Ian Hamel

9.3

202 spring / summer. I wonder if my ratings are suffering from inflation, but the truth is often I would be happy doing all of my drinking from de Villaine’s range. This particular Fortune was notably more developed than the 2017 or 18, in a good way - lots of woodsy complexity over the brighter berry fruit. — 5 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.3

Just a really enjoyable wine that is both hearty and even “ big” but still refreshing.
Clearly some Brett and some effervescent feel like may hint at VA, but I find both to be well integrated and enjoyable. A deep darker-side-of-red fruit profile: red and damson plum, dried red cherry, Black licorice, olive. Has a floral sense to it, and some exotic woody undertones as well earth - like a forest after the rain . A full bodied and almost lush wine that might recall the mouthfeel if a Napa cab, but with much more refreshing a acidity coming through - never the least bit cloying or overwrought. Simply a great wine with a broad food pairing potential. That said, I do wonder if it would taste dramatically different at the source. With zero sulphur amidst a long boat ride, life in distributor warehouses, a wine shop and ultimately my euro cave, whether the original intent is preserved in its entirety. Drinking fantastically but also wondering if peak drinking is 2-3 years ahead. Again, the sulphur thing... — 6 years ago

Connor Smith

9.8

I believe Ridge is the greatest winery in America. My long-form case is at leduwines.com/blogs/connor/ridge 🇺🇸🍷

Full disclosure: they’re my home team! I’ve been hiking on Monte Bello ridge since I was a child, and took every opportunity I could do drive Skyline Boulevard while living in the Bay. It’s no wonder to me that these vines are so happy.

With the retirement of the great Paul Draper in 2016, three men - Eric Baugher, John Olney, and David Gates - have taken up stewardship of the legendary estate. All three have been with Ridge at least twenty years.

There is no doubt: the principles instilled by David Bennion and perfected by Paul Draper are alive and well. If anything, Ridge is entering yet another golden era, and will continue leading American wine toward its most authentic self.

Signature: Eric Baugher — 6 years ago

Rob Moose

9.0

Flinty, smoky, peppery, this 2011 is quite distinct from its older brother. The color is not dissimilar but one would never confuse the two glasses. The pepper note is something I get a lot from 2011, and I wonder if it will blow off with air or just time. The palate is more penetrating though the finish fails to show a different side of the equation in the way the 2010 does. A very competent wine but a bit one note. — 7 years ago

Laura Arnold

9.5

Wonder with Lamb. Low tannins, ready to drink immediately when opened. Full body, earthy finish, beautiful cab — 7 years ago

with Steve

Barb Anderson

8.9

I needed a monster to pair with the ultimate smoky BBQ. This Cab fit the bill. — 8 years ago

Igor Beron

9.7

No wonder Soldera is considered one of the best wineries on earth. — 8 years ago

Sameer Singh

9.5

Cork intact. Excellent condition. 45second finish wonder how long these bottles can be held for — 5 years ago

Yury Glazkov

9.2

2009 bottle is still too young in 2019, but nevertheless very enjoyable. Bites a bit with tannins but wonderful warm spicy aftertaste and the start of the palette is just a wonder juice, sweet and elegant — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

100% pure bred Mouvedre — 6 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.1

An incredibly expressive and terroir-driven wine that might be one of the world’s best wine values. Volcanic microclimate shines clearly through a heady nose whose first bite is not just smoke but...smoking volcano. Along that sweet dark fruit, grilled lavender, flowers. In the palate more primary with black cherries (grilled black cherries???) exotic spices, cooked black pepper, bay leaf, sage, that sanguine element that screamed high-iron volcanic soil, all held together by a very sitinctive salty spine. Finishes with a long note of those herbs and some drying tannins. Very juicy but with good structure and medium acidity avoiding any sense of being cloying. A really unique, transparent and well made wine that is an astounding value. I wonder whether it improves with age or is at its best here... — 6 years ago

