Drink the Bottles

  Kit's Killer Cab from Clif Family Winery was first tasted twenty years ago from barrel.  It was Kit Crawford, co-owner and co-founder of the winery, who dubbed this Napa Valley Cabernet a "killer" wine, so naturally, it had to go into bottle! The family behind this label is also the pioneers of the incredibly popular and tasty Clif Bar, a portable and nutritious snack for on-the-go professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, busy moms... well, you get it.  Everyone loves a Clif Bar, right? Clif Family Winery started out as a small garden and a place to grow olives and fruit from planted trees.  Next, bring in the wine and eventually a tasting salon.  You want a food truck?  Check!  You want to be part of a Peloton riding club?  No problem!  There's nothing that these folks can't or won't do as long as it makes sense to their brand and goal to bring delicious products to life.  Today, Clif Family Winery grows nine grape varietals on 90 acres of...

  40 Years of Leadership: Kim Stare Wallace Celebrates Four Decades at Dry Creek Vineyard Second-Generation President Reflects on Legacy, Innovation, and Commitment to Place   HEALDSBURG, Calif. (February 11, 2026) – In an industry defined by constant change, longevity has become increasingly rare. Today, Kim Stare Wallace marks 40 years at Dry Creek Vineyard, a milestone that reflects the enduring power of family ownership, thoughtful leadership and an unwavering commitment to Dry Creek Valley.   “In four decades, I’ve seen the wine industry evolve in remarkable ways,” says Wallace. “But our focus has remained the same: to make wines that honestly express where they come from. That kind of clarity only comes from taking the long view.”   Wallace formally joined Dry Creek Vineyard in 1986 as Director of Marketing, though her roots at the winery run much deeper. Raised in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, she grew up alongside the winery founded by her father, Da...

  If you threw a dart at the map of Napa Valley and hit the center, you would find Rutherford Ranch Winery.  Located on the historic and famous Silverado Trail at the site of the original Round Hill Winery, it has now been family owned by the Zaninovich family for nearly three decades with an empasis on Cabernet Sauvignon.  They also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot under the Rutherford label, showcasing that lovely Rutherford dust! The winemaking team has branched out into a total of seven labels, all with their own uniqueness and price points.  But today we are discussing the  2019 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley .  Before we get into the details of this wine, we will say that this is one (as well as other stellar vintages) will age well for a very, very long time.  If you're considering this wine, consider multiple bottles.  We think this will continue to flourish and develop for the next 10-plus years. Dar...

  We need start this review with a small, albeit important disclaimer.  Your eyes are not deceiving you.  There is  wine missing from the bottle (it's in the glass!) and the capsule and cork are still in tact.  We bought a new Coravin wine system for Christmas and this was our first time using it. To say we are excited about everything in this bottle and behind the label is a huge understatement.  You know that our mouths water over 100% varietal wines, Napa Valley, family-owned wineries, and, of course -farmers!  The fact that the Smith Family (owners of Barlow Vineyards) use a John Deere tractor on their property tugs at our heart strings even more. But enough about that, right?  We are here for the WINE!  This family operation produces just over 1,500 total cases annually and they've been in the same location for over thirty years.  The  2021 Barlow Vineyards Petit Verdot is beautifully inked with dark purple colors and a medium...

  We have tasted a boat load of quality wines over the past year.  There has been everything from a $12.00 grocery store selection to a $250+ limited selection, single vineyard Cab.  So, when we decide on a WOTY (wine of the year) it is every bottle for itsself.  They must all stand on their own merit and each bottle has a fair shot of receiving this honor.  We take into consideration not only what is inside the bottle, but also the overall presentation, availability, price and label. For 2025, the Drink The Bottles  team has bestowed our "Wine of the Year" honor to the 2017 Maxville Winery Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon .  This wine epitomizes Napa Valley fruit, body, complexity and the overall tasting experience.  Eggplant and berry jam color, this wine has lifting aromas of crushed black cherries, cocoa powder, scorched earth and wet cedar plank.  It's absolutely mouth-watering and the delicate tannins coat the mouth with black fruit...

