2018 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red
Community Tasting Note
boozebythecreek Likes this wine:
Thursday, August 26, 2021 - Enjoyed with Shae Kinsman at Wheeler Farms. There is a lot of hype behind this wine and after tasting... it's well deserved. This is just a beautiful, delicate wine that amazingly has some drinkability in it's early youth, in fact it's what Shae used to lead off our tasting of this and the Kinsman Eades wines. Gorgeous expressive nose, with a soft mouthfeel. Tannins grip the tongue, but they're not aggressive. Beautiful black and red fruit. Structure is there to let this one go the distance, but I think in about 5 years this should be singing. Aged in french oak and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Petit Verdot (12%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). The $275 a bottle price tag is steep, but worth it. Sign up for this list now as the inaugural release will be first come, first served.
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34 comments have been posted
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,665 views)
Comment posted by csimm:
8/30/2021 10:14:00 PM - Great notes on the Kinsman wines. Curious if Shae mentioned anything about production levels of the Bella Oaks. The Kinsman namesake labels are so limited, but was wondering on case production here with Bella Oaks. Thanks!
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
8/31/2021 5:37:00 AM - csimm1161, thanks! We didn't discuss case levels, but the recent Wine Spectator article mentioned around 350 cases for 2018 if I recall correctly, so a little more than double the Kinsman wines. I think there are additional vines expected to come online shortly that will help to increase production as well. If my memory serves me correctly I think some sauvignon blanc vines will be around in the future.
Comment posted by csimm:
8/31/2021 6:36:00 AM - Great. Thanks very much! Appreciate the info. Nigel is an excellent winemaker and I’m hoping for the best out of this renewed site. Cheers!
Comment posted by csimm:
8/31/2021 9:26:00 AM - LPB mentions 324 cases in her notes. So that sounds about right. Thanks again.
Comment posted by ckokinawa:
8/31/2021 10:58:00 PM - Thanks for the great review. Looking forward to this release as well! Did Shae mention if it was going to be released in a 3 pack format or as single bottles?
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
9/1/2021 8:40:00 AM - Thanks ckokinawa. The order form that I received was selling the wine in 3 or 6 packs, so no single bottles for now. I have to assume that given the small size of their operation that selling in pre-determined package sizes is better for the economics of their business rather than sending different order sizes to whoever is handling logistics for them.
Comment posted by ckokinawa:
9/2/2021 1:43:00 AM - Aww I see. Good to know. That does make sense given the relatively small production. Might have to give this one a little more contemplation now though. Thanks for the info.
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/7/2021 9:26:00 PM - So the question is, is it worth 275? Hard to answer, but are there other Rutherford wines out there that are better and cheaper as 275$ seems a bit high for a first release. If I can buy 2 and not a 3 pack I might bite.
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
9/8/2021 5:40:00 AM - gymastpro, no doubt that the $275 is steep for a first release of the label and that will be an immediate turn off to some having to commit to three bottles. With that said you have a quality winemaker behind the label and a fantastic vintage year, which I think helps to justify the price. Also having had the opportunity to taste it I can say for myself it's worth the price. I tasted it next to the the three Kinsman Eades wines and I'd argue that it was almost an extension of the Kinsman lineup, but unique in it's own right. This is no surprise given that Nigel is the winemaker and has played a huge role in helping to get the vineyard back into shape.
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/8/2021 9:41:00 PM - Thanks for the info!
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/19/2021 9:07:00 PM - After reading more reviews I might bite on this. My wallet is really hurting though.
Comment posted by csimm:
9/19/2021 10:30:00 PM - Go for it. Come join the rest of us in blissful wine debt...
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
9/20/2021 3:48:00 AM - It’s just money…
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/20/2021 7:46:00 AM - I'm in so much wine dent now ha
Comment posted by csimm:
9/20/2021 8:04:00 AM - If you post on Cellar Tracker... you have wine debt :)
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/20/2021 10:47:00 AM - Rip us then ha
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/20/2021 11:42:00 AM - I guess I’ll have to bite. You guys are like drug dealers haha
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/21/2021 3:26:00 PM - I caved and bought a 3 pack and a 1.5L. Someone please save my wallet.
Comment posted by csimm:
9/21/2021 4:01:00 PM - Atta pepper! Welcome to the club!
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/21/2021 6:23:00 PM - RIP Me ahaha
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
9/23/2021 6:01:00 AM - I feel like a support group needs to be started to help us all with our purchases... which will then quickly turn in to egging each other on to buy more. Hey at least we all get a break with the lack of a 2020 vintage!
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/23/2021 11:57:00 AM - Hahaha exactly. But now I'm prepping to stock up on Champagne with the loss of the 2020 vintage. It never ends ha.
Comment posted by RockinCabs:
9/23/2021 1:44:00 PM - The support group is "Moratorium" over on the CT boards. There are rules to the moratorium, but mostly everyone is there for a blessing and get thier sins justified.
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
9/23/2021 1:58:00 PM - Haha so true but so bad at the same time ahah
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
10/30/2021 11:13:00 AM - Bought the wine and had a visit with Martin at Wheeler farms. Great wine and glad I picked it up, thanks for the notes gents.
Comment posted by csimm:
10/30/2021 11:17:00 AM - Nice gymnast! Glad it met expectations. Any other standouts from your travels?
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
10/30/2021 11:26:00 AM - The 19 Cemetery from Caterwaul is one of the best wines for the price I’ve ever tasted. Loaded up on that one. The 16 Shiff Cab was fantastic as well along with the 19 herb lamb from rivers Marie. Abreu was fantastic, barrel samples from 2021 are fantastic as well as the 09 capella we had. But the standout for quality and price was the 19 Cemetery followed by the Shiff Cab.
Comment posted by csimm:
10/30/2021 12:28:00 PM - Great. Thanks for the info. I'll have to check them out!
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
10/30/2021 2:10:00 PM - Glad you enjoyed the Bella! My wallet is not thrilled though on the comments about the Cemetery. Been debating purchasing that one for a few days now! Also agree on the Herb Lamb. Bought even more over my original allocation purchase after tasting it at the winery in August.
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
10/30/2021 2:38:00 PM - I get ya on that. But this one of the best wines in general that I've tasted at this price point (under 150). It competes with some of the best wines I've tasted, and imo better than the herb lamb.
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
10/30/2021 2:56:00 PM - Just curious, did you have the 2018 Cemetery by any chance and if so, how does it compare? I was offered it at my tasting at Rivers-Marie and thought it was so good that I ordered a few bottles right there. Also, is the NV blend for $50 worth it?
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
10/30/2021 3:03:00 PM - Have not had the 18. But Will says the 19 is even better. Haven't had the Napa, but for 50 bucks if it's half as good as the cemetery than I'm content.
Comment posted by boozebythecreek:
10/30/2021 3:09:00 PM - Good to know. It’s time to get my wallet drunk and I’ll fill it in on what happened in the morning!
Comment posted by gymnastpro:
10/30/2021 3:14:00 PM - That's what I did last night. Don't regret it ha