Accolades
Tug O' War
93 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"Sourced from the Maffei Vineyard, this comes from the Russian River in Sonoma County. One of the plantings dates all the way back to 1929. This is a cooler site for Zinfandel, as this opens with red currants and dill notes alongside ripe red raspberry and potpourri on the nose. The palate is very fresh and polished with silky tannins."
90 Points Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck
"Coming from the Maffei Vineyard, the 2021 Zinfandel Tug O War takes on more layered and detailed aromas of spice and ripe fruit, with notes of dried apricot, white pepper, and preserved black raspberries. Full-bodied and ripe with sweet fruit, fine tannins reveal themselves on the finish along with clean, juicy, sweet mixed berries, toasted cedar, and earth. Drink 2024-2028."
95+ 'Editors Choice' Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
"Voluptuously over the top in style and approach, this wine offers velvety concentration and sweet heat, with bursting red fruit. From a dry-farmed, head-trained site farmed organically and biodynamically, it threads a needle of bright acidity throughout the ripeness."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2020 Zinfandel Tug O'War Maffei Vineyard brings a warming bouquet of spice, kirsch, and cedar. The palate is rounded and full of black raspberry liqueur, crushed violets, and sweet incense. This captures the warmth of the vintage without being weighted. Drink over the next 5-6 years."
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"Soft, sweet and densely layered, this wine offers strong flavors of cola, baked plum, blackberry and licorice. The oak is prominent and adds vanilla and baking spice, underscoring the overall richness in style."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2019 Zinfandel Tug O'War from the Maffei Vineyard in the Russian River sports a semi-opaque purple/ruby color followed by classic Zinfandel strawberry and briary red and black fruits as well as cigar, cedar, and spicy aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, on the palate, it has ripe yet firmer tannins, a straight, elegant texture, and good length on the finish. Drink this satisfying Zinfandel over the coming 5-7 years. I don't think it matches the 2018, but it's still a rocking bottle of wine."
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"Coming all from the Maffei Vineyard in the Russian River Valley and very old vines, the 2018 Zinfandel Tug O' War sports a deep plum/ruby hue as well as classic Zin notes of brambly herbs, cedarwood, candied orange rind, and strawberry and plum fruits. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and nicely concentrated, it has a wonderful sense of elegance and purity, silky tannins, and no hard edges. This beautiful Zinfandel does everything right!"
91 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"Fruity, with a dusty nose of baked plum, cinnamon and prune, this wine comes from a vineyard planted between 1929 and 1949. Still in the same family, it offers bright, quenching acidity beneath the brawn and lasting heat."
91 Points Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
"Medium ruby, the 2017 Zinfandel Tug O' War gives up classic peachy, stone fruit scents with layers of blue and red berries, warm earth, spices and dried flowers. The palate is medium-bodied and packed with multicolored fruits, with a gentle chew and great juiciness to refresh the spicy finish. 289 cases were made."
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"From an historic site in the appellation, this hearty, brawny wine is richly layered in brambly blackberry, vanilla and toasted oak, with an additional richness of graham cracker and brown sugar. The full-bodied concentration appeals and is complemented in cinnamon and clove."
90 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2017 Zinfandel Tug O'War Maffei Vineyard (100% Zinfandel) comes from a site in the Russian River and has a classic bouquet of spiced plums, cedarwood, dried orange rind, and potpourri. Incredibly complex, it's elegant and polished on the palate, with fine tannins, good sweetness of fruit, and an outstanding finish. It's a ripe, sexy, yet elegant Zinfandel."
Somersault
92 Points Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
"Concentrated, intense red and black fruit flavors light up this full-bodied, moderately tannic and well-balanced wine. Sourced from a 100-year-old vineyard, it brings along minty, cedary accents that add extra complexity and interest."
92 Points Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
"Gorgeous fruit flavors practically ooze from the glass in this very ripe, very tasty and full-bodied wine. Blackberry jam, strawberries and black plums flood the palate while soft tannins give a velvety texture."