  One of the rewards of writing about and reviewing wines from all over the world, is the satisfaction we take knowing that not all wines have to be a one-hundred fifty dollar, ninety-five point, single estate stunner.  Since 2011, we have maintained that we write about wines of all varietals and price points with an emphasis on, "if we like the wine, then you will see it here."  And the wine we are discussing today is a perfect case in point. This is the 2022 Vint California Merlot from Robert Mondavi .  This bottle was born to commemorate thirty years of the Robert Mondavi Private Selection series, which is more of an "every day budget concious" offering that is still full of flavors and attention to detail from the Mondavi winery.  Raspberry jam colored and medium bodies. Aromas of black cherry , plum and whisps of campfire smoke lay a foundation to the straighforward flavors.  Blackberry , coffee bean , vanilla , brown sugar and mild spices play w...

  From Cline Cellars and the Dry Creek Valley Appellation comes the 2022 Eight Spur Zinfandel .   Dry Creek Valley is one of the oldest growing regions in California and the Zinfndel vines resemble small trees that are spur pruned to eight canes, hence the name of this affordable and completely approachable wine.   Coming in at 15% alcohol by volume, the 2022 release is showing off some ripe red raspberries, cranberry and baking spice aromas.   The palate is full of sweet and sour cherry candies, plum, sage, beef stake tomato and sweet spices on the finish.   This is a straightforward and tasty Zinfandel that is very versatile and would pair very well with braised short ribs, a bold blue cheese or even a burger and fries.   This wine is very food friendly with an MSRP of only $35.00 you really can’t go wrong here.   This, in our opinion, is a solid 90-point wine all day long. The 2023 release is currently available on the Cline Cellars website....

  As we write this, I can't begin to tell you how giddy we are about the experience we had with this wine.  The  2022 DAOU Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles was something we were looking forward to tasting, but there was no way we could have anticipated how incredible this is - and the price is as attactive as the label! There are so many layers of both aromas and flavors leaping from this bottle.  Stunning dark garnet color to the edge of the glass.  Ripe berry pie, red licorice, sage, rosemary, vanilla extract and dark chocolate fought for center stage on the nose.   We did not decant, but constant swirling brough additional aromas of cherry cola and hints of clove.   The first taste brought us a huge fruit basket of flavors up front, joined by a grass field covered in morning mist, smoky cedar plank and semi-sweet chocolate bits.  The wine was absolutely mouth coating and provided smiles on our faces as the day was lon...

  It's always amazing to drink wines that you aren't familiar with, only to find out that they surprise you in a big way.  There are still a significant group of wine enthusiasts who snub their noses at screw top wines, to which we just laugh or shake our heads.  From a winemaker's or vintner's perspective - no cork taint!  Do we need to say more? This is the  2023 Cedar + Salmon Pinot Noir Willamette Valley red wine from 3 Badge Beverage.  Don't peek to the end to see the price yet, because you won't believe it considering this is 100% Willamette Valley juice.   Mulberry color in the glass, this wine left us pleasantly perplexed after some air time in the glass and introduction of oxygen with some nice swirling.  Dried rose petal, plum, and black cherry fragrances appear on the nose, leading an introduction to a myriad of flavors.  We first picked up the traditional Pinot Noir gentle flavors of red raspberry, cherry and dried herbs....

  Napa Valley has been on our mind a lot these days with the Pickett Fire still burning.  Although 90% contained, at this writing the fire has been burning about 2 weeks.  There has been much discussion and speculation already about grape taint from the smoke, as was the case for many wineries that experienced repurcussions from the 2020 Glass Fire.  Fingers crossed for all! The  2019 Pope Valley Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a nearly textbook example of what we are looking for in a Napa Valley Cab.  Dark blackberry color in the glass, this wine has lifting aromas of blue and red raspberries, star anise, beef steak tomato and hints of blackcurrant.  This expression is unctuous, providing a lush and mouth-coating experience from beginning to end.  More dark fruits, freshly sawn timber, wisps of vanilla curd, dry earth, dried herbs and leather. This wine is another example of the talents of winemaker Michael Coode and a nod to Napa Valley....

