Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves - About Us - Press

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About Us

2012 Alexander Valley zinfandel

San Francisco Magazine
“The Best Places to Go Drinking with Your Dog in Sonoma County”
2012 Alexander Valley zinfandel
“Want to kick back with a small group and a great bottle of zin? Healdsburg's Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is the place. Bring a picnic, lounge on the shady hillside lawn, or ‘cool off on the floor of the wine caves’ (that’s directed at dogs, not over-served people…mostly). Bella’s got water bowls and treats for your pooch and comfy lawn chairs for you. Also on offer: hula-hoops and corn hole. Try the 2012 Alexander Valley zinfandel before it’s gone. It has a wonderful balance of ripe fruit, cherry, and peppery spice.”
-Ian White, August 2016

2012 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Wine Advocate
“Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves”
“This estate has consistently done well with their Zinfandel portfolio, and they have hit pay-dirt in 2012.”
2012 Barrel 32 zinfandel
“The most limited of Bella’s 2012 Zinfandels is the 2012 Zinfandel Barrel 32 (only 200 cases produced). It comes from all the estate’s properties (Big River Ranch, Rocky Ridge, Florence, Todd Brothers Ranch and Lily Hill Estate). Reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of a big red from Italy, France or Spain and an All-American California Zinfandel, it boasts notes of roasted herbs, garrigue, licorice, meat, black cherries and currants. Spicy, lush and heady, it is a hedonistic turn-on. Drink this full-bodied, powerful, but well-balanced Zinfandel over the next 5-7 years. 2014 – 2021.” 95 Points; An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines
-Robert Parker, December 2014

Vinous
“I was quite impressed with this lineup from Bella Vineyards. These Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based blends pack a serious punch.”
2012 Barrel 32 zinfandel
“Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, menthol, licorice and herbs are some of the notes that emerge from the Zinfandel Barrel 32. Bold and powerful, the 2012 exudes notable depth. Nothing stands out, as all the elements are in the right place. This is a superb effort from Bella.” 94 Points: Outstanding. A wine of remarkable personality and breed that is well worth seeking out
-Antonio Galloni, August 2016

Wine Enthusiast
“Elegant and firm-textured, this tastes like it comes from a cool climate, bringing a nervy structure of acidity and tannins to support the dark fruit flavors, clove and black pepper. This will be great at dinner due to its balance and grip.” 91 Points; Excellent; Highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, May 2015

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
“There are hearty wines that want drinking with full-flavored foods, but there are refined, thought-provoking examples that remind that Zinfandel can be as complex and compelling as any of the world’s premier red wines.”
2012 Barrel 32 zinfandel
“Sweet oak unquestionably plays a significant role in this wine, but not one that in any way threatens to overshadow its deep and generous fruit, and when the two are combined as well as they are here, the result is a very rich and expressive Zinfandel of enormous appeal. As weighty and ripe as the wine may be, it is exceptionally well-balanced and wholly avoids any troublesome heat or coarseness. It will afford fine drinking now with savory pork dishes or can be safely set aside for three to five years of additional age.” 94 Points; A highly distinctive wine. Likely to be memorable
-Stephen Eliot and Charles Olken, January 2015

2012 Barrel 32 zinfandel

Wine & Spirits
“Showing a lot of oak at first, along with warm brambly fruit, this becomes finer with air, its acidity driving a pretty floral character that builds as the oak matures from vanilla into tree bark and anise scents. Drawn from both young and old vineyards in Dry Creek and Alexander valleys, it’s a gentle zin with energy and length, its plump texture feeling healthy and inviting.” 91 Points; Exceptional examples of their type
-Luke Sykora, April 2015

2012 Belle Cayon zinfandel

Vinous
“I was quite impressed with this lineup from Bella Vineyards. These Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based blends pack a serious punch.”
2012 Belle Canyon zinfandel
“A dark, brooding wine, the 2012 Zinfandel Belle Canyon is also one of the most powerful reds in this range. Smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco, licorice and menthol wrap around a core of intense dark fruit. Bright acidity and beams of tannin - two signatures of Dry Creek Zins - give the wine much of its personality. 2017 – 2022.” 91 Points: Outstanding. A wine of remarkable personality and breed that is well worth seeking out
-Antonio Galloni, August 2016

2012 Big River Ranch Block 10 zinfandel

Wine Advocate
“Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves”
“This estate has consistently done well with their Zinfandel portfolio, and they have hit pay-dirt in 2012.”
2012 Big River Ranch Block 10 zinfandel
“The 2012 Zinfandel Block 10 comes from old head-pruned vines planted in the Big River Ranch property. This is about as good as Zinfandel can get. A stunningly rich, staggeringly complex effort, it is filled with notes of spice, incense, pepper, blue, red and black fruits, compelling richness, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and not a trace of heat despite the lofty alcohol. This is a world-class, quintessential Russian River Zinfandel. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. 2014 – 2022.” 96 Points; An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character siplaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume
-Robert Parker, December 2014

Wine Enthusiast
“A deep, dark color, unusually ripe and exotic aromas, and intense flavors recalling boysenberry syrup make this a monster Zin. It’s not very tannic or astringent, but the body is so rich and the alcohol relatively high that it oozes power and concentration. This will be great after a meal with cheese or chocolate.” 92 Points: Excellent; Highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, May 2015

