Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (12%), Malbec (5%), Cabernet Franc (4%) Petite Verdot (2%). Dark ruby color with some purple highlights. Aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, cedar and burnt caramel. Flavors of black berry/currant/plum fruit, black tea, savory herbs and spices. Lingering finish, plush, well balanced with fine grained tannins. Solid value. Enjoyed at Thyme Rooftop Restaurant with Keith S! — 25 days ago

David Shaw

9.1

Fine light drinking red with an assortment of heirloom varietals you would see in a Sandlands release. Down the middle table red style with good acid but lighter in alcohol and tannins. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now! — 3 years ago

Gary Nishimura

8.9

Fine wine. A light Zin. — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Yet another outstanding vintage (2020) of this consistently excellent Co-Op produced Barbaresco. Aromas of red fruit, dried rose petals and anise. Flavors of bright red cherry and raspberry fruit, mint, Asian spices, minerals and orange zest. Long and earthy/smoky finish. Fantastic balance, structure and depth. Fine grained tannins and a silky texture yet still firm and powerful. So delicious now, but built to age for at least another decade. The quality consistency of this wine vintage to vintage is incredible. Outstanding value! Thanks so much for opening this one, Keith S! Happy 60th Birthday, Karyn! — a month ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate from Clos du Val is the most interesting of all the wines. The estate was founded by John and Henrietta Goelet in the early Seventies when the couple challenged recently graduated winemaker Bernard Portet to create a Bordeaux-inspired estate in Napa. Clos du Val attained global recognition when its inaugural 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the wines poured blind by Steven Spurrier at the epochal The Judgement of Paris, so this bottle of 1976 was one of their earliest bottlings that, incidentally, came directly from Clos de Val’s apparently meager reserves. It is very elegant and perfumed on the nose, typical old school, classic Napa Cabernet in all its unfettered glory, beautifully defined with wilted rose petals and a light fish scale element. Supple, very pliant tannins define the palate. There remains ample freshness and poise, a fine silver thread of acidity and a clove-tinged, rounded, exquisitely balanced finish that would surpass practically every other Bordeaux from this vintage. Outstanding. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2024)
— 2 years ago

George M Wood

9.3

Yet another Napa Quake survivor. Probably my favorite winery and wine (really the Cabernet Franc) this old friend (was going to gal, but trying stay under the radar) held up just fine. @LaJotaVineyards — 4 years ago

with Nury

Doug Powers

9.0

Effusive and up front red fruits, smooth and balanced, really a fine drinker, longish finish, very nice Syrah! — 7 months ago

with Jim

Byron C Mayes

9.2

[Consumed from a classic white wine glass] Beautiful rose gold; fine persistent bubbles. Inviting nose of dried apples and toasted coconut. Confirmed on the medium, surprisingly lush, palate which adds a finish of bitter almond marzipan. Finish is very short, but the size on the palate makes it not missed. A very good value Champagne from Lidl. Great for when you want the real thing but don't want to shell out the big bucks. Drink it when you buy it. — a year ago

Willem Booij

9.6

This is the 1997 collection, not a Blanc de Blanc but equal parts of Chardonnay, Pinot Munier and Pinot Noir. 20 years on its leas this is a fine example of a beautiful aged champagne. Nice gesture from my colleagues to celebrate my 60th birthday😋 — 3 years ago

with Rick and Yvo