Jay Kline

9.3

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. — 6 months ago

jochen rueckert

9.0

Nice. Old school not very funky but nice — 8 months ago

John Knudsen

9.0

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

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Outstanding Italian White. Remarkable balance of minerality, acidity and fruit. Very pure. Apples and pears. Wine is bright and fully open right out of the bottle. Best white of the year so far. Nice!! — 7 years ago

with John

Liz Bird

9.2

Really light refreshing delish! — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

Tooo smashable but at the same time easy to savour the endless red fruit spectrum. — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

Tried the '90 recently, spoke of how amazing a producer of Californian Cabernet it is, but just needed a little more time, this '85 is well & truly on point, everything is in balance, there's fruit intensity yes, but the development/complexity/layers are really shining through, outstanding stuff. — 9 years ago

Mike

9.1

Quirky but nice — 11 years ago

John Kemper

9.9

A dense glass-staining purple, the '06 Charles Smith Syrah 'Royal City' is a monumental wine. Big, pungent aromas of game, truffles, black olives and dried fruits exploded from the glass. Complex, but still seamlessly balanced. The tastes stayed on the palate for a seemingly infinite length of time. Simply wonderful! — 12 years ago

KP

9.8

Vibrant color. Wow, it’s like the Little Red Riding-hood porridge of wine. Not too dry, bold, acidic, long, short or tannic. Just right! Absolutely delicious. Would absolutely buy again and one of the best wines I’ve had in a long time. — 6 months ago

k

8.9

Balanced with front fruit and decent body. No overpowering aspects. — 7 months ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, lemon, honey, peach, oak and hints of almond. Great acidity and balance. — 10 months ago

PM

9.2

I think it’s delicious. Smooth, full bodied, with some character. — 6 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.5

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

Maddie Fromell

8.9

Listening to fado in Lisbon — 7 years ago

Pierre Gourinchas

9.4

This is outstanding. Quite a revelation. Honeyed, citrus, ample in the mouth and a very long finale. A steal. — 8 years ago

Robert A. Manchester IV

9.1

Stands out with its finish. Fruit forward nose that tails into lingering notes. — 9 years ago

Michael Washabaugh

9.1

Paired well with a lamb, eggplant purée, fava beans, piquolo pepper. Would also pair with a medium rare magret duck or other game. — 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.7

Our K&L Redwood City staff party at LB steak was fantastic- nothing smaller than magnum allowed! This double mag has been in our cellar since release and has hardly moved at all! Big, powerful, Mountain fruit! — 12 years ago

Mike Fiorello

8.9

One of the best wines for the price. — 13 years ago

Colleen Tomasello

9.4

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) — 6 months ago

Damian

9.3

Cedar, fruit in the background, coconut?. Mature and delicious — 6 months ago

Mary Perrotta

9.3

Light sweet and crisp more of a spring time wine than a fall but would definitely get again! — 7 months ago

Brian Nickerson

9.2

Mike Smith should be knighted. — 4 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

So great. Loads of ground, smoky sandstone, ripe blackberry, maple syrup. Rich, structured, so good, so balanced. My favorite Zin plot of land. — 6 years ago

Scout Rose

9.1

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

with Ora

North South Wines

10

Full bodied and spicy. Great with grilled ribs — 8 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Any wine that can shine from a plastic cup deserves extra kudos. Mistook for a Northern nebbiolo with its structure, detail, & balance, but the fruit is pure southern, pomegranate & black currants. Eye opener (esp for 30$ list). Want to re taste in proper stemware. I think 80% nero di trioa 20% montulpiciano — 10 years ago

with Owen

Emily Richey

9.0

Loved this. Not too rich, and yet still distinctly "chard." — 11 years ago

Natsuko Nishimura

9.6

カベルネソーヴィニヨン嫌いなアタシでもスッと飲める！かなり好みかも。 — 12 years ago