Home Base
93 Points Owen Bargreen, Owen Bargreen
"This beautiful 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dry Creek Valley where the BACA tasting room is located. Inky in the glass, this offers loads of freshness on the palate. Rich dark fruits parade with chocolate and dried herbs on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2023-2031."
94 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"A winning combination of zesty and vibrant elements, this Zinfandel offers handsomely layered black rasberry and cherry flavors highlighted by cracked pepper, mocha and a hint of licorice as it finishes with refined tannins. Drink now through 2032."
92 Points Owen Bargeen, Wine Critic
"The outstanding 2021 BACA ‘Home Base Zinfandel comes from this Dry Creek site, set on diverse soil types. Once on the nose this shows pretty red cherry candy with cigar box, exotic spices, blackberry jam and orange rind notes. The palate shows good power and underlying freshness, jam packed full of red and dark fruits, with silty soils. Drink 2022-2032."
92 Points Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
"Like dark-chocolate syrup over raspberries, this indulgent wine marries richness with tangy fruit flavors in a dessert-wine style. Either alone or with nutty, cheesy desserts, this wine will be a standout."
92 Points Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
"Dark plum and black-cherry flavors show great richness and breadth in this mouth-filling, slightly tannic wine as it delivers more plums and blackberries with each sip. It tastes rich and feels nicely structured. "
90 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2019 Zinfandel Home Base has poppy fruit punch aromatics, with white pepper and cedar. In line with the nose, there is sweet mixed-berry fruit up front, with mocha and peach puree. It is prime for drinking now or over the next several years."
91 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"With grapes grown by the Mauritson family, this wine is gritty, textured and gravely on the palate, with exuberantly full-bodied red fruit. Bringing heat and intensity to the fore, it settles into a structured finish of dusty black pepper and nutmeg."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"Coming from the Robert Mauritson Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley and aged 11 months in 32% new French oak (and 35% in concrete), the 2018 Zinfandel Home Base offers a richer, medium to full-bodied style as well as classic brambly herbs, tobacco, cedar, and spiced red and blue fruit aromas and flavors. It's textured, has beautiful tannins and no hard edges, and is an undeniably delicious Zinfandel."
Stargazing
92 Points Tonya Pitts, Wine Enthusiast
Review out in August.
91 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"The 2019 ‘Stargazing’ is a new wine by BACA that is sourced from the ‘Spirit Canyon Vineyard’ in Mendocino County. Showing a round and generous texture, this takes on kiwi and melon flavors that mingle with vanilla cream and shades of papaya on the palate."
Cat's Cradle
94 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"Polished and richly structured, with jammy rasberry flavors accented by notes of baking spices and licorice as this strides toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032."
93 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"This wine comes from the Rockpile Appellation, located in the northwestern part of Lake Sonoma. The nose shows graphite and anise alongside a nice core of dark fruits and coffee grounds. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and great sense of power. Bright underlying freshness combines with the rich core of dark fruits. Drink 2023-2033."
92 Points Tom Capo, Wine Enthusiast
"This is summertime sunshine Zinfandel. Raspberry jam and soft floral aromas dominate the nose, swirling into crème de cassis, cocoa and licorice on the palate. There’s enough tannin here for aging, but it’s pretty charming stuff in the here and now."
94 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"This comes form the Rockpile appellation which is northwest of Healdberg. Set near Lake Sonoma, in this rocky site, this reveals a wonderful aromatic intensity with deep dark fruit with dark florals alongside smoldering stones. Super-concentrated dark berries combine with light salinity and a beautiful astringency on the palate. Full-bodied, this is beautiful wine to consume now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034"
93 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2019 Zinfandel Cat's Cradle is similarly hued but has a purer, crisper, more youthful vibe as well as ample plum and berry fruits, notes of sandalwood, peppery herbs, orange zest, and spice, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a terrific finish. It's going to keep for at least 5-7 years as well."
