Liquor

94 points Vinous (Galloni)"... the 2017 Evangelho Heritage Wine is a stunner. Fresh, vibrant and nuanced, it conveys a compelling sense of translucence, and retains elegance and finesse even with its distinctly super-ripe, racy feel. This is the first vintage in which Bedrock had complete control of farming during the entire year, and it shows in the positively brilliant 2017. Sadly, Bedrock lost 30% of the Carignan in 2017, so the blend is a bit different than in the past. (AG)"

Read more less

Great old world style cab from CA. Graphite nose with blackberry, blueberry, baking spice and mint Flavors start out interestingly earth driven with graphite, spice and soil then lead to fruit notes of blueberry and blackberry. Short length dry finish. --Seth Ransom

Read more less

DESCRIPTION With each vintage of the acclaimed Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the Beringer Winemaker chooses the best lots from our reserve vineyards in the Napa Valley, each of which demonstrate remarkable expression of terroir. Beringer’s extraordinary collection of vineyards is the result of a significant and decades-long relationship between viticulture and winemaking. VINOUS “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is fabulous. As always, the Private Reserve is built on a core of Howell Mountain fruit. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, grilled herb, spice and licorice all flesh out in the glass. The Private Reserve packs a serious punch, but like all the 2018s shows a more refined expression of tannin that really elevates it.” - Antonio Galloni, March 2021   JAMESSUCKLING.COM “Wild blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spice on the nose. Dried violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and a creamy texture. Intense, yet restrained and refined, with a solid core of dark berries and bitter chocolate. Really focused and crafted with exemplary Napa cabernet character.” - James Suckling, January 2021

Read more less

Bien Nacido Estate Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara County 2018

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The 2016 Arise offers a rich attack with sweet, plush tannins and notes of cherry, plum, and smoked duck in a long finish of coffee, plum, and blueberry. An ideal 2016 harvest season resulted in rich fruit of uncompromised character. The 2016 Arise is Blackbird at its core of supple winemaking. Blend: 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.

Read more less

Excellent Napa representation of a Bordeaux blend. Went very well with Chipotle beef burrito. Deep ruby color throughout with long, thick legs. Nose of dark fruit, leather and toast. Opening of black fruit favoring black cherry and black plum with dried leaves, violets, licorice and granite. Medium-plus bodied and medium acidity with lovely, complex tannins that emerge slowly and fade gracefully. Peace and cheers! --Ed Lamb

Read more less

Professional reviews ROBERT PARKER (94) The 2018 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is composed of 48.8% Merlot, 48.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.7% Cabernet Franc and 1.2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with notes of black plum preserves, Morello cherries, black raspberries and redcurrant jelly with suggestions of cedar chest, menthol, pencil lead and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has great intensity with a real skip in its step, featuring bold, crunchy fruit and rounded tannins with seamless freshness and a fragrant finish. JEB DUNNUCK (97) Checking in as close to an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with around 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2018 Prince Of Hearts Red offers a stunning, Bordeaux-like nose of red and black currants, new leather, lead pencil, graphite, and bouquet garni. With medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, classy background oak, and a great finish, this head turner has plenty of richness, yet it's the balance, purity, and texture that keep you coming back to the glass. Bravo!

Read more less

WINEMAKER'S NOTES: Baby Blue is always built for pleasure right out of the gate and this beautifully aromatic rendition is no exception. Loads of rich red and black fruits, plus a delightful hint of blueberry, all get the party started. This is followed up by a nice compliment of baking spices, vanilla, a kiss of gentle herbs, and just the right amount of beautiful French oak and earthy goodness to round things out on the finish. Wonderful length and supple tannins make for easy enjoyment of this joyous red. Perhaps the most versatile of Blue Rock's wines, you can pair this Baby Blue with just about any meal you care to match with a nice red. Of course grilled meats always come to mind, but poultry in rich sauces or exotic global cuisine such as Indian, Thai or Vietnamese will work equally well.

