Ravenswood Besieged 2014

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A perfect Halloween accompaniment! Deep ruby colour. This one is a blend of many different varieties: Alicante, Barbera, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah and Syrah in a Zinfandel base. A true mix and match! Makes this complex and fascinating. On the nose: plum, cherry, strawberry, clove and cigar. Incredibly fruity! Flavours of roasted plum, grilled strawberry, red fruit, chocolate and smoke. Medium acidity, medium plus body and finish with soft tannins. Velvety and rich with a touch of sweetness at the end. Pair with herb crusted seared steak, Brussels sprouts and good old fashioned bacon hamburgers with the fixings.

Greg Hughes rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This is the second vintage of Ravenswood's Sonoma blend. These styles of wine follow the typical blends one sees from Sonoma legends, like Ridge. Most of these blends use large amounts of Syrah and Zin, with trace additions of Alicante Bouschet or Carignan. This one has all of these, but all built around the formidably hefty Petite Syrah (Durif). There is also some Mourvedre and Barbera because why not?
Deep, saturated purpley-red. Virtually opaque.
Aromas of cassis, pepper, cherry candy, smokey oak, and damson.
Nice and smooth. Lots going on and it is pretty juicy. Baking spices, more plum, a mixture or blue/black berries, vanilla, charred wood, and some leather and anise on the finish. Tannins are well integrated and it carries its high alcohol well.
This would be good with grilled meats or stews. French onion soup, with lots of gruyere would be pretty tasty.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Besieged 2014 is a blend of Petit Syrah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, and Mourvedre grapes all from the Sonoma County. Legendary winemaker, Joel Peterson, produced this exceptionally interesting and consumer friendly blend of seven grapes that's guaranteed to be loved by anyone that dares open this haunted looking wine. The nose is complex with warm baking spices, dark plum and cherry, and sweet vanilla. Textured with fine tannins wrapping up the medley of smoky berries, plum, and spice. Very impressive Sonoma Country blend! A must for your Halloween festivities, but this versatile wine is great all year round! Tasted October 2016. 91 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Nick Onischuk rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The Ravenswood Besieged 2014 is a blend of Petit Syrah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, and Barbera. This full bodied wine features aromas of dark berry fruit, plum, and blackberry. Nice long finish. Tasted October 2016 (90/100)

Cherie Cole rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Rich and round with grippy tannins, this Ravenswood blend presents complex aromas of plum, blackberry, oak and black pepper. Dark, ripe fruit on the palate with a long, grippy finish. Pair with rare meats, pulled pork or southern style ribs. Tasted Oct 02, 2016.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep dark purple with beautiful dark fruit aromas, leather and smoke. Flavours of blackberry and black cherry with medium acidity and tannins. Lingering finish of cooked fruits and black pepper. Pair with a rare steak from the bbq. Tasted Oct 2/2016

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Deep purple. Rich dark ripe fruit aromas with hints of smoke. Dry. Medium-low tannins balance with a soft acidity. Lingering notes of pepper and herbs.

Emilie Ryan rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Quite the mix of varietals, which results in a big wine…
Presentation: Fit for Halloween – spooky – it should come with a pumpkin or witch’s broom
Appearance: Clear, deep colour, purple colour
Nose: Clean, medium nose with cooked dark berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries), allspice, with a tinge of medicinal notes
Taste: Dry, full body, high acidity, high tannins, notes of spices (allspice, cloves, cinnamon), white pepper, jammy berries, with a touch of green in the back
Finish: Long finish
Overall impression: A big wine that needs flavourful food to meet its match! BBQ here it comes.
Value: 3/5

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Medium purple with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cigar box, tobacco, and cassis. The mouth-feel is rich and smooth with rich blackberry and chocolate coming through in the taste. Very juicy. As with other Zins from this winemaker, this is a great wine for a charcuterie platter.

Rachelle O'Connor rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Full bodied aromas of blackberry, chocolate, cassis....palate is rich with subtle heat and a lovely mouth filling flavors of cherry, cedar, mint and well integrated tannins. Lingering smooth finish.

Heather Wall rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A blend of Old Vine California Heritage Varietals - Petit Syrah, Carignan, Zin, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Barbera. Dark and brooding with full-bodied aromas and flavours of supple black berries, dark cherry, baking spices,cedar, chocolate, a lift of mint with fine tannins. A very nice long smooth finish. Aged in French oak (40% new) for 10 months. Don't save this wine just for BBQ meats dripping is sauce. Enjoy it with finer cuts of grilled or roasted meats or a four cheese pizza.
Tasted: November 18, 2015

Mymi Thesingingsommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Ravenswood’s logo might be the most tattooed symbol in the wine business…
Since starting the winery in Sonoma County in 1976, Joel Peterson has amassed enormous critical acclaim, a dedicated cult following and has even been nicknamed the Grandfather of Zinfandel.
Always dedicated, tenacious and committed to crafting the best wines possible, he proved that with hard work and a great deal of passion it is absolutely possible even if in the early days, for a decade, the winery’s location was an old tin-roofed shelter, once a woodworking shop making oak toilet seats!!!
A unique attribute to Ravenswood’s success is a long-standing relationship with over 100 independent grape growers. Each vineyard is personally chosen by Joel himself according to their location, age, yield and special flavor characteristics demonstrating Zinfandel’s multiple facets as well as bringing out the very best from the various other varietals grown on those parcels of land.
Besieged is what Joel calls a traditional California blended red. It is comprised of Petite Sirah, Carignan, Zinfandel, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Barbera (all of them from old vines) sourced from a variety of vineyards across California, from the cool climate Russian River Valley to the warmer Central Coast area.
The wine is as dark, moody and beautiful as the label; deep bluish purple with a great deal of legs running down the inside of the glass.
On the nose, it is vivacious, earthy with intense aromas of juicy black cherries & blackberries, crushed cloves, a hint of bruised cinnamon, black pepper and some dried mint.
Gargantuous, enchanting and dry on the palate. Black cherry and blackberry explosion, bold tannins, satisfying acidity, smoky mouth-watering finish.
This is not a timid wine and will smooth out over time, but why would you want to wait?
Will accompany your best carnivorous feasts.

Jane Staples rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A full-bodied Old Vine red blend from California's Sonoma County. Fragrant nose with blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate and spice. The luscious palate adds vanilla, mint and a touch of cinnamon. Smooth, harmonious and well-structured with a long elegant finish.

Tania Thomas rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A juicy blend of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah and Barbera vinified with premium Sonoma County old vine grapes, ranging from 40-100 years old. Full-bodied and intense, it comes with the abundance of ripe black fruit, a hint of spice, well integrated tannins and smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Great companion to roasted meats and mature cheeses.