90 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine - 2010 Big River Ranch zinfandel

Wine Spectator
November 30, 2013
Tim Fish
2010 Bella Big River Ranch zinfandel

“A gutsy red, offering a rich core of fruit and a distinctive touch of earth. Blackberry and underbrush aromas open to complex yet tight flavors of black cherry, roasted sage and licorice. The mineral-tinged tannins impart slight grip on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2022.”

90 Points: Outstanding; a wine of superior character and style

 

92 Points - Gregory Dal Paiz - 2010 Big River Ranch zinfandel

Snooth.com
November 5, 2013
Gregory Dal Piaz
2010 Bella Big River Ranch zinfandel

“This is spicy on the nose with perfumed oak tones and lovely nuanced toasted cumin and coriander accent to the core of dark, oily fruit. In the mouth this is surprisingly supple and slinky, and rich with a core of wild cherry and plummy fruit that remains very tight and almost chewy, dense but not weighty. This gives the impression of being a little sweet, with sweet toasty oak adding to that, though there is great clarity to the muscular, earthy fruit that drives the long finish.” 92 Points

 

91 Points - Tanzer's Int. Wine Cellar - 2010 Lily Hill Estate zinfandel

 Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Issue 168, May/June 2013- Josh Raynolds

 

90 Points - Wine Lines Online - 2010 Lily Hill Estate zinfandel

Wine Lines Online
November 9, 2013 
Glen Frederiksen 
2010 Bella Lily Hill Estate zinfandel 
“Nearly opaque dark ruby hue. Pretty floral scents accentuate black pepper laced jammy dark berry fruits, with additional aromas/flavors of menthol, nutmeg/clove, and a dash of brown sugar. The tannins are refined and restrained, providing a smooth mouth presence. This is a lush wine, showing broad strokes of varietal character.” 90 Points; Featured Wine

 

91 Points - Gregory Dal Paiz - 2010 Rocky Ridge zinfandel

2010 Bella Rocky Ridge zinfandel

“Cola, sassafras, dark chocolate and even a touch of black olive emerge on the nose adding detail and complexity to the core of  blackcurrant and black cherry fruit. This is built on its acids, so clear and fresh in the mouth with tons of firm black fruit supported by herb, green anise seed and fennel notes followed by a long taut finish. This is very tense and powerful with great focus, and yet it is supple and already in a very nice spot.” 92 Points

 

95 Points - 2010 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Wine Advocate #210 Dec 2013      Robert Parker   95 Points      
The inky opaque ruby/purple-colored 2010 Zinfandel Barrel 32, which comes from -seven exceptional barrels of Zinfandel, - is limited to 175 cases. Aromas of black fruits and flowers soar from the glass. With serious richness, a layered mouthfeel, outstanding intensity, and a full-bodied, blockbuster finish, this classic California Zinfandel is best drunk in its first 5-6 years of life, but my instincts suggest it will still be drinking well in 20-25 years.

 

91 Points - 2010 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Gregory Dal Piaz - Snooth

“Fairly marked by oak exhibiting aromas that are a little toasty and creamy with dark slightly jammy and very wild black fruit that shows some, dark mineral and root beer float top notes. Mouth filling, seamless and a bit dense, this is packed with RC cola inflected candied black cherry and blackberry fruit. Big and polished, this finishes with lightly spicy vanilla cream draped fruit. This is a bit of a bruiser and while it’s intense and rich I can’t say that I prefer it to the single vineyard wines.”  91 Points

 

"5 out of 5 stars" - 2010 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Restaurant Wine - Ronn Wiegand

“Barrel 32— a blend of the top 7 Zinfandel barrels from the, 2010 vintage is quite stunning:  very supple in texture, intensely flavored, and well balanced; a Zin with depth, complexity, and excellent balance. It is very long on the finish, and tastes of blackberry, plum, cherry, black pepper, toast, spicy oak. Aged 14 months in primarily French oak barrels, 20% new.” Five out of Five Stars: EXCEPTIONAL quality. Very highly recommended.

 

90 Points - 2010 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Wine & Spirits   October 2013    Joshua Greene

“A selection of the seven top barrels of zin in Bella’s cellar, this wine includes fruit from Big River Ranch in Alexander Valley, as well as Maple Vineyard and Lily Hill Estate in Dry Creek. It contrasts bright blue fruit with brisk tannins that feel strong for a zin. The texture is luxurious, the flavors layering cool forest mushroom and sweet notes of peach – a zin that will gain complexity with cellar time.” 90 Points; Exceptional example of its type

 

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast - 2010 Block 10

Wine Enthusiast
September 2013
Steve Heimoff
2010 Block 10 zinfandel
“Bella’s only 2010 Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley is high in alcohol, but manages somehow to maintain balance. It’s softly tannic and incredibly rich in chocolate, mulberry jam, cassis liqueur, prune and peppery-spice flavors. Delicious, but heady.” 92 Points