Daniel P. Drake

9.3

We opened the 2016 La Rioja Alta S.A. Viña Ardanza Reserva. This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha from La Bastida, Spain.

On thr nose there was cherry, plum, strawberry,black currant, anise, leather, herbs, baking spice and forest floor.

On the palate was cherry, raspberry, strawberry, herbs, baking spice, balsamic and anise.

This wine is medium to full bodied with a silky mouthfeel medium+ acidity and medium to medium + fine supple tannins that lead to a long red fruit forest floor finish. Welcome to another weekend and I hope everyone has great plans with wine in mind. Please enjoy the weekend and please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 months ago

John Riddick

9.1

Always solid. 10 years old and showing mostly dried fruit. Good spice and herbal notes. — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 89% Tempranillo & 11% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak. On the palate flavors of jammy dark berry fruits with spice & smoky earthy notes on ripe full soft tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — a year ago

LM Segal

9.4

Distinctive nose of dried pine forest and loamy earth. Rich, kirsch and silky red fruit. Asian spice, white pepper. So long and smoooth. No more edges but sense this can go a long time more. — 4 years ago

Rob Moose

9.3

A special find in 375 in Ojai. Beautiful tobacco and spice blend with mellowing bright red fruit, gorgeous with filet and grilled veg. Tons of life here but good development — 6 years ago

Nick N

10

Wow. Like a berry pie with a little spice — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.1

2000 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon:
From Jay. Dark ruby red in color. A preponderance of black forest fruits on the nose mixed with cedar and some menthol and a touch of spice. Rich blackcurrant, black cherries and traces of vanilla on the palette. This is a solid effort from Ridge and although it does not have the makings of an epic wine it will certainly improve with time. Drink 2017 to 2030. 91/100


— 9 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.4

I had seen this bottle on the wine list (for only around €75) for a while but been worried it might be past its peak. But there is nothing to be afraid of here. Just an excellent example of how well quality old vine Californian Zin-blends can age in the skilful hands of the team at Ridge. Large ripe berries, spice, orange peel, dark chocolate, liquorice and charcuteries. Flavourful, expressive and balanced. Very enjoyable. — 8 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Lovely savory fruit. Sale leather and iron inflected red fruit. Some spice and lovely rounded, balanced, resolved fruit. Long and pure and excellent. Great stuff — 9 months ago

with Chris, Tony and 1 other

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Deep tawny color. Heavy nose with lots of drama going on. Notes of old wet cedar desk, red fruits, pepper, mocha, dark moist earth and some spice. Great structure. Has a perfect balance of fruit that strongly remains in the picture with structure and acidity. Silky, coats the mouth. Might have been the WOTN until the next bottle was poured. — 2 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.1

Awesome! Red fruit. Spice. Smoothness. — 4 years ago

Morgan Copeland

9.5

Easy drinking cab. Shared with Mom in SoHo — 7 years ago

RobPITSKO

9.4

Wow. Nose invites with subtle fruit, mouth is light - less earthy than some, crisp finish. This darling has a minor spice that fades quickly, leaving me want another — 8 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Big and bold Pinot! Deep purple/garnet color. Aromas of cooked black berry/raspberry, purple flowers, black licorice and pepper spice. More black cherry and blueberry fruit on the palate with notes of dark chocolate, baking spices and maple. Quite rich, concentrated and viscous. Velvety tannins and moderately low acidity. Big Pinot! — 8 months ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

2020 Vintage - This 3 year old Seriously needs decant - but after decant shows pretty boysenberry fruit , giving way to bramble fruit and pepper spice , with fine tannins with great Zinfandel fruit - another great job by Bedrock — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 2 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.2

Cherry jam and spice. Milk chocolate and vanilla. Jammy plushness. — 6 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.2

From 375. Huge amount of sediment that most of the usual dark pigmentation of the wine is gone ... looks like Rayas. The barnyard funk is there but blows off in a few minutes. Very good depth with spice and hints of garrique and fruit. Wow 30 year old half bottle! — 7 years ago

Rick VanSickle

9.3

A very solid Rioja, meaty, dripping in fruit and spice. Nicely balanced at this point with room to get better. Not sure it deserves the 97 points doled out by decanter, however. Pleasant and the right price. — 9 years ago