Reviews & Ratings

REVIEWS AND RATINGS

Welcome to Cline Cellars Reviews and Ratings page. Also visit our friends at VinSouth for their list of reviewed and rated Cline Cellars wines. CHEERS!

Mourvèdre

Comments

1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre

San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle May 10, 2000 - 2½ Stars

Forward black-cherry aroma, bay leaf and mint back notes; ripe fruit flavors, anise and herbs, smooth with good length. Nice choice with grilled Italian sausage, beef stew.

1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre

Wine Enthusiast October 1999
91 (Contra Costa County) $28.
Very rich chocolate, plum and allspice aromas, like a pudding. Classy. From low-yielding old vines, and it shows in the intensity and density. Deft winemaking keeps it from being ponderous. Really alive and fresh; try with braised lamb shank and wild mushrooms.

1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre

Beverage Testing Institute Beverage Testing Institue
93 Points - Exceptional

1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre

The Cincinnati Enquirer The Cincinanati Enquirer, 12/12/99
Best Wines Tasted in 1999

This inky deep beauty ranks high on my list of best wines tasted in 1999. Cline packed its top Mourvedre with intense, full-bodied flavors, but also achieved surprising refinement. Pair this unforgettable red with hearty fare, such as lamb stew, game or grilled meat.

Zinfandel

Comments

1998 California Zinfandel

New York Times New York Times 3/26/00

"A splendid, macho bargain that begs for spicy dogs and sausages." - Howard G. Goldbery

1997 Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Global Vintage Quarterly Magazine

Global Vintage Quarterly Magazine

January - March 2000 Issue
Fine California Zinfandels
$20 1997 Zinfandel Contra Costa County Ancient Vines
Regional Winemakers Score 97 points
National Critics Score 88.8 points
Global Vintage Score 95 points

1997 Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Top Ten Best Zinfandels 1999
Wine & Spirits Magazine

The '97 Ancient Vines Zinfandel from Contra Costa County a prepare yourself for aromatic overload. This wine is odoriferous in all the best and earthiest ways balanced by plenty of cranberry and black currant flavor. In France, they'd make you pay for such an intimate experience. Here, it's a glorious zin for $20. Buying Guide 2000

1997 Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Wine Spectator 12/15/99
89 points
$20 Solid, with a core of ripe black cherry, wild berry, raspberry and plum. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins weigh in. Drink now through 2007. 8,834 cases made.--J.L

1997 Ancient Vines Zinfandel

If you're looking for subtlety, have mommy pour you a glass of milk. Otherwise, strap on your seat belt and pop the cork. Qualities full-bodied, has finesse, juicy, toasty oak deep purple barnyard, blackberry, blackberry jam, briar, smoked meat, tea leaves berry, black pepper, blueberry, blueberry, caramel, cassis, licorice. 6/28/99
Judges: Leslie Sbrocco, Tim Fish

1997 Ancient Vines Zinfandel

Ancient Vines Zinfandel Best of theBest
(pub. date: December 27, 1999, The Tennessean)
Frank Sutherland editor, The Tennessean

The 1997 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel at $18.99 is my 1999 Wine of the Year. The sessions in my wine-tasting group rarely arrive at a unanimous pick during a tasting, but this zinfandel was a no-brainer for its robust maturity and its affordable price.Our tasters found the Cline full of intense, explosive fruit aromas. On the palate, we found a soft, mature, classy wine with a hint of chocolate.

1997 Big Break Zinfandel Wine Spectator 2/15/99
90 Points
$28 wonderful richness, complexity and finesse, with polished black cherry, wild berry, raspberry and spice. Finishes with a long, intricate aftertaste and firm tannins. Drink now through 2007. 1,809 cases made. --J.L.

1997 Big Break Zinfandel

Global Vintage Quarterly Magazine

Global Vintage Quarterly Magazine

January - March 2000 Issue
Fine California Zinfandels
$28 1997 Zinfandel Contra Costa County Big Break
Regional Winemakers Score 96 points
National Critics Score92.7 points
Global Vintage Score 93 points

1997 Bridgehead Zinfandel Wine Spectator 12/15/99
90 points
$28 Ripe, rich, plush and concentrated, with lots of currant, black cherry, anise, sage and tobacco notes. Complex aftertaste. Drink now through 2007. 1,500 cases made. --J.L.

1997 Live Oak Zinfandel Wine Spectator 12/15/99
87 points
$28 Very ripe and jammy, with black cherry, wild berry, plum, tar and earth notes. Firms up on the finish, where it turns peppery. Drink now through 2007. 1,519 cases made. --J.L.

Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc

Comments

1998 Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc Wine Spectator 2/29/00
89 Points
$9 Lots of fun in this bottle of white. It's rich and gooey, with fresh fennel, papaya, tangerine and melon flavors that are refreshing, not cloying. Drink now through 2002. A blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Sémillion and others. 4,000 cases made.--J.L.

1998 Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc Wine & Spirits, February 2000
GOOD VALUE | $8.50
A simple, floral white filled with green lily scents. The sweet and sour balance will play off take-out Chinese.

California Syrah

Comments

1998 California Syrah

Wine & Spirits, February 2000
GOOD VALUE | $8.50
A simple, fat and fleshy syrah with dry tannins and a little musky, barnyard character. Open a bottle with grilled burgers.

Comments to Cline Cellars and Winemaker
Comments to Tina Hoogs, Sales & Marketing Manager

Mourvèdre	Comments
1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre San Francisco Chronicle	San Francisco Chronicle May 10, 2000 - 2½ Stars Forward black-cherry aroma, bay leaf and mint back notes; ripe fruit flavors, anise and herbs, smooth with good length. Nice choice with grilled Italian sausage, beef stew.
1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre	Wine Enthusiast October 1999 91 (Contra Costa County) $28. Very rich chocolate, plum and allspice aromas, like a pudding. Classy. From low-yielding old vines, and it shows in the intensity and density. Deft winemaking keeps it from being ponderous. Really alive and fresh; try with braised lamb shank and wild mushrooms.
1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre Beverage Testing Institute	Beverage Testing Institue 93 Points - Exceptional
1997 Small Berry Mourvèdre The Cincinnati Enquirer	*The Cincinanati Enquirer, 12/12/99 Best Wines Tasted in 1999* This inky deep beauty ranks high on my list of best wines tasted in 1999. Cline packed its top Mourvedre with intense, full-bodied flavors, but also achieved surprising refinement. Pair this unforgettable red with hearty fare, such as lamb stew, game or grilled meat.

Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc	Comments
1998 Côtes D'Oakley *Vin Blanc*	Wine Spectator 2/29/00 89 Points $9 Lots of fun in this bottle of white. It's rich and gooey, with fresh fennel, papaya, tangerine and melon flavors that are refreshing, not cloying. Drink now through 2002. A blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Sémillion and others. 4,000 cases made.--J.L.
1998 Côtes D'Oakley *Vin Blanc*	Wine & Spirits, February 2000 GOOD VALUE \| $8.50 A simple, floral white filled with green lily scents. The sweet and sour balance will play off take-out Chinese.

California Syrah	Comments
1998 California Syrah	Wine & Spirits, February 2000 GOOD VALUE \| $8.50 A simple, fat and fleshy syrah with dry tannins and a little musky, barnyard character. Open a bottle with grilled burgers.