Steve Rura

9.0

Not really a whisky drinker, but I can appreciate this Scotch. Very woodsy and dry. Cedar with orange bitters, and oaky vanilla bean. Clean fresh finish, with a long lasting Szechuan pepper tingle and wood chips towards the end. 14 yr single malt. — 8 months ago

Matt

9.4

Love the high Merlot % this vintage has. There’s a plushness and supleness to the tannin that really impressed. With age the Merlot really bringing that core of sweet stewed red plum. Long, elegant, completely intact, very well-stored bottle. — 2 years ago

Peggy Hadley

9.1

Easy drinker. Full of fruit. — 5 years ago

with Jim

Lee Lightfoot

9.5

Very impressive Pinot. Signs of age dissipated after 20 minutes in glass. Softened beautifully and over delivered. Touch of whole cluster add nuance. — 7 years ago

Tina Parsley

9.7

Amazing blend that awakens every part of your tongue. — 7 years ago

Sean Genn

9.2

Still very youthful. A lot of whole cluster spice — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Nose is dominated with cola and raspberries. Tannins are still prominent, giving it a rustic sense. The acidity is brisk. Finishes with somewhat tart cherries, and black olives, in a pleasant way. Shows purity and has echoes of a burg grand cru.

A big shout out and HNY to our new friends, and old, on DL. We trust that 2017 is going to be a smash hit for all. Carpe diem 🍾🎈 — 9 years ago

with Anne-marie

Tim Herrmann

9.3

A #magnummonday find at Nopa, this showed an awesomely expressive nose of crunchy red and dark berries and fresh flowers but also tons of delicious savoriness--black pepper, cinnamon, and savory potpourri. The palate was fresh with lots of fine tannins and plenty of lift to bring it all together. With food an awesome cranberry jam note emerged. Southern Rhone blend roughly equal parts Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Counoise. — 10 years ago

with Rajiv

Rebecca Hopkins

PR Folio Fine Wine Partners

8.9

Terrific example of CA Pinot. Elegant floral and red cranberry currant fruit some stemminess. Palate vibrant & restrained fruit w crunchy, mouthwatering acidity — 11 years ago

with Brennan

Petra Thieriot

Owner/Importer Dee Vine Wines

10

Ernie, the genie, prepared the entire 5+ course meal for 18 guests and convinced all of us that South African Pinot can taste like premium Burgundy! — 12 years ago

with Andrew, Dade and 2 others

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 9 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

A tasting of nine Rhys Chardonnays spanning 2007-2019. A pre-release peek at the 2019. — 4 years ago

Emily Pokorny

9.5

One of my favorites — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

Another last of its kind wine as the San Mateo moved to Alesia label after this vintage. This young blend is really singing right now with bright red fruit and cedar spice and well balanced acidity. A candidate for short term aging, but the freshness of the fruit really shines now. — 7 years ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

Unique to Santa Cruz, this one nearing end of life but still quite good. February 2018. — 8 years ago

M

9.1

Earthy mushroom and cherry-berry bouquet. Tasting: Mostly cherry--a splash of blackberry, black tea, with limestone and oak on the finish, the latter sweetened a bit by the fruit. Well balanced tannins. In general, I am not a fan of straight merlot--and this bottle has not changed my opinion, but Ridge knows how to make it elegant. — 8 years ago

Austin Beeman

9.6

One of the best American Chardonnays I've ever tasted. Rich, but never cloying. Fresh, but never sharp. Pure and pretty. Reminds one of a great Grand Cru Meursault. $63 retail. — 9 years ago

John Bodin

9.1

Very well balanced! Hints of oak and blackberry. Great with a steak. — 10 years ago

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.1

Dark ruby, full of red fruits, cranberry and raspberry. Nicely balanced. #swanterrace — 11 years ago

Rich Reader

8.9

100 years of solid viticultral artistry in head-trained vines. gorgeously upright and joyful. — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Barrel-fermented, pale lemon color, aromas of stone and tropical fruit with citrus, honeysuckle and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of peach, ripe apple, melon and lemon citrus, crisp with herb floral spice. Well balanced, lively acidity, long finish ending with fruit and wet stone character. Nice! — 9 months ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Lots of Fruit — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Brian S

9.5

Truly outstanding reductive, white flower, honey blossom, citrus, tropical notes galore and medium plus acidity. This bottle was consumed extremely quickly and I can only imagine what a few years or more of n the bottle will do to this wine. This is definitely American Grand Cru! — 6 years ago

with Ellie

Randy Fuller

9.0

This yellow-gold wine rings the “old-style Cali” bell in all the right ways. A nose of apricots, mangoes and apples is helped along with the smell of buttered popcorn. Oak treats the palate as well, draping over the tropical fruit like a sunshade. The acidity is zesty, yet the mouthfeel tends toward creaminess due to the wine sitting on the lees for five months. The oak is a definite part of the wine, but the effect is softened enough so that it's a pleasure, not a pain. — 7 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Took 24 hours to start coming out of its shell. Subtle floral notes over subtle candied raspberry and subtle cranberry relish. Subtle subtle subtle, but firm firm firm on the back end. This should be a long distance runner. — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

Tried the '90 recently, spoke of how amazing a producer of Californian Cabernet it is, but just needed a little more time, this '85 is well & truly on point, everything is in balance, there's fruit intensity yes, but the development/complexity/layers are really shining through, outstanding stuff. — 9 years ago

Paulette Bleam

9.5

The 2013 is a masterpiece. It's a burst of dark blackberries, blueberries, roses, tobacco and leather. Good tannins. I'd pay twice as much for this wine. — 10 years ago

Gus Kalaris

9.2

Pale shade of a much younger wine . Zesty and Fresh at 16. — 10 years ago

Katie Sugasa

9.1

Chardonnay -of course! — 11 years ago

with DUSTIN

Mark Morgan

9.3

Lots going on here, all of it good1 — 12 years ago