Tyler Felous

9.6

This was awesome. Crisp acidity. Green apple. Argentinians are making great chardonnay — 8 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.6

2021 vintage. Terra Solis Vineyard, Napa Valley Coombsville AVA. I was lucky enough to meet owner Frank W. Bishop ,Jr. , who generously offered me this bottle. He sells most of his grapes ( to some very famous names) and produces a tiny quantity under the Terra Solis label. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coombsville AVA, that is cooler than the Valley floor AVAs because of its proximity to San Pablo Bay, which allows a later harvest and longer hangtime for the grapes. Deep dark red. Intense perfume with black fruit, spices, and toasty oak. In the mouth is beautifully balanced with layers of black fruit, fresh acidity, and relatively moderate alcohol ( abv. 14,2%). Personally, I would have preferred oak with a lighter toast, but that is obviously a stylisic choice, and the wine is excellent indeed. — a year ago

Martinez

9.1

A complex Chardonnay from renowned producer Steve Matthiasson. Sourced from Linda Vista vineyard, in the Oak Knoll District, at the southern end of the Napa valley. (Due to its proximity to the San Pablo Bay and the cool winds from the ocean, average summer temperatures are considerably cooler than in the upper valley, making it an ideal area for Chardonnay in Napa). Fermented and aged in neutral oak. Apples, melon, some buttery notes on the nose. Green apple on the palate. Fresh, good acidity. Slightly creamy, rounder and fruitier than the Chablis tasted next to it. Mineral, a hint of salinity
— 2 years ago

Mark Strawn

9.1

Don Lencho, Rancho Blanco, San Pablo Gujla’ — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

One of the few CA Chardonnay I enjoy. You can spend more on one, but for under $40, this works really well.

Arnot-Robert’s rides the fence of CA Chardonnay & White Burgundy nicely. Has a bit of Ca Chardonnay backbone with the creamy body of White Burgundy.

Nose does not show much at first. Green apple, pear, lemon, lime. White peach, caramel notes, cardamom, paraffin, cream, yellow & spring flowers.

The body is creamy with nice viscosity. Green apple, pear, lemon, lime. White peach, caramel notes, cardamom, paraffin, cream, very light honey notes, sea spray, light chalkiness, yellow & spring flowers. Excellent round acidity, beautiful, soft structure, well balanced and a pleasant finish.

A couple more years in bottle add a point or two & more complexity. .

A little history from their website. Watson Ranch Vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay at the southernmost end of the Napa Valley. The ranch was named after early Napa attorney, Augustus Watson, who owned the property in the early 1900s. The adjacent property is an abandoned limestone quarry which historically employed over 300 people, mining material to make portland cement used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. — 9 months ago

Phil Orlandini

9.0

A little dry and peppery, strong black fruits but not jammy. Very nice! — 2 years ago

Kate

9.5

Notice that there are different cherry pie Pinot noir reviews. This has a black label on bottom. Not red. This is San Pablo bay block that I am reviewing. Cameros Napa valley 14.5% abv A bartender recommended and explained that there is one that is 2nd press and one that is 1st press. This one was $30 at Costco. I paid more at the bar for a bottle. I looked for this at total wine and didn’t find. Was excited to see this at Costco. It’s cherry and silky. This is not a by the glass wine at the restaurant. This is a bottle only wine. There is a less expensive cherry pie Pinot noir than this. Don’t confuse the two. — 3 years ago

Ericsson

9.0

This quite nice after about two hrs and even then, the rhetorical fruit is faint. Full, dry, earthy, spiced, medium alcohol, hints of green vegetables and a highly tannic finish with hints of red cherry. I want to like this wine more but need steak to actually bring out the best in the wine. Cheers. — 10 months ago

Nicole Ruiz Hudson

8.9

Smoky red and black cherries, plums, chocolate and vanilla and a bit of tobacco and a smattering of to add a savory layer. Rich, but goes down smooth and easy. Holding up well with age as well. Tannins quite smooth at this point.

#sample — 2 years ago

Ericsson

9.2

Needs a straight decant or min of forty mins in the glass before it fully opens up to a beautiful exotic bouquet of red fruits, dark chocolate and roses. Cheers. — 2 years ago