2012 Sunset International Wine Competition
2008 Negrette - Silver
2008 Barbera - Siliver
2008 Paso Melange - Silver
2008 Ruby Tradicional - Bronze
2008 Magia Preta - Bronze
2012 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
http://winejudging.com/
2008 Barbera Cienega Valley - Gold Medal
2008 Negrette Cienega Valley - Gold Medal
2008 Ruby Tradicional Paso Robles - Silver Medal
2008 Paso Melange Paso Robles - Silver Medal
Dec 2011 Sunset Magazine: #1 Our Picks; 2007 Magia Preta
2011 Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2007 Magia Preta, Paso Robles-GOLD MEDAL
2007 Paso Melange, Paso Robles-SILVER MEDAL
2007 Ruby Tradicional, Paso Robles-BRONZE MEDAL
2007 Negrette, Cienega Valley-BRONZE MEDAL
2007 Barbera, Cienega Valley-BRONZE MEDAL
2011 Los Angeles International Wine Festival
www.lacountyfair.com/wos/wine_competition/AwardsCelebration/winners.asp
2007 Paso Melange, Paso Robles-SILVER MEDAL
2007 Ruby Tradicional, Paso Robles-SILVER MEDAL
2007 Negrette, Cienega Valley-SILVER MEDAL
2007 Barbera, Cienega Valley-SILVER MEDAL
2010 San Francisco International Wine Competition- www.sfwinecomp.com/results.html
2007 Negrette, Cinega Valley - Silver Medal
2007 Barbera, Cinega Valley - Silver Medal
2007 Ruby Tradicional, Paso Robles - Silver Medal
2007 Paso Melange, Paso Robles - Bronze Medal
2007 Magia Preta, Paso Robles - Bronze Medal
For The Love Of Port - FTLOP - March 2010
Roy Hersh - www.fortheloveofport.com
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Ruby Tradicional Paso Robles, CA
Decanted 5 hours. Dark garnet and fully opaque. 45% Touriga Nacional, 26% Souzao, 26% Tinta Roriz, 3% Bastardo. At least Roxo is making an attempt at creating an “authentic reproduction.” This is a very sound wine and I must say, one of the better wannabes I’ve tried in a very long time. Nice nose of anise, dark floral bouquet and a resinous, earthy characteristic which I found distinctive and enjoyable. The Ruby Tradicional is viscous and mouth coating, less sweet than the Paso Mélange with blueberry and boysenberry fruit, very gentle spirit in the middle and mild mannered, refined tannins. This is a very different style than the other Roxo port. I preferred this more chewy, dense style and lower RS, yet with extraordinary concentration of flavors. Round and well-balanced and in possession of a long and subtle aftertaste. The proprietor, Kimberly Steele is doing a very solid job! My only quibble is the pricing: $24 for a 375 ml bottle and $44 for the 750. Otherwise, this is a very solid CA port bottling with 225 cases produced. This should drink very nicely for up to 12-15 years.
91+ points ~ 3/15/10
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Paso Mélange Paso Robles, CA
I checked on it often but allowed it to decant for 5 hours. Vibrant ruby color. At 19% alcohol, from Paso Robles grown grapes: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot. 175 cases produced. Prices are the same SRP as the Ruby Tradicional. Using a Bdx blend to make port? Well they didn’t use the name “tradicional” on this one for a good reason. Aromatically charming with ripe raspberry, sweet floral notes, mocha and no alcohol protruding which is a rarity with domestic versions. Medium body, lithe, zippy acidity to cut through the ripe fruit. Silky on the palate and with ripe cherry juicy flavor and a very light dose of spirit that is warming and was gone by the 2nd day. By day 3, this had put on considerable weight and was sweet and packed with flavor and a medium-long finish. Although I would prefer to sip this between 5-10 years of age, it should improve over the next dozen years.
89+ points ~ 3/15/10
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Ruby Tradicional Paso Robles, CA
Decanted 5 hours. Dark garnet and fully opaque. 45% Touriga Nacional, 26% Souzao, 26% Tinta Roriz, 3% Bastardo. At least Roxo is making an attempt at creating an “authentic reproduction.” This is a very sound wine and I must say, one of the better wannabes I’ve tried in a very long time. Nice nose of anise, dark floral bouquet and a resinous, earthy characteristic which I found distinctive and enjoyable. The Ruby Tradicional is viscous and mouth coating, less sweet than the Paso Mélange with blueberry and boysenberry fruit, very gentle spirit in the middle and mild mannered, refined tannins. This is a very different style than the other Roxo port. I preferred this more chewy, dense style and lower RS, yet with extraordinary concentration of flavors. Round and well-balanced and in possession of a long and subtle aftertaste. The proprietor, Kimberly Steele is doing a very solid job! My only quibble is the pricing: $24 for a 375 ml bottle and $44 for the 750. Otherwise, this is a very solid CA port bottling with 225 cases produced. This should drink very nicely for up to 12-15 years.
