Rutherford Ranch Winery

Etude

Estate Grown Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir 2011

A gift from a friend, this is lovely, with a bit of tobacco on the nose and lively cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate. The finish goes on and on. — a month ago

Nickel & Nickel

C.C. Ranch Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Happy Birthday Heather — 5 months ago

Brian BroxsonHeather Rostker
with Brian and Heather
Bobbi Jo, Heather and 2 others liked this
Heather Rostker

Heather Rostker

That was so good!

Ridge Vineyards

Buchignani Ranch Carignane 2021

Juicy and with a touch of sweetness. This was very pleasant and paired well with cheese. — 6 months ago

Tom liked this

Rutherford Hill

Napa Valley Merlot 2021

The Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot (2021) reveals a deep ruby core with subtle garnet reflections, suggesting youthful vibrancy with potential for short-term development. The nose is precise and layered, offering blackberry and raspberry fruit interwoven with cedar nuances, indicative of measured oak influence.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with light acidity that enlivens the fruit profile while maintaining balance.

Tannins are fine-grained and unobtrusive, supporting a bright structural framework that lends clarity and poise.

The finish is clean and persistent, marked by freshness rather than weight, making this a versatile companion to dishes such as roasted chicken, grilled salmon, or semi-hard cheeses.
— 7 months ago

Freemark Abbey

Bosché Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Double decant for sediment(lots of chunky sediment) and pour. A remarkable dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: expressive perfumed notes of cherry, currants, dark olives, worn leather, wet forest floor, smoked meat. Taste: silky, savory, elegant wine with fading dried cherries, tobacco, dark chocolate, bell pepper, earth, and a nice mineral, espresso medium plus finish. YUM! Never disappointed with well aged Bosche or Sycamore wines — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 13 others liked this

Shafer Vineyards

Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2022

Lemon gold color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with citrus, sweet floral and complex spice, no MLF. On the palate flavors of ripe melon, pineapple, apricot and honeysuckle notes with lemon zest and biscuit notes, delicate, complex and well balanced, big and full Chardonnay. Long finish, savory, ending with mineral tones and fresh finish. Will age well. Outstanding! While I usually do not decant whites, this one will benefit to breathe a bit! — 9 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Scarecrow

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

1.5 hour decant(some chunky sediment). A remarkable inky purplish garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: exquisite notes of ripe dark berries, cassis, smoked meat, floral, black olives, mint. Taste: velvety, elegant, structured mouthcoating wine with blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, crushed stone, and a spiced-mineral-dark chocolate espresso long finish. YUM!! — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda and 15 others liked this

Nickel & Nickel

State Ranch Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Fruity beginning that opens up to a peppery finish. Very smooth. A bit over priced at $109. Didn’t see the complexity at that price point. — 3 months ago

Jamieson Ranch Vineyards

Double Lariat Limited Production Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

We have been drinking this wine for 10 years now. As the fruit drops out it becomes more stringent with strong oak tannins, losing some of its depth and ease of drinking. — 5 months ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Andrew, Jan and 4 others liked this

Scarecrow

Monsieur Ètain Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Another well aged M.-Etain.
I bought a case on release at retail $120.00 OTD.,
That’s long gone but this was worth the extra $70 on Auction.
— 6 months ago

Tom, Tom and 20 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

08 & 09. Nice.

Emeritus Vineyards

Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2019

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red and blue fruits with light wood, herbs, light vegetables, spices and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, blueberries, plums, cherries, earth, peppercorn, dark chocolates, herbs and light vegetables.

This 6 year old Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley is drinking very nicely now. Fruit forward, rich and nicely balanced. Complex and entertaining. Elegant and tangy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had this vintage 3 years ago, and decided to let it age a bit longer, and it is drinking so much better now.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 10 months in (35% new) French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.
— 7 months ago

Ted, Doug and 6 others liked this

Anthill Farms

Campbell Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

John Howard
9.7

Prob our fave Anthill wine yet. Phenomenal! — 8 months ago

Dave, Eric and 10 others liked this

Turley

Mead Ranch Zinfandel 2017

This wine hits with massive brightness and blueberry flavors. But it also has excellent acidity to avoid it being sweet or fruit bomb like.

Pretty good with some age on it.
— 10 months ago

Tom, Bob and 1 other liked this

Pax Mahle Wines

Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah 2005

Perfectly balanced, no browning on the edges, long finish — 3 months ago

Caymus Vineyards

40th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

North of my typical price point, this was quite expressive for a cab. Robust fruit flavor, yet smooth. Other bottles suit my palate better. — 3 months ago

Sloan

Rutherford Red Bordeaux Blend

Truly wonderful and complex but paled in comparison to the 2002 Paul Hobbs B to KV. Wow. — 4 months ago

Tyler liked this

McGah Family Cellars

Scarlett Cabernet Sauvignon

Very pleasant. Went well with elk loin. — 5 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Benito Dusi Ranch Paso Robles Zinfandel 2023

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category.
— 6 months ago

Dave, Bob and 10 others liked this
Douglas Braun

Douglas Braun Influencer Badge

Amazing Vineyard an family which were Paso Robles before Paso Robles
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice write-up. Always one of my favorites of the Ridge stable.

Round Pond Estate

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Took awhile to open but once it did this is a pretty decent Cab - nose is full of fruit - blackberries - palate is a little sparkly, slightly underwhelms vs the nose but still solid — 9 months ago

Paul liked this