Jerry Raphael

9.2

Drinking great. Never over the top type Zin. But complex and very enjoyable — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV – Champagne AOC, France 🇫🇷

Overview
One of Champagne’s enduring benchmarks, Special Cuvée combines approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier, with a significant portion of reserve wines contributing depth and consistency. Rich, layered, and unmistakably Bollinger, it delivers remarkable complexity at a price point that remains accessible compared to many prestige bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, citrus zest, baked brioche, roasted nuts, and subtle spice unfold in layers. Notes of fresh bread dough and orchard fruit intertwine with hints of honey and toast.

Mouthfeel
Vibrant and energetic with a creamy mousse and impressive depth. A delicate kiss of yeast adds texture and contrast, while the wine’s concentration and freshness remain beautifully balanced through the finish.

Food Pairings
Lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, aged Comté, oysters, or simply enjoyed as a celebratory aperitif.

Verdict
A richly textured and multi-layered Champagne that continues to justify its reputation as one of the region’s benchmarks. Complex, expressive, and consistently rewarding, it offers a level of sophistication that punches well above its category.

Did You Know?
Unlike many large Champagne houses, Bollinger ferments a portion of its wines in old oak barrels and maintains an extensive reserve wine program, helping create the signature richness and depth that define Special Cuvée.

🍷 Personal Pick
Few non-vintage Champagnes deliver this combination of richness, complexity, and value. The layered fruit, subtle autolytic character, and vibrant texture make Special Cuvée one of my favorite benchmark Champagnes and a bottle I never hesitate to revisit. — 21 days ago

GaryWEdwards

9.7

The 2008 Dom P2 is an exclamation point to the excellent, original 2008 DP release. This is a new level of P2 that is head/shoulders beyond 2000, 2002, 2004, and even 2006. Every taste is better than the last, with citrus and green apple crispiness and oyster shells in the mix. Happy to have scored a 6 pack of this. — 3 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Still fresh but definitely lots of secondary notes. Pear and wet stone and a light sweetness and salinity. Good tension. Excellent — a month ago

with Ara and Paul

Mary H

9.5

Syrupy peaches. Wildflower nectar, butter shortbread, muscat grapes. Amazing with creme Catalan. @ Persona, Stockholm — 25 days ago

KA

9.5

Del Friscos Double Eagle Steakhouse Denver — a month ago

Jean-Louis Carbonnier

9.3

From late 1990's; Premiere wine merchants, nyc — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and dried mixed brambles, Luxardo cherries, red and purple flowers, black pepper, vanilla and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is one of the more approachable young Geyserville’s I’ve had in a long time and remains on of my favorite Zinfandel-based blends from Ridge. Drink now through 2048. — 10 days ago

Ming L

9.4

The nose bursts with ripe yellow peach, mandarin, and dried pineapple, layered with brioche and a hint of white flowers. The palate is plush yet electric, with creamy texture quickly cut by vibrant lemon zest and a light salinity. The finish is precise and long. — 13 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Such a great nose of fruit and flowers. Palate coating fruits and citrus and acidity. Outstanding — 11 days ago

Dave

9.3

Day 1 of this year's Smallmouth Smackdown has begun. After 7 hours on the boat, and a dozen bass, it's time to crack into some libations (had a few PBR's on the boat).
This is a lush Zin. Concentrated fruit, but savory and chewy. Blackberry, blood orange, cigar box, and enough structure to age much longer. This is my 3rd Ridge Zin, and I'd have to say I still favor the Pagani Ranch.
Listening to Chris Stapleton — a month ago

Miles Perry

9.0

A great brut Champagne. — 18 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

A gorgeous nose. Soft sweet corn, brioche, confit lemon, limestone and a light saltiness. In a lovely place right now — a month ago

with Rick and Gregg

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Ridge Three Valleys 2023
Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A classic Sonoma field blend composed of 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Crafted in Ridge’s signature transparent style, this vintage leans toward a riper and more fruit-driven expression than many of the winery’s other bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry preserves, ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry compote dominate, supported by touches of black pepper and baking spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and a broad, generous texture. The fruit lingers across the palate with a warm, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
A natural companion for barbecue, smoked meats, burgers, and hearty pizza.

Verdict
While impeccably made, this is one of the few Ridge wines that didn’t quite resonate with my palate. It leans a bit too jammy and overripe for my preference, though lovers of rich, fruit-forward California reds will likely find plenty to enjoy.

Did You Know?
Ridge has long been one of California’s pioneers of ingredient transparency, listing the exact grape composition directly on the label.

🍷 Personal Pick
I truly love Ridge wines, but I’d still reach for Lytton Springs or Geyserville before this bottling. If bold, juicy Zinfandel blends are your style, however, this one could easily become a favorite. — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Beautifully fresh and intense with lemon, limestone and light floral notes. A powerful palate of bright citrus and an oily persistence in the mid palate with thrilling acidity and tension. Long and vital — 12 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.5

Virtually impossible to tell this wine is 10 years old! Still so vibrant with acidity and has a decent amount of fruit left. The pear and lemon are softer, the oak and slate are a little more prevalent. Developing a touch more brioche but if I tasted it blind I don’t think I’d identify it as 10 years old at all. — 17 hours ago

Sagee Aran

9.2

Crisp, balanced with tropical fruits. You can not miss it's Cloudy Bay. — 4 days ago

Mary H

9.2

Few bubbles in the glass. Bruised golden apple, golden pear, slightly reductive / sherry-like. Reminded me a lot of the Peter Lauer 1987 Riesling sekt, but with fewer bubbles. An interesting but not crowd-pleasing Champagne. @ Persona, Stockholm — 25 days ago

Andrew Belzer

9.1

Who knew Veuve is only $46 in Indiana! — a month ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.2

big white burger weekend — a month ago