91+ points ~ 3/15/10
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Paso Mélange Paso Robles, CA
I checked on it often but allowed it to decant for 5 hours. Vibrant ruby color. At 19% alcohol, from Paso Robles grown grapes: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot. 175 cases produced. Prices are the same SRP as the Ruby Tradicional. Using a Bdx blend to make port? Well they didn’t use the name “tradicional” on this one for a good reason. Aromatically charming with ripe raspberry, sweet floral notes, mocha and no alcohol protruding which is a rarity with domestic versions. Medium body, lithe, zippy acidity to cut through the ripe fruit. Silky on the palate and with ripe cherry juicy flavor and a very light dose of spirit that is warming and was gone by the 2nd day. By day 3, this had put on considerable weight and was sweet and packed with flavor and a medium-long finish. Although I would prefer to sip this between 5-10 years of age, it should improve over the next dozen years.
89+ points ~ 3/15/10
Stephen Tanzers International Wine Cellar - www.wineaccess.com
2005 Roxo Port Cellars Magia Preta Paso Robles
Opaque purple. Explosively perfumed bouquet of raspberry, cherry compote, Asian spices and gingerbread, with deeper sultana and licorice notes coming up with air. Deeply concentrated and very sweet but lively, offering spicy red and dark berry liqueur and dried cherry flavors and a hint of candied licorice. Exotic and very seductive sweet wine, finishing with strong thrust and lingering spiciness.
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Ruby Tradicional Paso Robles
Dark purple color. Spicier than the Paso Melange, with scents of cracked pepper and mace complementing deep dark berry and cherry-cola. More tangy red berry qualities arrive on the palate, adding tang to the deeper boysenberry and blueberry flavors. Creamy and sweet but in no way loose or overly warm. Manages to be both rich and nervy, and finishes with strong sweetness and an exotic note of spearmint.
2006 Roxo Port Cellars Paso Melange Paso Robles
Inky purple. Powerful, expressive aromas of boysenberry and blueberry compote, espresso and raisin, with a zesty, peppery overtone. Palate-coating dark berry flavors are extremely sweet but surprisingly energetic, with zesty minerality adding lift. This is livelier than many ports and the finish is spicy, focused and long.
Wine Enthusiast - Buying Guide October 2009 - http://buyingguide.winemag.com
2006 Paso Melange - 90pts
"The grapes are Bordeaux varities, but this is a ruby Port-style dessert wine. It's sweet and decadent in chocolate, blackberry tart, vanilla and smoky caramel flavors. Feels rich and fine in the mouth."
2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition - www.sfwinecomp.com/results.html
2005 Magia Preta, Paso Robles - Silver Medal
2006 Negrette, Cienega Valley - Bronze Medal
2006 Barbera, Cienega Valley - Bronze Medal
2009 Critic's Challenge, San Diego International Wine Competition
2006 Ruby Tradicional, Paso Robles - Silver Medal
Gerald D. Boyd-Wine Review Online - www.winereviewonline.com
2006 Ruby Tradicional, Roxo Port Cellars, Paso Robles - 94 Points
This is as close to a traditional Portuguese Ruby Porto I've tasted in a long time. The blend of four Portuguese varieties, with Touriga Nacional dominating, is seamless and luscious. The nose is deep set with dark chocolate, raspberry and sweet spice that follow through to the smooth and fruity flavors that also show subtle cedar notes. The finish, at 18% alcohol, is long and sweet and balanced, leaving the sensation of sweetness without being cloying.
2006 Barbera, Roxo Port Cellars, Cienega Valley - 90 Points
Sweet, ripe and delicious, the Barbera port is aged in semi-neutral French oak barrels that give the wine texture and structure, but no oak flavoring. The nose carries layers of dark berries, black tea, minerals and hints of cedar. The richly textured flavors are slightly raisiny with spice and cedar notes. It finishes at 18% alcohol with nicely integrated spirit.
2006 Paso Melange, Roxo Port Cellars, Paso Robles - 89 Points
Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape in this Bordeaux-style blend that also includes Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The finished blend was aged 12 months in semi-neutral oak. The nose showed a subtle fruitiness with vanilla back notes, while the flavors were more forward, bright and fruity, with clearly defined choco-cherry notes and a hint of cedar. This is a nice well-integrated blend, finished at 19% alcohol.
Anthony Dias Blue - www.bluelifestyle.com
2005 Magia Preta, Roxo Port Cellars, Paso Robles - 92 points
A Portuguese-method port from Paso Robles, made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah; rich and dense with racy acidity and intense sweet berry and ripe fruit with notes of chocolate and cinnamon; silky, long and beautifully balanced.