Read more less

As Chuck Wagner explains, his new Bonanza Cabernet isn’t Caymus, but rather an expression of the sort of other superb California vineyards he never tires of exploring, the sort that are capable of “producing Cabernet Sauvignon that’s less expensive but a wine of its own riches.”"One thing is important to me – Bonanza calls back to a previous era when a glass of good wine with dinner was a simple pleasure. Bonanza aims to be a smart and gratifying choice, speaking to the enjoyment of everyday life. You may agree that our biggest fortune is good company, great food and delicious wine."

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The name Melbury is in homage to an historic area in London, where the estate owners reside much of the year. Since its debut with the 1999 vintage, the consistent hallmarks of Melbury have been plush red fruits (currants, bing cherries), redolent with spice and the scent of violets. Elegance and a supple texture define the structure of this wine. The particular exposition of this rocky 7-acre hillside vineyard is southerly overlooking Lake Hennessey, allowing the vines to capture the morning sun yet moderating afternoon temperatures. Critical Acclaim Jeb Dunnuck Moving to the single vineyard releases, the 2016 Melbury is pure perfection in a glass and is the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. Awesome notes of cassis, blackcurrants, toasted bread, white flowers, and spice give way to an ethereal, seamless, yet opulent wine that has that rare mix of power and elegance possessed by all truly great wines. Full-bodied, concentrated, and with building yet perfectly ripe tannins, do your best to give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age. It will evolve effortlessly for 30 years or more. James Suckling Blueberries, forest floor, and hints of fresh flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, very dense and polished with amazingly tight and integrated fruit. Persistent finish. The tannins melt into the wine. Complete. Drink after 2023.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The name refers to the Latin word for many, and was chosen to signify the various facets involved in creating a fine wine: from the sun, soil, and climate of a vineyard, to the team of people who guide a wine through its evolution. A breathtaking mountainous 7-acre site with steep exposures to the north, east and southeast, the soil is comprised of volcanic bedrock. Pluribus, which debuted in the 2003 vintage, is defined as a bold, rich and concentrated wine; elements of dark plum, roasted coffee, and scents of cedar are inherent throughout the vintages. Critical Acclaim RP99 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Pluribus vineyard is situated on Spring Mountain, producing a sometimes broody wine in its youth with tons of latent power and energy waiting to erupt. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Pluribus is a little closed and youthfully mute to begin, slowly unfurling to offer glimpses at baked plums, crushed blackcurrants, boysenberries and redcurrant jelly plus suggestions of charcoal, black olives, Sichuan pepper and bay leaves with a waft of pain grille. Full-bodied, it has a rock-solid frame of very firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruit and savory accents, finishing with phenomenal length and loads of earthy layers. JD98 Jeb Dunnuck Lastly, the 2016 Pluribus completes the lineup of just about pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet, and readers can’t go wrong with any of these 2016 Bond releases. As with the Vecina, the Pluribus is a powerful, structured wine that offers pure blue fruits (cassis, blueberries), notes of smoke tobacco, spice, and liquid rock, a full-bodied, expansive, opulent mouthfeel, and flawless balance. Its purity of fruit as well as its power, married to include finesse, sets this beauty up near the top of the pyramid. Give bottles 7-8 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 3 decades.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Making its debut with the 2006 vintage, the name is derived from the German word for a pristine source or an artesian aquifer. This property is steeply sloped facing southwest. The site is an ancient riverbed composed of cobble and rocks interwoven with pockets of tufa (volcanic ash) that were uplifted during the last volcanic activity in the area. Quella displays an almost ethereal quality of blue fruits, graphite, and a vibrant, subtle finish. Critical Acclaim James Suckling This is really crazy with decadent and opulent aromas of dark fruit and sliced meat. Hints of dried fruit, too. Sexy. Full-bodied with firm and silky tannins that fan out into the wine and deliver a beautiful frame and focus. Jeb Dunnuck Always a “Wow” wine, the 2016 Quella doesn’t disappoint, showing its classic, savory, mineral style as well as stunning notes of blueberries, plums, spice box, herbs de Provence, and melted licorice. This full-bodied, ripe, powerful wine has a wealth of tannins yet leans on its depth of fruit and opulence at the moment. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age, but it’s a rock star Napa Valley Cabernet that will keep for 3 decades.

Read more less