Bella, Lily Hill Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Still spot on, better than when it was young, the 14.3% alcohol will not let it last forever but is pretty good and balanced right now. Drink up if you have any.

2009 vintage

Wish I had waited just a little longer to open this wine. Was worried based on other reviews it was past its prime but it is a silky smooth very balanced wine right now. Can prob go another 1-2 years in the right condition. Tasted just after opening and passing through a Venturi.

2007 vintage

Mikey likes it. Beautifully matured with virbrant fruit, good acid, well developed bouquet and perfectly balanced.

2009 vintage

Drinking better now than previously noted. No notes taken. PJP 2017.

2009 vintage

Similar notes as previous...bitter, astringent, not much fruit and just plain off. Don't see this getting any better. PJP 2016.

2009 vintage

Lovely softer old school Zin spices and jam went well with carnitas

2009 vintage

Agree with some of the previous comments. This was lacking and did not live up to the expectations set by previous vintages. Somewhat astringent and short on fruit. Many of the 2009 Bellas I've tried recently seem to be lacking. Have a few more bottles that I will check in on before too long. 86-87 pts. PJP 2015.

2009 vintage

18 months since the last bottle. Still beautiful - drink now - its in its prime. Decant for at least 2 hours then its supurb

2007 vintage

Drinking beautifully right now. Loads of fruit on the nose and palate in the form of black cherry and raspberry. A touch of forest floor, cedar and spice. Copious, but well integrated tannins on the mid palate and the long and lingering finish. This wine was spectacular on both the first and second day. Will likely hit the 10 year mark, but why wait? 93-95 pts. PJP 2015.

2007 vintage

One of the better Zins from Bella. Thin tannins and decent acidity combine with deep blackberry and a little blackcurrant. Quite a decent and fresh finish too.

2009 vintage

Plan to open another soon as this was closed, bitter and off even after decanting a bit.

2009 vintage

Wonderful to the last drop. This is the only wine I ever liked from this winery. And this was the best year.

2007 vintage

Hmmmm. Some fruit and a little acid but rather flat and flaccid. It is hard to determine if this results from age or flaws in winemaking. I have another bottle so, perhaps, time will tell.

2009 vintage

Wonderful Zin. Excellent nose, spice, berry and good finish.

2009 vintage

Disappointing. Very limited flavor, just a weak and puny wine.

2009 vintage

Pop and poured. Blackberry on the front, lasting spicy finish. Nice zin. In prime drinking window now.

2007 vintage

Decanted for 30 min. Very nice, but even better after 1 hour. Love this zin. A bit sweet, but with character. We have a few bottles left and recommend drinking in the hex year or two before it looses it's punch.

2007 vintage

We drank the 2004 Big River a couple of nights ago at friends, it was huge and big. This isn't quite the same. It has nice fruit, earth and pepper and a nice long finish just not the explode in your mouth flavors of that bottle of 2004. This was opened a couple of hours early but not decanted. Towards the end of the glass the fruit is coming out more.

2009 vintage

When comparing this bottle to the 2004 Big River Ranch, which we opened earlier, this one is a bit more elegant, not as spicy, but has very nice, softer spices, is more complex, with black cherry fruit flavors and a longer, darker fruit flavored finish. Both were excellent, but we scored the '04 higher.

2007 vintage

Deep red, fruit forward. Nice fragrance.

2009 vintage

Drinking well right now. Smooth, with pepper and dark berry. Nice depth and finish.

2007 vintage

Absolutely beautiful Zin drinking good right now. Very smooth with a touch of spice -- just enough for character and a long finish. Popped and poured.

2007 vintage

Dark ruby color; mature, tart cherry, dried raspberry, mushroom nose; mature, tart cherry, dried raspberry, mushroom, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points

2009 vintage

Well balanced, medium bodied Zin. Red fruit and spice. Would have rated it higher but for a notable rubber band quality that took some time to blow off. Probably mercaptans.