92 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"A lively red, sleek and expressive, with multilayered black cherry, roasted tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that fan out toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"Including 10% Petite Sirah and from a handful of sites in the Rockpile AVA, the 2018 Zinfandel Cat's Cradle was fermented in a mix of concrete and stainless steel and spent 11 months in 39% new French oak. Mulled plums, dark chocolate, tobacco, and scorched earth notes emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate. The Petite Sirah changes the wine substantially, and this is a blacker fruited, richer, meaty Zinfandel to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years."
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck, Jeb Dunnuck
"Including 8% Petit Sirah, the 2017 Zinfandel Cat's Cradle Rockpile spent ten months in 39% new French oak, with is considerably less than the 16 months in oak of the Maffei Vineyard release. This medium ruby/purple-tinged effort offers a pretty, classy Zinfandel nose of ripe plums and black cherries intermixed with toasted spices, scorched earth, and licorice. It has a certain savoriness, medium body, ripe tannins, and good acidity, with plenty of length on the finish. It's another slightly old-school Zinfandel that's going to benefit from a year or three of bottle age and keep for a decade."
92 Points Owen Bargreen, Washington Wine Blog
"Sourced from the Rockpile AVA, which is known for its highly rocky and arid terrain. Right out of the gate you are enticed by the dense dark fruit with black tea flavors that mingle with minerals. Showing a soft mouthfeel and velvety tannins, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029."
90 Points Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
"Medium ruby, the 2017 Zinfandel Cat's Cradle has aromas of cherry jam, powdered sugar, candied peaches, boysenberry preserves and notes of mint leaves, earth and spices. The medium-bodied palate offers great fruit layers with a pleasantly chewy frame and good freshness to lift the finish. 437 cases produced."
I Spy
94 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"The 2021 BACA ‘I Spy’ Zinfandel comes from the Black Sears Vineyard which is located in Howell Mountain. This old vine site is located 1900 feet above Napa Valley. This shows beautiful red rose petals with wet stone, tobacco leaf and heady red fruits on the nose. The viscosity is terrific with concentrated wild blackberry and black cherry flavors that mingle well with loamy soils and suggestions of baking spices on the palate. Drink 2022-2034."
92 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"With earthy components of barnyard, turned earth and forest, this mountain-grown wine from the famous site showcases power and intensity while remaining structured and complex. Robust tannins wrap around a core of blackberry, plum and mocha, finishing in a touch of white pepper."
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"Voluptuously over the top in style and approach, this wine offers velvety concentration and sweet heat, with bursting red fruit. From a dry-farmed, head-trained site farmed organically and biodynamically, it threads a needle of bright acidity throughout the ripeness."
93 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"This big, bold wine offers a tremendously aromatic nose of white pepper and clove before unleashing a complex mouthful of structured linearity and lasting red fruit. Sage, dried herb and earthy forest accent the rich roundness of the midpalate as a lengthy finish builds."
90 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"Refined and elegantly layered, with floral raspberry and spiced cinnamon flavors that glide on a long finish. Drink now through 2024."
Marbles
93 Points Elaine C. Brown, Wine Enthusiast
"Friendly and charming, this wine brings together cherries and plums, with a dash of dried Italian herbs, grapefruit zest and a refreshing floral lift. Highly approachable, the wine still offers structure and length."
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"This is a richly viscous and voluptuous red wine from the heat-loving appellation. Dried cherry and plum fruitiness meet baking spice, oak and a hint of lavender, with prominent tannin weight contributing additional heft and length."
Bleachers
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"With layers of wild game, mushroom and powerfully built tannin, this is a seriously ripe and rich wine. It finds salvation in a crisp, crunchy undercurrent of high-toned red fruit that helps to brighten and lighten the palate before finishing in oaky spice."
Double Dutch
92 Points Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast
"Aromas of red fruit are cut by earthy herbs and scorched soil on the nose of this bottling from a historic vineyard. The palate is very enjoyable, offering boysenberry pudding, caramel, clove cream and light pepper flavors."
