Doug Powers

9.5

Blackberry, rich, ripe, dare I say still quite primary fruit, some mountain structure peaks through, nice balance, long finish, needs many more years of aging!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Last night we opened the 2019 Cliff Lede Napa Valley Claret Bordeaux Blend. Twin Peaks Vineyard Yountville, California. A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

On the nose the is black cherry, blackberry, fig, black currant, cassis, vegital notes, vanilla and dark soil.

On the palate there is black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black plum, lack currant, bell pepper, chocolate covered cherry and gravel.

This wine is full bodied with a velvety mouthfeel medium to medium + acidity and medium to medium + soft smooth fine tannins that move seamlessly into a long black fruit pencil lead finish. Looks to be a great weekend. Please stay safe and be healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 2 years ago

Steve Reiss

9.0

A nice cab - from our realtor - purchase of our Paso house! — 3 years ago

Amanda Barth

8.9

This was good. It needs some time to open up and breathe for the full flavor to bloom. Once those sophisticated notes of berry, basil, and leather begin to tingle, I am reminded that Q3 taxes are overdue and the basement still needs formal radon testing. I will be having a second glass. Another good Aldi provision. — 3 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

8.9

Medium ruby hue. Aromas of caramel, cassis, jam, pepper, plum, strawberry, tar, vanilla. Palate adds more baking spice and strawberry. Medium body, medium tannins, medium-plus acidity. Plus-length finish. 57% Syrah, 33% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec. Versatile red blend. — 4 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Delicious. Expressive and composed nose shows sappy cherry, moist loam, graham cracker spice, and a slight resiny note. Very Burgundian. In the mouth it’s quite elegant. Deep fruit in a bone dry package, lots of crushed stone minerality. Very long. Soft texture. Hint of porcini. The only quibble is that alcoholic heat peaks through a teeny bit. — a year ago

Jason Keefer

9.0

Rating for the Marquette, which was actually the grape which is a relative of Pinot, but nothing really like a Pinot. But I really liked it! Spicy, almost Syrah-ish, with nice velvety tannins. — 2 years ago

with Natasha

Randy Fuller

9.3

This wine is a medium-dark purple in the glass. Aromas of brambly cherry are adorned with anise, leather, pepper and clove notes. On the palate there is red fruit and oak spice with a savory coffee angle. The tannins are firm and the acidity is fresh. A lengthy finish leaves the savory aspect strongest. Pair with any beef or pork, or even a dish based in tomato sauce. — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

This is the Brouilly (not Côte) “Les Marquisats” cuvée.

The nose is outgoing, with deep, ripe, almost jammy dark cherry. There’s also some crushed granite and, unusually, a note of bakers’ chocolate. These all carry through in the mouth. It’s rich, the texture is luxurious, but the acids are a bit low for my traditionalist taste. But that’s what nature handed them in the hot 2020 vintage. A little of the 14% alcohol peaks through in the finish. — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Excellent Napa zin but I definitely get the petite sirah. Nose of plums, figs, jam, cedar. Palate is big with a wave of jammy flavor that peaks with some alcohol and then dissipates over a minute or two with freeze dried strawberries, underripe plum, some wood, and dust. It’s big but that finish really brings it back away from mass produced huge CA zin. Will probably benefit from more time in bottle. — 3 years ago