2007 vintage

Bright black fruit. Medium weight and a little acidity. A good sipper.

2009 vintage

Needs some decanting time, but then it's a dark burgundy, smooth zin. Nice.

2007 vintage

Wow. One of the best bellas I've had. Sulphur on the nose that took some time to blow off. Lots of spice and austerity to this zin. Very good. Evolved nicely over the course of 4-6 ours. Great dry creek valley expression. Bella inexplicably shipped me (to Oregon) this wine during one of their hottest weeks in Northern Cali, 3 years ago. First bottle from that shipment. No deleterious effect upon this bottle...

2007 vintage

Hope this is just still young, but I'm not sure that's the problem. Maybe it is just this bottle, but this is astringent, doesn't have enough fruit for a zin, and has a short to medium length finish. The wine isn't bad, but I'd never guess it to be a Zinfandel or one of Bella's wines.

2009 vintage

Need to rename this vintage to "Medium River Ranch". Bella's flagship zin for 2009 is not as huge as I'd hoped for or have experienced with their other vintages. It does however have distinct qualities that can only come from century old vines. The wine has wonderful earth and wet stone nuances. Nice bittersweet chocolate on the palate along with black pepper and toasted vanilla. Black fruits are just a little shy and hence my lower rating. Immediately following the …

2009 vintage

Beautiful, dark, rich zin that paired well with our steak. Strong nose, long finish..smooth and silky. Love it and glad we ordered a case.

2007 vintage

Seemed a bit closed off and not that expressive. Atypical for Bella Zins. Holding on to my remaining bottles for a little while longer. PJP 2012.

2009 vintage

Cherry, plum, creamy vanilla, and some briar qualities per the aroma. Wow, very nice entry for just been open for 15 minutes. Slightly dry, but great mouth feel and nice red fruit followed by a little cedar. No heat which is great. Good wine to pair w summer bbq's.

2009 vintage

still very closed off, need another 6 months to really evolve although the tannin structure is amazing

2009 vintage

Blackberry, spice, and hint of oak are aromas for this zin. The mouth feel is nice with black and blue fruit giving way to a racy and slightly spicy finish. This wine will age a bit still. 88/89 today, but I think with time it will be a 90pt wine. Bella wines do well with more age.

2009 vintage

Perfect with our venison tenderloin for Christmas Eve

2007 vintage

Simple, grapey, flabby and disjointed. Avoid. Update: Made a killer french onion soup

2009 vintage

Great spicy dark berries but not jammy. Enjoyed with a well-seared pork chop.

2009 vintage

Well-made, classicly styled Alexander Valley in with a nice bitter edge at the finish.

2009 vintage

Astringent and lacking the characteristics of either of the "Two Patches". Not of the same quality.

2009 vintage

Wow, wnat a great bottle of wine to share with close friends at the Oregon Coast on a beautiful, calm, balmy evening on their deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean with steak sandwiches! It was marvelous; spicy, full complex; great color and aroma; big wine with a finish that lasted well after one finished sipping it!

2007 vintage

Average. simple, medium body, acid, and tannins. Muted flavor and utterly unremarkable. Slightly acidic. A disappointment from Bella.

2009 vintage

Complex nose of blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, and spices. Sweet blackberry and earthy spice on the palate. Very nice balance - alcohol is well integrated. Drinking well now.

2007 vintage

Yummy, this is how a zin should taste.

2007 vintage

Best Zin from California....always wonderfully fruity but never overdone....

2007 vintage

Good performance in horizontal with barrel 32 and Rafanelli. No difference compared with barrel 32. Drink this next time and save the 10 bucks.

2007 vintage

Very nice value

2007 vintage

Thanksgiving

2007 vintage

Still very young; rich, dark fruit and silky tannins... should pick up complexity with some age

2007 vintage

Drank to celebrate the sale of our condo.

2007 vintage

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Bella, Lily Hill Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

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