Jay Kline

9.3

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.

Excellent gourmet burger wine. — 2 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.4

Floral, black pepper, paired with ribeye with peppercorn. The pairing was a 10. At home on NYE. Hoping 2022 will be safer and more social than 2021. HNY to all my Delectable friends. — 4 years ago

Mark Eastom

8.9

Drinking way above CDR. Pepper, spice, ash, earth, boysenberry, chalk, anise, dried herbs, ripe plum and a great soft finish. Worked great with the ribeye. — 6 years ago

K Brooks

8.9

Pleasant aperitif. Moscato style presumably from Muscat grape, but varietals in blend not specified. A low alcohol (7.5), little sweet and little sparkling, fruit-forward wine. — 7 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.0

Fresh shipment from Bedrock made of 80 year old vines. Nice cherry flavor with vanilla pepper finish — 8 years ago

Patti Gamboni

8.9

Pepper, grippy, lightly perfumed on the palate, good acid, light fruit. — 9 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

Extremely well done — 10 years ago

Erik McLaughlin

Vice President Seven Hills Winery

9.3

2011 vintage. Very Grenache driven this vintage with broad texture underpinned with white pepper, herb, leather. Red fruited strawberry and red plum with rawhide and earth. — 11 years ago

Kevin Kaley

9.4

nice wine, smooth, nice fruit undertones and some pepper spice. enjoyed for Christmas dinner with smoked ribs and pinwheel steaks. — 11 years ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Medium ruby in color; plums, blackberries, and dried herbs on the nose; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; tastes like plum sauce, strawberries, and white pepper with a long finish. Nellie likes it. I like it too. — 9 months ago

with Nellie

Lyn Farmer

9.8

Exceptional wine - deep ruby color with a huge bouquet of violet, plum, black pepper, black cherry, licorice, vanilla, clove, prune and dried rose petal. Velvet tannins, the alcohol is well balanced with the fruit and full-bodied texture. Still in its infancy but already delicious, this wine has a stunning future — 10 months ago

David D

9.1

Pelaverga, always a favorite. Smooth and silky, pretty velvety tannins, good minerals, brambles, dried violets, plum, black pepper, light tobacco and leather. From Flatiron Wines. 02/19/22 — 4 years ago

Michael Seely

9.3

Spank my ass and call me Sally, this wonderful 2008 hits the spot in aces! Very present, very alive. Pleasure sure! — 6 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

David D

9.1

Medium bodied, nice chilled. Delicious. Unexpectedly smooth when opened and not as much bite as other Pelaverga, maybe because it’s young? Cranberry, black pepper, black tea, blackberry, black licorice. Light tannins, good acids. From Flatiron Wines. — 7 years ago

Rose Martin

9.2

Pepper, nice balance, long finish, dry herbs — 8 years ago

with William

Joel Hammett

9.1

Old world savory Syrah. Lots of black pepper. Dark fruit. Little bit of funk/barnyard. What's not to like? — 9 years ago

Keith Herrick

9.3

Great wine! Screams Loire cab franc, but on another level. Made the mistake of not giving it time to breath, as the first sip was overly green with bell pepper and paprika. By the end of the glass the green had become largely integrated with the fruit. The transparency of these wines is unmatched in the grape. — 10 years ago

Caleb Pietrafesa

9.4

Cherry, black currant, vanilla, earth, hints of oak and bell pepper. On the palate, cherry, ripe berries and balanced oak. Medium body. Medium, balanced tannins. Stays on the palate. — 10 years ago

Pat Lomelo

9.2

Slightly better than the 05 with longer finish and more fruit — 11 years ago

Matthew Goldenberg

9.1

My first experience with a bdx with this type of age. It had a note of green pepper on the nose and had a lot of life left. — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 9 months ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Love this wine and producer. Boysenberry, crushed rocks, fennel, pepper and great acid. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.3

Big blackberry and plum juice nose, beautiful pastry notes of berry tart, smoke, sweetness and funk. Grape juice and granite. A touch of black pepper spice and amazing mineral density. Burly but clean and satisfying. Some bitterness on the finish that should resolve with time, otherwise drinking really nicely. — 4 years ago

Ganesh

9.3

Ageworthy. Effects of the drought show. Tight dark fruit flavors and strong cedar/pepper. If having now decant a little. — 7 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Steve G's Retirement Celebration!! — 8 years ago

with Steve

Murat Rakhimzhan

9.3

Gorgeous wine with light ruby color!
Delicate aromas cherries, redcurrants, plums, red pepper, tobacco and bit of spices.
Perfect acidity and still young tannins.
In a taste cherries, redcurrants, meat, black pepper, strawberry jam, spices. — 8 years ago

Andrew Willingham

9.0

dark red with white rim variation. Smoky black pepper on the nose, sauvage/animal. Palette sees lots of dirty funky animal/cured meat. Almost bitter finish. — 9 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.6

The first Galante I ever had was this vintage, 2003, Blackjack Cab. I was hooked. Nine years later and it still pulls me in. The years have mellowed the wine and given it more depth, but the telltale pepper and leather nose still makes me swoon even before the spicy and mineral concoction hits my mouth. The finish is smoother now leaving pleasant clove, cinnamon and mineral notes. The leather and pepper predominate throughout, though. What a treat. — 10 years ago

with Susan

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.3

In a fantastic spot. Dark red berries, game and black pepper. Wonderful acidity. — 11 years ago