Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

10 notes

2019

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

This sample was a Chewy McChewster, with black currant, dark soil-driven black fruit, licorice, and super dark spices all bundled into a chocolate chunk holiday package. I wanted to pour this thing…

Reviewed 1 May 2025
2022

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

This latest iteration of Bella Oaks starts out as a round and fruity magoo, but it turns a little more serious as it swirls in the glass. Enter a nicely placed grip midway through the execution, with…

Reviewed 30 April 2025
2021

Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie

Napa Valley · Rutherford

The fruit-friendly Genie is a good warm up to the over-the-moon performance of the 2021 Bella Oaks. The Genie is young and gliding on the lighter side of achieving substantial depth at this juvenile…

Reviewed 15 April 2024
2021

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

This is as solid as it ever has been compared to the last sample I was lucky enough to try the year prior. At first, it was a gushing glow of fruit awesomeness all at once, but with some air to…

Reviewed 15 April 2024
2021

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Quick math question for you. What's 2018+2019? If you answered 4037, then you should definitely think about taking another stab at community college and reapplying for that cashier position at…

Reviewed 7 April 2023
2017

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

I don't want to fall in love with 2017s. I don't even want to fall in like with 2017. In fact, I want to love 2017s as much as I love 2020s, or even 2011s for that matter. If I have to hear one more…

Reviewed 7 April 2023
2018

Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

Napa Valley · Rutherford

This wine zips by the front end and rushes straight into mid-palate pleasure, with deep and dark plum and red and black cherry flavors complimented by earth and subtle spice notes. Stays ever-juicy…

Reviewed 30 April 2021