McCarthy & Schiering, $11
Bursting with tropical flavors, lots of pineapple and guava, almost reminds me of POG juice. Balanced with a crisp acidity and very easy to drink. Amazing for the price, I immediately went back and grabbed 2 more bottles — 3 years ago

Oaky, big Aglianico. Very structured with lots of tannins. Something vegetal in the finish. Probably should have let it age a few more years but very enjoyable nonetheless. — 8 years ago
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — 5 months ago
Nice. Old school not very funky but nice — 8 months ago
1886 vines from the great Monte Rosso vineyard. This was a very nice cherry fruit red zinfandel. — 4 years ago
A nice, soft apple nose here... On the palate, more of that sweeter, soft apple with some lemon and minerality... Simple and easy. — 5 years ago

Light, refreshing. Dilute grape juice. — 6 years ago
Excellent cab! Always great from Ridge, this one is full bodied, nicely aged (still has room to age more, but wonderful right now!, wish i had a couple more) — 5 months ago
Cedar, fruit in the background, coconut?. Mature and delicious — 6 months ago
Vanilla scent after. Light and soft fruits. Drinkable and delicious. — 7 months ago
Decanted for 2 hours. Still big, no signs of fading. Did not drink enough before it was consumed to review properly, but seemed a touch sweet. — 3 years ago
The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Lena di Mezzo mixes crushed blackberries with plum sauce, wild exotic spices and dark chocolate. It’s remarkably fresh for an Amarone, casting silky textures across a medium-bodied frame, but it’s supported by vibrant acidity and a mix of tart wild berry fruits and minerals that saturate the palate. Notes of spiced orange peel, medicinal cherry and sweet herbs linger long over a bed of rounded tannins. There’s just the slightest hint of heat here, but the balance is otherwise perfect. I’m loving the savory-over-sweet persona as well. (Eric Guido, Vinous, February 2021)
— 5 years ago
The Monte Rosso was outstanding in every way- expressive nose of dark red fruits and layers that touched all parts of the palate. The flavors complimented a wonderful dinner. 8 years and still getting better. 100 year old vines that show how good Zinfandel can be when grown and tended to reveal their sense of place. Outstanding 🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago
Listening to fado in Lisbon — 7 years ago
joy horn
Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 5 months ago