Mad Bay

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

2018 vintage. Oak a little showier than last visit 4.20.24. *Full disclosure* Probably my favorite CA cabernet for QPR purposes-year in, year out-since the early 90's. Not inexpensive, yet, in a world of ridiculous CA cab pricing, this is a bargain. Had I storage space and projected lifespan, would pick up two cases and crack a bottle every year starting in 2028. Some overt baby fat/oak to dissipate in anticipation. Currently, wanting more structure and depth but, given the track record with this wine/producer, it's enroute. 5.29.24. — 4 days ago

Ted, Jan and 16 others liked this

Mad Duck

Lodi Zinfandel 2021

TW Excellent 2021 vintage — a month ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

John Howard
9.4

So good. Leaner vintage. — a month ago

Scott@Mister, Raul and 11 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay

Delightfully complicated California Chard masquerading as a White Burgundy. French nose and French finish. Minerals, flint, stone and fruit—apple, pear, peach and nectarine, with an obvious but restrained layer of oak. Not overly fruity or oaky; no pineapple or butterscotch here. Paired well with the Seafood Tower, Swordfish and Black Cod at the Water Grill Santa Monica. This was a juvenile 2021 vintage, tasted in 2024. Eager to try this gem after another half decade. — 16 hours ago

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Carignane 2020

First pour of the vintage for me. Smells like I just pulled fresh table grapes off the stem. Initial flavors of red fruit herbs and something floral, followed by unripe plum and cola. Light bodied but medium pigment extraction. After sixty minutes, flavors integrate. — a month ago

Ira, Ted and 2 others liked this

Wente Vineyards

Southern Hills Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Surprisingly good and well balanced with lots of oak and finish — a month ago

Rhys Vineyards

Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2008

2nd place. Brownies in the oven nose, silky texture, some ink press and sous bouis. Very nice. — 14 days ago

Shay, Steve and 7 others liked this

Domaine Eden

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

2019 vintage. Less body (light-medium vs medium/medium heavy) than the 2018 effort. Absolutely phenomenal nose. Wowza. Starts off decently demonstrative, then dovetails into Subtletown. Catching this on the relatively youthful side so anticipating variability/changes but drinking beautifully now for the price. You could easily throw this into a Bordeaux tasting and get away with it. Full disclosure...massive Mount Eden honk but a Domaine Eden (2nd label) sceptic. Laying on the horn here as I did with the 2018. Beep beep n beep beep, beep beep n beep beep, yeah. 5.5.24. — a month ago

Shay, Ted and 10 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

I have liked their Chards

Oyster Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Classic NZ label. Smells funky. Lawn just cut or a piece of fresh grass in the teeth. And lemon citrus peels. Flavors are complex and very audacious. Bombastic even. Plenty of citrus, but something else as well. Shells? Like the calcium carbonate in those. Also big gooseberries. This is a good example of how NZ Sauv Blanc differs from the other styles out there. This wine packs a punch. — a month ago