Black Ranch

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

Deep cherry red. Oak+ vanilla clove nutmeg. Black currant++ blueberry black cherry and berry. Leather+ meat. Elegancy more than complexity. It changed a lot over time. 30 min the started feeling the value of this. Compared with the last one, it has big potential, though it has already been ready to drink, since it is 2017 vintage. Fruitiness M Sweetness M+ Acidity M Silky Tannin M+ Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M++ 13.5% Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 17 @110000, AD, 250226 — 5 months ago

Sagee and "Odedi" liked this

Jamieson Ranch Vineyards

Double Lariat Limited Production Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

We have been drinking this wine for 10 years now. As the fruit drops out it becomes more stringent with strong oak tannins, losing some of its depth and ease of drinking. — 6 months ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Andrew, Jan and 4 others liked this

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bought at the winery after tasting in 1999, my first pilgrimage to Coonawarra. Opened very stinky but blew off with air over 30 mins to beautiful fragrant nose and that sweet soft tannin of an aged Coonawarra Cabernet. Drank gloriously over the next two hours. Still full of life at 29 years old. — 7 months ago

Emeritus Vineyards

Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2019

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red and blue fruits with light wood, herbs, light vegetables, spices and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, blueberries, plums, cherries, earth, peppercorn, dark chocolates, herbs and light vegetables.

This 6 year old Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley is drinking very nicely now. Fruit forward, rich and nicely balanced. Complex and entertaining. Elegant and tangy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had this vintage 3 years ago, and decided to let it age a bit longer, and it is drinking so much better now.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 10 months in (35% new) French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.
— 8 months ago

Ted, Doug and 6 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2013

On point. Lithe but dense. Black tar compote. — 9 months ago

Peter, Chris and 7 others liked this

Bedrock Wine Co.

Pagani Ranch Heritage Sonoma Valley Red Blend

PM
9.2

Bedrock wines don’t disappoint. Pagani Ranch Heritage is a classic Bedrock. — a year ago

Stella Rosa

IL Conte Black (L'Originale) Semi Sweet Red Blend

Fruity, bubbly/fuzzy, sweet. Always have it in hand — 4 years ago

Kutch Wines

McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir

This is it. Almost perfect pinot noir. Light, but with a leather and vanilla. Fresh with red fruits: a cherry, a raspberry. And something else. But keep it a secret. — 6 years ago

Black Stallion Estate Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Jim
9.4

Costco $19.88, wow, pleasantly surprised. Buy more. — 8 years ago

Cupcake Vineyards

Black Forest California Decadent Red Blend 2014

2014 vintage. Surprisingly well balanced for such an inexpensive wine. Fairly tannic with luscious dark berry/cherry notes and quite a bit of spice. Long and lovely finish. Good value red blend. — 8 years ago

Rutherford Ranch Winery

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Smooth night for a cab. More like a merlot. — 13 years ago

Casella Wines

The Black Stump Durif Shiraz 2024

What’s Durif? Loved the combo with Australian Shiraz. Red and blackberry and cherry with a touch of oak and smoke. This was quite the fruit bomb with mild tannins and medium body. Please sir. . . I want some more. — 6 months ago

Nickel & Nickel

C.C. Ranch Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Happy Birthday Heather — 6 months ago

Brian BroxsonHeather Rostker
with Brian and Heather
Bobbi Jo, Heather and 2 others liked this
Heather Rostker

Heather Rostker

That was so good!

Ridge Vineyards

Benito Dusi Ranch Paso Robles Zinfandel 2023

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category.
— 8 months ago

Dave, Bob and 10 others liked this
Douglas Braun

Douglas Braun Influencer Badge

Amazing Vineyard an family which were Paso Robles before Paso Robles
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice write-up. Always one of my favorites of the Ridge stable.

Anthill Farms

Campbell Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

John Howard
9.7

Prob our fave Anthill wine yet. Phenomenal! — 10 months ago

Dave, Eric and 10 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir 2025

One of the best as of late. Eggplant parm, pared perfectly. — 3 years ago

Cynthia Brown
with Cynthia

Dirty & Rowdy

Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvedre

yes, this is a photo of a computer image. tasted as part of a Mourvèdre wine group tasting via zoom, wines portioned into woozies. 2018v. super aromatic, raspberry/cranberry juice, fresh leather, violet. palate texture is silky, light but complex and flavorful, acid medium +, long tannins- just a bit of grip. fantastic — 5 years ago

Shay liked this

Soter Vineyards

Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir

The consensus among Biblical scholars is that Jesus turned water into pinot noir for his first miracle. This bottle confirms that, even though it doesn’t quite reach the quality served at Cana that fateful day. — 7 years ago

Colin liked this
Colin McCartney

Colin McCartney

What year?....

Shafer Vineyards

Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay

Graduation dinner :)))) — 9 years ago

Quivet Cellars

Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

@Mike Smith knocks this one out of the park for@the price — 10 years ago

Brian, Steve and 15 others liked this

Nickel & Nickel

State Ranch Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Fruity beginning that opens up to a peppery finish. Very smooth. A bit over priced at $109. Didn’t see the complexity at that price point. — 5 months ago

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later.
— 5 months ago

Peter, Scott@Mister and 16 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T A wonderful story David and I can see how you could fall in love with that photo of the Chateau.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald Thank you. Cheers! 🍷

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim. Doesn't show much age.

Beautiful nose with red and black fruits, chocolates, tobacco leaf, vegetables, forest floor, black tea, earth, coffee, herbs, spices, black pepper and wildflowers.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, currants, oak, light chocolates, coffee, mushrooms, licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs and spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a gorgeous 24 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Saint Julien. Rich and elegant. Spicy and very complex. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that is so much fun to drink by itself.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in (33% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$150.
— 9 months ago

Dave, Ira and 13 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Nice pull @"Odedi"!!
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very nice!

Patz & Hall

Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2020

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. — a year ago

Tom, Juan and 1 other liked this

Gnarly Head

Limited Release Authentic Black Red Blend 2018

I think it’s a great day drinker — 5 years ago

TwiLea Fletcher
with TwiLea

Merry Edwards

Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir 2015

Rob N
9.1

Opened up a little funny with some top of bottle sediment, but with air got a lot better. A pretty rich almost funky pinot — 6 years ago

"Odedi" liked this

Gnarly Head

1924 Limited Edition Double Black Lodi Red Blend

Really enjoyable, easy drinking red table blend; paired well with delicious homemade steak quesadillas! — 8 years ago

Chuck
with Chuck
Jesse liked this

Turley

Mead Ranch Zinfandel 2015

One of my favorites from Turley... Smooth, with beautiful structure... Love the black pepper notes.. — 9 years ago

Trixie liked this