2009 Brat   |   Wine Notes

With a dark ruby/garnet hue, The Brat exhibits aromas of fresh raspberries and wild strawberries laced with orange zest and sweet spice. The flavors follow with dried cherries, early harvest rasberries, filling soaked pie crust and touch of white pepper. The juicy tannins are focused and centered leaving you wanting another sip and another reflection.

92 points - Wine Spectator
Hardly a brat, this offers a tight, spicy mix of wild berry, fresh earth, mineral and cedar, Full-bodied and firmly tannic, framing the flavors nicely. Ends with a mineral-laced raspberry core that's fresh and spicy. Grenache and Syrah. Another delightful new wine from this producer. Drink now through 2020. 283 cases made.
—J.L., Wine Spectator

94 points - The Wine Enthusiast

2008 Brat   |   Wine Notes

This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The dark ruby/garnet hued Brat exhibits the aromas of cherries and cranberries intermixed with orange blossom and exotic spice. The flavors follow with sweet cherry cider; candied chocolate dipped orange rinds and crisp structure, which makes this wine particularly appealing to pair with a meal.

92 points - Wine Enthusiast

2007 The Brat   |   Wine Notes

This wine is inspired by the blends of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhone Valley in France and is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Dense, rich and chewy, with mocha-laced wild berry and blackberry fruit that's intense and full-bodied, gaining depth and a mineral complexity on the finish. Softly tannic, sexy and delicious, with waves of berry-cherry pie filling and mocha for richness, and drier, tarter notes of currants, leather, rhubarb and pomegranates, accentuated with smoky wood.

94 points - Wine Enthusiast
Rich and chewy, with mocha-laced wild berry and blackberry fruit that's intense and full-bodied, gaining depth and a mineral complexity on the finish. Softly tannic, sexy and delicious, with waves of berry-cherry pie filling and mocha for richness, and drier, tarter notes of currants, leather, rhubarb and pomegranates, accentuated with smoky wood.
—Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast

2006 The Brat   |   Wine Notes

2005 The Brat   |   Wine Notes

91 points ~ Wine Spectator, November 2007   |   View Article
Savory, with supple flavors that build, with spice, dried berry, anise and sage, supported by firm tannins and ending with a hint of spice and cedar. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2011. 150 cases made.
—James Laube Wine Spectator

2009 The Brawler   |   Wine Notes

The Brawler is back with a vengeance. A deep ruby purple color coats and grips the glass with legs that have strong thighs. Dark and gamey, dried herbs and leather aromas frame a core of blackberry and elderberry fruit with a hint of apricot in the background. Flavors are rich, blackberry/apricot cobbler that is perfumed with sweet spices, dark chocolate and espresso. Tannins are still a little edgy, but fine and silky on the finish and will only get better with age.

92 points - Wine Spectator
A potent, rich and graceful mix of scorched earth, dried berry, roasted herb and spices, all tightly focused, with muscular yet well-integrated tannins. Ends in a long, persistent finish with shades of melted licorice. Syrah and Viognier. Best from 2013 through 2023. 173 cases made.
—J.L., Wine Spectator

93 points - The Wine Enthusiast

2007 The Brawler   |   Wine Notes

This wine is inspired by the blends of Cote Rotie in the Rhone Valley of France. This wine is 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier. Big, ripe and fleshy, powerful yet elegant and stylish, offering robust, chewy blackberry, wild berry, plum and mocha, gaining a nice toasty oak edge and ending with a full-blown finish.

92 points - Wine Spectator
Big, ripe and fleshy, powerful yet elegant and stylish, offering robust, chewy blackberry, wild berry, plum and mocha, gaining a nice toasty oak edge and ending with a full-blown finish. Syrah and Viognier. Drink now through 2016. 118 cases made.
—JL, Wine Spectator

92 points - Wine Enthusiast
An ambitious Syrah. Shows extraordinarily fine tannins, soft and rich, with complex flavors of blackberries, currants, mocha and pepper. A touch of Viognier goes a long way, adding a vein of lime taste and acidity. Give it six month to integrate and calm down.
—Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast

2006 The Brawler   |   Wine Notes

90 points ~ Wine Spectator, November 2008   |   View Article
A ripe, juicy style. Full-bodied, with complex cherry, currant and wild berry fruit that?s well-proportioned, turning supple and polished on the finish. Syrah and Viognier. Drink now through 2013.
—James Laube Wine Spectator

2005 The Brawler   |   Wine Notes

93 points ~ Wine Spectator, November 2007   |   View Article
Firm, ripe, intense and concentrated, with rich plum, blueberry, spice, anise, sage and light cedar. Offers complexity, depth and focus, with a long, persistent finish. The dash ofViognier gives this a sweet spot. Syrah and Viognier. Drink now through 2012. 150 cases made.
—James Laube Wine Spectator

2009 Instigator   |   Wine Notes

Inky black purple in color. Graphite, tar and fine hashish dominate the aromatics with super-ripe crushed blackberries at the core. The flavors are savory and elegant with ripe black fruits and wild berries, molasses and espresso filling the palate followed by a rich cotton velvety texture with long mouthwatering tannins screaming for a juicy steak to join in.

93 points - Wine Spectator
Gorgeous pure, ripe, juicy plum, raspberry and pomegranate give it a delicious taste and it firms nicely at mid palate, with a scorched earth mix, well structured yet the flavors remain pure and persistent, ending with a long, long finish. Best from 2012 through 2024.
—J.L., Wine Spectator

92 points - The Wine Enthusiast

2008 Instigator   |   Wine Notes

Dark and dense, the Instigator relentlessly clings to the side of the glass after you swirl. Rich and robust, it delivers a burgeoning yet restrained bouquest of Kirsch liqueur, rustic meat, dried lavender and graphite. 100% Syrah sourced from Kick Ranch in Sonoma Valley concentrated flavors follow suit: Blackberry puree, cassis, and floral notes with a long and sophisticated finish. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and it should drink well over the next decade.

2009 Baby Doll

A blend of The Brat, The Brawler and The Instigator. Intended to be chilled and served on warm afternoons, this wine is crisp and refreshing exhibiting flavors of pink grapefruit, fresh cut melons, cherry cider and strawberries. However, this wine is not just about fresh fruit. There is a background both in aroma and on the palate is a reminder of the terrior where this fruit was grown.

2007 Baby Doll

Baby Doll, a term of endearment used for Wendy, this wine was designed to be fun and refreshing. Intended to be chilled and served on warm afternoons, this wine is crisp and refreshing exhibiting flavors of pink grapefruit, fresh cut melons, cherry cider and strawberries. However, this wine is not just about fresh fruit. There is a background both in aroma and on the palate is a reminder of the terrior where this fruit was grown.

2006 The Baby Doll   |   Wine Notes

Sammy Baby Cuvee

2008 Sammy Baby Cuvee   |   Wine Notes

Inky purple edges show impressively in the glass, copious notes of sautéed chorizo and chipotle laced black beans followed by plum and crème de cassis. The flavors are bold, like something right out of a Texas barbeque pit, black pepper, smoked meat, grilled peaches and bouquet garni. There is a mouthwatering tension between sweet and savory flavors that sustains a long yet silky finish.