Sublime. One of the most delicious wines I’ve had in years. Silky and perfumed, earthy and fruity; California power melded with Old World sophistication. Enjoyed the 2007 vintage with my wife Dreama at kaiseki temple Hayato in LA, part of my ongoing days long birthday celebration. A privilege and a pleasure. — 3 months ago
Complex Zinfandel field blend, with nice interplay of flavors and textures—fruit, tannin, acid and earth, that evolves in the mouth. Perfumed and drinkable by itself. Fine example of Sonoma County Zin. Tasted the 2021 vintage at the winery. — 3 months ago
Smooth, round and delicious, with gentle tannins and woody, plummy spice. Lovely red Bordeaux—we could dink this all night. Still balanced after 27 years but its acids seem a bit faded. I would guess that it’s at a high plateau that may be gently dipping so my daughter Rachel, who owns this wine, needs to finish the rest of her stash within the next year. The vintage of this bottle is her birth year, and we laid down a half case along with another half case of Chateau Lynch Bages. Both bottles are now soft, special treats. We enjoyed the 1996 vintage with prime steak at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating her graduation from UCLA Law. Congratulations, Rachel! — 22 days ago
A simple Chianti not meant to be aged, but aged nonetheless. A surprisingly firm and fruity quaffer even after 16 years. No rough edges left but fruit and acid still there. Great red sauce pasta and pizza wine. The only thing it’s missing is the fiasco! Enjoyed the 2008 vintage with Vittorio’s pizza. Of course. — 2 months ago
Privileged to sample the 2016 Monte Bello at the winery as part of their Library offerings. The bottle is $375 at the winery. Tight and tannic after 8 years (and half an hour of decanting) but promising much more. Josh at the winery concedes that it’s in a dumb phase but should reach its peak in 20-30 years. I could analyze and pick apart this one for hours. — 3 months ago
Another winner Zin from Ridge, sourced from Sonoma County fruit. Fruit forward but not jammy, flavorful but not overwhelming, a nice assertive food wine that’s also perfectly enjoyable on its own. 15.2% ABV so there was plenty of sugar in those grapes to ferment, but not an alcoholic heavy fruit bomb. Enjoyed the 2021 vintage with medium rare prime NY steak on the grill. Just great. — 2 months ago
A rather unusual offering from. Ridge—100% Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz County. Red berries and juicy acids, subtle tannin and oak and a bit higher ABV at 14.5% but not hot or unbalanced. Very nice cool weather California Pinot, with sophistication and complexity. Enjoyed the 2021 vintage with Taleggio cheese and miso marinated grilled salmon. — 2 months ago
16 years old but still fresh and zesty—crab apple, stone and a hint of honey. Unmistakable white burgundy characteristics that only improved as the night went on. Enjoyed the 2008 vintage with an exquisite Kaiseki dinner at Hayato in LA. Happy Birthday to me! — 3 months ago
Fruity and expressive red with sweet and savory flavors—I even detected a hint of soy sauce! Really interesting. Tasted the 2021 vintage at the winery. — 3 months ago
Victor Hsu
This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 21 days ago