique shop and dried roses, sage and thyme. At 21 years, the alcohol is still full throttle, but offers a very gratifying warmth. Thanks for bringing, Esther :) — 7 years ago

Stephanie Wu

8.9

Fine bubbles. Citrusy with some floral notes. Had this with fried chicken at esther and robbys — 4 years ago

with Jenny and Tim

Conrad Green

9.5

Dark and brooding blue fruit with sour cherry and a hint of Esther and Harrogate. Gorgeously intense fruit but soft and approachable. Still young but gorgeously pure and bright. — 6 years ago

with Paul

George

9.3

Comparing and contrasting 14 whole cluster vs Esther Block Las Madres. Easy 93s score may increase in the next few hours. — 7 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.7

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Rick Baumgarten <rick@leelumber.com>
Date: August 14, 2017 at 3:52:54 PM CDT


This was not good...it was spectacular. Was great at the winery when we bought 6 bottles a couple of years ago, and each bottle has gotten better. I just ordered another case! Esther said she thought it one of the best wines she had ever tasted. It was complex with tons of fruit while remaining subtle. Acid and tannins present, but balanced. Long, long, round finish. The kind of nose that's so good, you don't even need to drink. — 7 years ago

Brad Swick

9.5

Outstanding balance of fruit and acidity. Dry, medium long, full bodied. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.4

Lots of press on the Cabs but I think this guys Syrah’s steal the show. This is the -16 Halcon and the -16 Las Madras Esther block. Halcon has bright red fruit, orange peel, fresh acidity, and a briny peppery finish. Pax-ish (high praise IMO) and a terrific food wine. Las Madras has pure perfectly ripened black and blue fruit. Both are outstanding, but I think the Halcon takes it by a fair margin. — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.6

Do yourself a favor and follow Esther Mobley on Twitter. She’s the Wine, Beer & Spirits writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and her reporting on the wine country fires is extraordinary... “1880s vines at Old Hill Ranch in Sonoma Valley. Gone” (photo credit to her also).
I had to open the 2015 Bedrock Pagani Ranch Heritage from Morgan Twain-Peterson MW (pictured right) which is also from 1880s vines and just a few miles north of the Old Hill Ranch along Sonoma Highway. It had me immediately saying prayers that the Pagani Ranch would be spared — it’s stunningly pure and absolutely glorious... think choirs of angels. As if a top Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer, like Janasse or Clos Saint Jean, traded their 100+ year old Grenache for 100+ year old Zinfandel. Giant, but radiant red fruit that has a kirsch and violet edge to it. Add in some dense blackberry to a base of rich minerality and this soars into a cloud of herbs and spices including Herbes de Provence, adding baking spice, licorice, and wildflowers along the way, with some secondary cured meat and cracked pepper which gives this the depth and complexity it deserves. Beautiful. — 7 years ago