2012 Big River Ranch zinfandel

Wine Enthusaist
"Best of Year 2015"
“Quite full bodied and obviously powerful in flavor, this wine is piled deep and rich with fruit aromas and flavors like ripe blackberries and blueberries plus chocolate and espresso. An impressive, astringent texture adds structure and makes it appetizing to drink, while the tannins seem to help the opulent flavors linger during the aftertaste.” 93 Points: Excellent; Highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, November 2015

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
“Full and effusive with an absolute wealth of very ripe, specifically berry-like fruit setting the pace, Bella’s Big River Ranch effort is a bold and boisterous Zin…” 90 Points
-Charles Olken, May 2015

2012 Florence Vineyard zinfandel

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
“Convincingly fruity with plenty of youthful drive and enriched with a well-measured element of oak and briary spice, this deep, slightly gutsy young Zin is at once potent and solidly structured. It is supple to start and fairly firm by mid-palate with a welcome sense of brightness evident throughout, and, while it speaks with a good deal of varietal authority at the moment, it is built to get better and is guaranteed to repay another three to five years of patient keeping.” 94 Points: A highly distinctive wine. Likely to be memorable
-Charles Olken, January 2016

2012 Lily Hill Estate zinfandel

Wine Advocate
"Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves"
“This estate has consistently done well with their Zinfandel portfolio, and they have hit pay-dirt in 2012.”
2012 Lily Hill Estate zinfandel
“Bella’s least potent Zinfandel is the 2012 Zinfandel Lily Hill Estate. It offers copious quantities of Provençal garrigue-influenced red cherry and black cherry fruit intermixed with earth, pepper and spice. This medium to full-bodied, luscious, heady, sexy Zinfandel should be consumed over the next 4-5 years. 2014 – 2019.” 92 Points; An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines
-Robert Parker, December 2014

2012 Rocky Ridge zinfandel

Wine Enthusiast
"Best of Year 2015"
“Bright, distinctive fruit impressions pop through a layer of smoke and bacon aromas as this full-bodied but balanced wine opens up. Jazzy flavors like raspberry and cranberry meld with bass notes like blackberry as firm tannins and good acidity give it great structure, too.” 92 Points: Excellent; Highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, November 2015

Wine Advocate
"Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves"
“This estate has consistently done well with their Zinfandel portfolio, and they have hit pay-dirt in 2012.”
2012 Rocky Ridge zinfandel
"The 2012 Zinfandel Rocky Ridge Vineyard from the Rockpile AVA achieved 14.7% alcohol. It is a super-rich, dry, exuberant, boisterous, All-American, classic Zinfandel with lots of raspberry, blueberry and black cherry fruit, pepper and spice characteristics. Pure and beautifully made, with the oak only a subtle nuance, this full-bodied, elegant Zinfandel should drink well for 5-7 years. 2014 – 2021.” 94 Points; An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines
-Robert Parker, December 2014

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
“Sonoma County’s Rockpile appellation accounts for yet another high-achieving Zin here, and of Bella’s several solid, impressively filled versions, this one checks in with the highest marks. It is a big, fully ripe wine to be sure, but it is extremely well-balanced and its very deep fruit never strains to be seen. It gets a nice lift in richness from its neatly placed, wholly complementary oak, and it shows the fine crafting of a professional hand every inch of the way.” 93 Points: A highly distinctive wine. Likely to be memorable
-Charles Olken, May 2015

The International Wine Review
“Top Rated Producers: Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves”
“The Bella old vine Zinfandels are among the best produced in Sonoma County.”
2012 Rocky Ridge zinfandel
“This bold, earthy Zinfandel comes from the 1800’ high ridge top of Rockpile where the soil is very thin, and the yields are very low. It shows spicy dark cherry, blackberry, slate and even meaty notes on a lush, round, savory, and complex palate. Finishes with velvet tannins and persistent savory notes.” 92 Points
-Mike Potashnik and Don Winkler, December 2014

2012 Trot and Follow zinfandel

Wine Advocate
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves
“This estate has consistently done well with their Zinfandel portfolio, and they have hit pay-dirt in 2012.”
2012 Trot and Follow zinfandel
“In contrast to the Block 10, the 2012 Zinfandel Trot and Follow possesses deep, briary, raspberry fruit, full body, but not the spice-box or complexity of the Block 10. It offers glorious levels of fruit and lots of body (it carries its 15.8% alcohol gracefully and without a trace of heat), and a long finish. This killer Zinfandel should drink well for 5-7 years. 2014 – 2021.” 93 Points; An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines
-Robert Parker, December 30, 2014

Wine Enthusiast
“Big and robust, it is full bodied but also has lots of personality. It smells like blackberries and ripe plums, and tastes rich, ripe and a bit hot. Memorable wild sage and wood smoke notes linger on the finish. Firm tannins and acidity shape all the elements in an appetizing way.” 93 Points; Excellent; Highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, May 2015

Vinous
“I was quite impressed with this lineup from Bella Vineyards. These Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based blends pack a serious punch.”
2012 Trot and Follow zinfandel
“The 2012 Zinfandel Trot and Follow is ripe, forward and juicy. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco and earthy notes flesh out nicely in the glass. Varietal character comes through loud and clear in this racy, expressive Zinfandel from Bella. This is the most overt Zinfandel in the range. 2016 – 2020.” 91 Points: Outstanding. A wine of remarkable personality and breed that is well worth seeking out
-Antonio Galloni, August 2016