Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Out of mag and shipped from the property was in fine shape. Really good.

@Pebble Beach Food & Wine. — 8 months ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Double decant for sediment and pour (lots of chunky/fine sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: wonderful fragrant nose of brambly red fruit, leather, loamy earth, mint, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, elegant wine with dried red fruit, cedar, dried herbs, tar, smokey earth, gravel with a medium plus finish. YUM! Still hanging in there and a pleasure to drink. — 10 months ago

with Brenda

Will Stanley

9.4

The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.

The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.

The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.

94+ — 3 years ago

Daniil Karp

9.3

Amazing bouquet of dried flowers. It’s mesmerizing how Ridge Zins have a Bordeaux taste of red fruit and mushrooms. Great drinking in the sun with tri-tip. — 8 years ago

Monica Ramirez

9.4

Smooth finish, love this addition from Mondavi. Can taste the hint of bourbon — 8 years ago

Narun P

8.9

Medium tawny but still intense in the center. In relatively good shape and still very lively with a tannic backbone to keep the wine structured. Edit — 9 years ago

Judy Martin

10

Smooth & rich & really good. Deep red in color. Served chilled. Had with Jenna at J. Gilbert's 09/27/15 — 10 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Red fruits on the nose with light oak, spices, earth, garrigue and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, black cherries, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and black pepper.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 9 year old Grenache blend from Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Powerful, yet elegant. Fruity, rich and smooth.

Still feels very young, and more fruit forward than I expected it to be. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Spicy and entertaining.

This 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône was exceptional. Will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$140. — 9 months ago

Fabian Kühlhorn

9.1

Raspberry and strawberry on the nose, as well as hint of celeriac and soil. Young, but not too young, in the beginning of a long drinking window. Good acidity, medium body, long finish. Looking forward to following this cuvée as it developes. — 3 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Enjoyed while cleaning out the boss' cellar. Say what you want about this wine, but the one thing you can say is that this wine is incredibly consistent. This wine reminds me of the family uncle who always gives you some silver dollars at Christmas...even though you are now a grown adult. And if you actually listen to his crazy advice on investing when you were a kid, you just might be able to be that Uncle when you grow up. This wine is a thoroughbred. Meant to be consumed at least after 10 years. And this wine is in a really good spot. The nose does show a tiny bit of age as does the palate. This is front-loaded with slightly aged blackberry and a bit brambly. This wine smoothed out quite a bit over 3 hours. Finish with very nice integration, a hint of stiff oak tannin but a lot of it has resolved. Very enjoyable. This wine still has another 10 or 15 years left. — 7 years ago

Bloody Amateur

9.6

Received this bottle as an engagement gift in '03; opened it on Thanksgiving to celebrate the engagement of some dear friends. Astonishingly good. Vanilla, caramel, only slight effervescence. One of the most special and delicious and soulful wines I've ever tasted. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Light straw gold. Impactful effervescent nose with notes of bread yeast, lemon, marzipan and apricot. Vibrant in the mouth. Expands and has a long finish. Expect this will get better and more complex with a bit more age. Really good right now tho. — 9 years ago

Barb

9.7

Wow... So many flavors in this wine. It's quite a treat to your mouth. Smooth with a great mid taste and a long finish — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — 9 months ago

with Brenda

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep ruby and , garnet terracotta rim. Quite spicy nose , slightly green touches , mix of red and dark fruit . On the palate fills out quite well , good acidity , slightly gritty tannins still with mineral , tobacco notes on the finish . Ok reasonable length . This comes across a bit greener than I remember it , so not sure how representative this bottle is , fine to drink now and over the next 10 years . 91

Second bottle medium deep ruby with garnet rim . Took a bit of time to open up , but very good definition , red and dark fruits, truffle , undergrowth, cigar box and grafite. On the palate quite charming sweet red fruits, red plum, cassis , dried spices, undergrowth , elegant for las cases , grafite and tobacco stained finish . Well balanced acidity and quite gritty but ripe tannin . This is lovely now with time in the decanter and over the next 10 -15 years . Completely different from first bottle . — 2 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

It’s just so good when it touches your lips. Still deep purple in color with mocha, currant, cherry , licorice touch of mineral and tobacco. Very Bordeaux like and very awesome — 7 years ago

with Adam

Jordan Kaufman

9.0

Good anise, forest floor, spices to round out the dark fruit. Love the rose petal notes. Tannins are elegant but would love to taste this again in a few years. — 8 years ago

Claus Bentin

9.0

2007 is perfekt now!!
In very Good balance — 9 years ago

Mark Lipton

9.4

If you have to drink a 2011 Napa Cabernet, this is the one. Overcomes the flimsiness and off-centered taste of many of its peers. Blueberry, suggestive of Alexander Valley cabs, is present in spades, and wonderful, smooth, and satisfying midpalate and finish. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

8.9

NV in magnum. Some bready and brioche notes mixed with cranberry and red berry. On the palate the acidity is clean and creates a nice cut to the bubbles. Redberry finish and good length. A great NV Rose especially with the freshness of the magnum. — 11 years ago