The Ringer

Arnot-Roberts

Clary Ranch Syrah 2015

Wow. The nose is a dead ringer for Cornas. And then the palate totally delivers also. Not quite as rich and dense as an equally young N. Rhône, but man is this amazing. Fresh and light but complex and interesting. A real pleasure. I was stunned. — 6 years ago

P, Shay and 15 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

Cathy Corison
9.2

1989 Bordeaux PNV Retrospective at Larkmead. Ringer! Purported itself very well. Pretty perfume, hint of capsicum. Cedar. Warm. Coffee. — 6 years ago

Alex, Severn and 3 others liked this

Cascina San Lazzaro

Dadelio Langhe DOC 2010

A blend of various Italian varietals make up this wine. Brooding and really to drink it up. Enjoyable. Would be a good ringer at a wine dinner as it is hard to place but undeniably delicious. — 7 years ago

Martin, Neil and 16 others liked this

Bodegas Avanthia

Avancia Cuvée de O Godello 2016

Note to @Delectable Wine the winery is pronounced “Aranthia” but spelled “Arancia”. A Spanish ringer for Chablis (some people sense Chenin leanings) and a good one at that. Tropical flowers and citrus on the nose, but the palate is energized with lemon, mineral, bright acid, and some stone fruit bitterness. Very light on its feet, but finishes somewhat longer. Crazy good for a BTG selection. — 8 years ago

Steve, Bill and 3 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

First Xmas in Music City! Dead ringer Bordeaux on the nose, Napa on the palate. Cherry and caramel. — 9 years ago

Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary

Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 2012

This wine has really come along well since the last time I had it. Fresh raspberry, rhubarb pie, white peppercorn, salted meat. Mouth filling with really pleasant acidity. A dead ringer for CDP. — 10 years ago

Matthew, Chris and 1 other liked this

Samsara Wine Co.

Turner Vineyard Syrah 2012

An incredible Syrah from California. Meaty, smoky, grilled herbs and nicely framed fruit. Dead ringer for Northern Rhone. — 10 years ago

Home Hill

Estate Tasmania Pinot Noir 2016

Dark and luminous. On the nose, this is a dead ringer for a big Gibbston Valley pinot. Red and black fruit, cherry, but the spice is the overriding trait. A very spicy cherry character with lovely silky mouthfeel. Broad but a little less structured and a bit shorter than a Valli or Gibbston Valley, but at $52, much better value. — 6 years ago

Racquel N
with Racquel

Pol Gardere

Brut Champagne Blend

We blind-tasted several budget champagnes to pick one for our wedding. This one won by a handy margin. A few of us even preferred it to the Billecart-Salmon “ringer” that I included just for fun! — 7 years ago

pistolmcpiglet Konstantin ShishkinKaren Suarez
with pistolmcpiglet, Konstantin and 1 other
Laverne, Jillian and 30 others liked this

Maybach Family Vineyards

Eterium Chardonnay 2014

Lenard had this 8 years ago

Shay, Brian and 3 others liked this

Laurel Glen Vineyard

Sonoma Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

Perennial ringer in our blinded high-end Napa-tastings... And it ALWAYS performs... — 8 years ago

Riddley, Freek and 6 others liked this

Neudorf

Chardonnay 2014

2014. Extremely impressive. Great old world Chardonnay ringer. — 8 years ago

Bernard Boisson-Vadot

"Les Chevalières" Meursault Chardonnay 2013

Michael Gallegos
9.5

Ringer. Focused, powerful, no excess fat. Stunning minerals and showing really well. — 9 years ago

Tony, Brent and 1 other liked this

Coopers Creek Vineyard

Bell-Ringer Gisborne Albarino 2014

Wonderful light white, perfect for those red-only drinkers ready to explore something new — 10 years ago

William Downie

Gippsland Pinot Noir 2013

Dark ruby with purple tints. Dark cherry and foresty aromas combined with earth and stalks. Good extraction but not overly so - medium ++ intensity verging on profound intensity. I am a long time fan of Bass Phillip who are based in Gippsland - this wine is from Gippsland made by gifted young winemaker, William Downie This is a very good new world Pinot Noir - easily of Premier Cru standard. Still with more complexity to give with 4 to 6 more years cellaring. The following night - a dead ringer for Bass Phillip Premium with those earthy dark cherry aromas and that delicious sappy palate of M+ Intensity. Wonderful. — 6 years ago

Severn, Paul and 14 others liked this

Monte Rossa

Cabochon Brut Franciacorta

Good depth and nuance. Tastes like a decent mid range Champagne. A ringer in a tasting one day? — 7 years ago

Ceccherini, Byron and 14 others liked this

Daumas Gassac

Mas de Daumas Gassac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1982

Ringer.
Served blinded, of course...
Clearly not a Bdx wine, but remarkably young and pretty.
— 7 years ago

Riddley, Peter and 9 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1988

A true bordeaux ringer. Lovely deep fruit with great cab and merlot showing more prominent than its % would suggest. Loads of depth and complexity. A revelation. — 8 years ago

Paul RosenbergBryan ThomasSteve Pollack
with Paul, Bryan and 1 other
Anthony, Ira and 7 others liked this

Arcadian

Stolpman Vineyard Syrah 2008

Marc Stubblefield
9.1

Brings the Northern Rhone to the table, with just a little extra oomph - but you'd be hard pressed to pick this out of an old world lineup as the ringer. At 8, just starting to stretch out - excellent with a little brisket. Or a lot of brisket. — 9 years ago

romo, Eric and 12 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2006

Thanksgiving Ringer, Boom. Last bottle — 10 years ago