92 Points Owen Bargreen, Wine Critic
"This 2022 Zinfandel comes from the Dusi Ranch which is a head-trained vineyard set in Paso Robles. These vines were planted in 1945. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins and a smooth texture. Layers of sweet fig and dates combine with salted wet stone and baking spices on the palate. Showing good underlying freshness, this is already nicely evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2029."
90 Points Tim Wish, Wine Spectator
"This Zin shows torque and concentration, offering brooding blackberry and cherry flavors that take on licorice, tar and Asian spice accents as this finishes with potent tannins. Best from 2025 through 2032. 1,580 cases made."
91 Points Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast
"Candied plum and berry aromas meet with apple juice and dried earth on the fruity nose of this bottling from a historic vineyard. The palate is much drier while still fruit-driven, offering candied apple and pomegranate flavors dusted in baking spice."
91 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"Peppery and piquant, with lively cranberry and cherry flavors that are highlighted by notes of mint and licorice, finishing with refined tannins. Drink now through 2030."
94 Points Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast
"This is a hedonistic, playful and yet deeply layered style of Zinfandel. Lighter in the glass, the bottling pops with aromas of strawberry glaze, light cinnamon, cherry compote and crème brûlée on the nose. It's rich and generous on the palate, where light caramel flavors are drizzled across the lively red fruits."
91 Points Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
"Polished and zesty, with cherry and blueberry flavors that are laced with notes of briar patch and white pepper. Drink now through 2029."
92 Points Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast
"Roasted blueberry and black-currant aromas are laid across wet rocks and dusted with a pinch of thyme on the rich and lush nose of this bottling, which satisfies like comfort food. The hearty blueberry and cassis flavors of the palate are layered with crushed oregano and more wild herbs."
92 Points Owen Bargreen, Washingotn Wine Blog
"Sourced from the Dusi Vineyard the ‘Double Dutch’ is sourced from 50 year old head-trained Zinfandel. The wine opens with aromas of ripe strawberry with underbrush and guava puree that all build on the nose. The mouthfeel is plush, delivering jammy red fruits that mingle with a good sense of minerality. The combination of weight and freshness is seriously good."
93 Points Owen Bargreen, International Wine Blog
"The wine is sourced from the esteemed Dusi Vineyard which is located on the southern end of Paso Robles, just on the west site of Highway 101. This is a dry farmed vineyard that was planted first in 1945. Soils are rocky at the vineyard site. This starts off with aromas of prune, stewed strawberry and touch of bramble. The palate shows wonderful bright acidity with a really plush mouthfeel. Red fruits dominate with touches of smoke and milk chocolate and well as a touch of orange peel. This is a highly complex Zin that is built for aging for another decade."
Ring Around the Rosé
90 Points Owen Bargreen, Owen Bargreen
"Made from Zinfandel grapes, this has consistently been one of the best canned wines that you will find each year. This edition is neatly textured once on the mouth with layers of red raspberry, cantaloupe and Yakima cherry. Delicious, with bright underlying acidity this is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2026."
90 Points Owen Bargreen, Owen Bargreen
"The 2021 BACA ‘Ring Around The Rose’ Rose is uniquely crafted from Zinfandel grapes and was stored in natural oak before being canned. This is not your typical canned Rose, as this bursts out of the glass, revealing strawberry Starburst candy, watermelon and lemon blossom aromas. The palate shows a very soft texture with delicate red fruit flavors that mingle well with orange rind and bergamot undertones."
90 Points Owen Bargreen, Owen Bargreen
"The 2020 ‘Ring Around The Rose’ is so good that you will have to take a double take that it comes from a can. Fresh, vibrant and nicely textured, this shows plenty of ripe and slightly sweet Yakima cherry and melon flavors alongside a good veil of tension and peat moss undertones."
90 Points Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
"Sold in three-packs, this can is made entirely from Zinfandel and aged four months in neutral French oak. With an inviting nose of cherry, blackberry and cranberry, it is dry, leathery and satisfying, with balanced fruitiness that appeals."
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