  Located in the Jamieson canyon region of Napa Valley are some vineyards producing some very tasty and affordable wines under the Maldonado Family Vineyards label and also a second label dubbed Farm Worker.  Owner and winemaker Hugo Maldonado created this Mexican-American family owned winery was previously a vineyard manager at Newton, providing him the tools of the trade to eventually leave his footprint in the valley. The 2021 Maldonado Family Vineyards Proprietary Red Wine is a secret blend of reds and it provides a satisfying and extremely approachable expression for those who tend to shy away from a 100% bolder Cab.  This one suggests that it is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, but the important thing here is how this wine makes you feel.  Scarlet red in the glass with shades of plum skin, the aromas of juicy plum, marzipan, petrichor, flower boquet and spice dance together wonderfully.  We gave this some time in the glass without de...

  Huddled in the Vaca Mountains is an AVA that is sparesly planted compared to many others in Napa Valley, but it is one that is creating delicious fruit.  The Chiles Valley AVA is home to Maxville Winery's 1000-acre estate, proudly possessing some vines that are now over 50 years old!  While this is extremely impressive, what garners our attention more is the wines produced that are strangely both delicate and bold when they need to be.  The soil in the estate vineyard is well-drained and the dry farming style provides the perfect pressure on the vines, forcing them to produce berries that are flavorful, colorful and memorable. Maxville Estate Vineyard - Chiles Valley AVA courtesy of Maxville Winery Over the next few weeks we are going to taste and share a handful of wines from Maxville.  But today we are concentrating on two wines - the 2021 Maxville Estate Oranos Red Blend and the 2021 Maxville Estate Merlot . While the specific details of the composotion fo...

  In a tucked away corner of Napa Valley sits it's 16th AVA, Coombsville, and a very welcoming winery that is producing small lot, huge taste wines!  The Certified Organic property produces the  2018 Ackerman Family Vineyards Memoir Red Blend , which they say reflects their legacy of creating wine in Napa Valley for nearly three decades. This smartly-constructed wine is made up primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) but is also joined by some red favorites - Petit Verdot (5%), Malbec (10%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Merlot (10%).  The Petit Verdot fruit comes from Coombsville.  These grapes blend beautifully to create a medium-bodied, fruit-balanced and polished wine that would stand on its own accord or be enjoyed with some prime rib. Dark red, juicy fruits in a medium garnet liquid are joined by book leather and dried spice on the nose.  The palate re-introduces the fruit but doesn't throw it in your face.  It's more of an introduction that presents pl...

  We had the pleasusre of visiting Pine Ridge Vineyards towards the end of the Covid pandemic, so times were much different than they are currently.  Being fans of PRV for many years, we can attest that the property, the people, the wines and the overall tasting experience at Pine Ridge is absolutely stunning and  very welcoming.  It is a "must visit" destination on your next Napa Valley wine adventure. Before we get into this wine, we have a confession to make and it might not be an easy one to hear.  We typically are NOT "wine with dinner" people.  Cue the moans, the eye rolls and horrible feedback.  We get it.  Wine accentuates your meal.  When paired properly, both the food and the vino compliment each other and the experience is beyond memorable.  In fact, one of our good friends who is a vintner in Napa Valley will talk your ear off about how lovely wine is with food and the importance of having quality in both. We aren't going to ...

  When Barb and Bart at a charity event a few decades ago, their love of wine was a bond that they shared that ultimlately led them to opening their owe winery in Napa.  A quarter of a century ago the duo purchased 33 acres of prime Napa real estate and eventually they began producing Bordeaux and Burdundian styles of wines that promote their sustainably farmed vineyard.  These "estate only" exclusive wines promote not only traditional styles, but also the passion that Barb and Bret share for each other after all of these years. Today we are tasting the  2020 O'Brien Estate Cabernet Sauvignon .  As one would expect, it is memorable from cork pop to the finish with it's beautiful bottle and striking darker mulberry color in the glass.  Ripe berries, granite, wet stone, cigar paper and spice swim in the nose, creating a mouth-watering introduction that delivers.  Dark fruit, plum, spice cabinet, pencil shavings, cedar smoke and a hint of milk chocolate d...