GabWine

9.5

Color : White
Wine estate : Billecart-Salmon
Designation : Champagne
Name : Brut Sous Bois
Country : France
Vivino : 5/5
Note : I think Billecart is my favorite brand of champagne. At each tasting, a treat and wonder! With this "Blanc de noir", we have a character related to its passage in oak barrel which gives a beautiful complexity. A bright yellow robe with its fine bubbles, a nose of citrus, butter and toast. On the palate, the expression of his character with notes of toast, brioche. Just perfect.
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Je crois que Billecart est ma marque de champagne préférée. À chaque dégustation, un régal et de l'émerveillement ! Avec ce "blanc de noir", nous avons un caractère lié à son passage en fût de chêne qui donne une belle complexité. Une robe jaune éclatante avec ses fines bulles, un nez d'agrumes, de beurre et de toast. En bouche, l'expression de son caractère avec des notes de pain grillé, brioché. Tout simplement parfait. — 7 years ago

Jay Root

9.4

Wonder, bold Napa cab. Paired incredible with medium rare steak. This was actually a gift and I believe the giver said it had been aging in his cellar for 7 years. — 8 years ago

Raun Kupiec

8.9

Good, but maybe not up to the hype. Probably just too young and the bottle open too long at the bar. Nice complexity in the flavors but finish a bit meh. Some cocoa, mint, olive. Deep colors and smooth but overall feeling was thin and missing a middle. Definitely enough tannins and acidity to wonder what it will be like in a few years, but this is a crap business lounge and I don't want my flight delayed that long... — 8 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.4

Ok... I admit it... this straggler Spanish Albariño lost it’s way in my cellar. 10 years old for a grape not altogether known for longevity... what do I expect? Medium gold in the glass... clear...broken cork. Amazing aroma of pineapple, lychee, and peach. The wine is still alive.. still offering up bright acidity and round weighted fruit. Poured too cold, the aromas intensify as it warms. The wine is rich, round and complex...playing with your palate. I was prepared to dump, had a lessor wine at the ready. But... hell no. This wine rocks. Mr. Perez is often referred to as a trail-blazing maverick...what do I know. The wine is a wonder! — 5 years ago

Fredybeans

9.0

Robe jaune claire
Nez sur le fruit avec des arômes fermentaires au début puis de fruit jaune
Bouche fraîche et grasse
Gourmande et finale fraîche et plutôt tendue
Beau vin à laisser encore dormir qq temps — 6 years ago

Dmitry Teytelman

9.9

A knockout, for sure. Nose is a bit misleading, seems over the hill, with strong raisin. But the palate is a wonder, smooth and well integrated, mild tannins, long aftertaste. — 6 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.1

It’s been a bit since I’ve had a Sonoma Coast Pinot, and glad my entry back included this Cobb Jack Hill. Super pretty dark ruby fruit with a hint of blueberry and some stems on the backside. Needs a few years to show its true wonder, but I’m quite satisfied to be drinking after a dreary day in one of my favorite cafes. — 6 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

8.9

Ok this is excellent oxidative white wine, and has all the qualities I love in great fino sherry. But then again I wonder when drinking why not just drink good fino? — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

My notes on this from May of 2017 still apply. Popped and poured. Drank well over two days. Immediately this wine impresses visually. Sure, the color is an expected deep garnet but what's most striking is the fact that it's never completely opaque at the core. You can just barely get the faintest amount of light to see through it. It's quite beautiful, really. The nose is initially a bit reticent but a few minutes of air in the glass does the trick and then it really begins to show off the most lovely perfume of mixed red and dark fruit; so fresh and pure with just a flash of garrigue. No perceptible heat on the nose. On the palate it's a veritable wonder of berries, Rainier cherries, black berry liqueur, and just a touch of fine white pepper. The body is perfectly proportioned and the finish lasts for over 30 seconds. In summary, this is an incredibly balanced 2010 CdP that is already hitting its prime. Personally, I felt it was really at its very best about two hours in which leaves me to believe it should be a great pop and pour for the next couple of years and potentially has the balance to be great for longer. That being said, there is no need to decant, just pull the cork, pour and enjoy the evolution in the glass. The hard part is allowing it to last for two hours and longer. It should be noted that this is dangerously quaffable wine and it wouldn't be hard to take the whole thing to the head. Might as well drink these sooner than later as I'm always a bit wary of CdP much beyond the 10 year mark, where I tend so find many of them fall apart on the palate. Perhaps others with more experience in the long-term ageing of CdP can chime in though. Absurd value at $30.

As a side note, this paired very nicely with pan fried pork savory bacon wrapped filet mignon. — 7 years ago