Neil Valenzuela

9.4

Deep crimson color. Aromas of blackberry, cocoa, dried rose and pepper. Blackberry on the palate, black cherry and clove on the finish. Aged well! — 19 days ago

with Chad

Conrad Green

9.6

Really fresh and dazzling on the nose. Lime, steeliness, salinity. A lovely rounded mouthfeel. Classy and delicious. Excellent — 6 days ago

with Bex and Major-General

Christian Fischer

9.6

To close the evening we have an Yquem. Always a treat, never disappoints. The 2013 is still young with decades upon decades to go. The honey, the fruit, the endless flavor that lingers in your mouth forever - what a great wine. — 21 days ago

Ron Kyle

9.0

Another great vintage.
— a month ago

with Amy

Lars

9.3

You can always count on Ridge — 4 months ago

JKT

9.2

At Cindy’s with Fing. Mistaken bottle. Golden color, clearly aged with touch of oxidation but lots of complex aromatics. Excellent — 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. — 2 months ago

Lars

9.2

9 years has done this well! — a month ago

"Odedi"

8.9

A nice and easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Fruit forward and nicely balanced.

Very typical for the region, which is nice to see.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good party wine too.

13% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35. — 4 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chateau Montelena — Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Released as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, this vintage continues the legacy that forever changed the perception of California wine. Crafted in Montelena’s unmistakable style, it favors precision, freshness, and restraint over richness, proving Napa Chardonnay can be both powerful and elegant.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, baked pear, crisp apple, citrus blossom, and subtle white peach are beautifully intertwined with delicate hints of wet stone, light vanilla, and restrained oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and exceptional balance. Rich enough to satisfy yet remarkably focused, the palate delivers silky texture, impressive tension, and a long, refined finish that never feels heavy.

Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, grilled halibut, or triple-cream Brie.

Verdict
A benchmark New World Chardonnay that continues to set the standard nearly five decades after its historic triumph. Complex, poised, and beautifully balanced, it is a wine that appeals equally to classic California Chardonnay lovers and those who typically favor more restrained Old World expressions.

Did You Know?
The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the white wine category at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating France’s finest Burgundies in a blind tasting and forever changing the reputation of California wine on the world stage. The 2023 vintage celebrates the 50th anniversary of that landmark event.

🍷 Personal Pick
I’m generally selective with Napa Chardonnay, often preferring leaner, mineral-driven styles. Chateau Montelena remains one of my rare exceptions. It captures the generosity of Napa’s sunshine while preserving freshness, finesse, and impeccable balance. This is a permanent fixture in my cellar and one of the few New World Chardonnays I’d confidently pour for someone who believes they don’t enjoy Napa Chardonnay. — 24 days ago

RustyR

9.4

Open tour at Promatory Lemon zest. Some fun powder. — 22 days ago

Josh Carvo

9.3

Fruit but not to sweet Danna — 11 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeous stuff. Light lemon and toasty notes. Perfect place right now — a month ago

with Bex

Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2015 pours a crystal clear, pale straw color with persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright green apple, star fruit, citrus tree blossom, lemon curd and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. This is a baby but there’s already a lot of material here. The texture is extraordinary. Expect a long life ahead. Drink now with maybe a short decant, through 2055. Third tranche. Disgorged September of 2025. — 8 hours ago

romo

9.2

Just when you think it’s going to Thelma & Louise, it spawns wings and lifts off. - at Franklin PT — 9 days ago

Dave

9.0

I find this to be an easy drinker and a good value. Fruit salad- plenty of peach, pineapple, apricots, lemon, and some grass. A hint of tar in the nose.
Listening to Keren Ann ❤️ — 17 days ago

Mo

9.2

A superb Zinfandel blend that tastes great now and possesses the requisite structure to age. Ridge sets the standard in American winemaking. Their corpus of high quality wines is unmatched in America and challenges the entire industry worldwide. — a month ago

Lindsey Kelley

9.2

This is always a solid Sauvignon Blanc, drank last night with Matt — 14 days ago

romo

9.3

Reduced and young, very serious. Not your book club Chardonnay. - at Laurelhurst — a month ago

Jelle Lars Heijmans

9.9

Magnum 99+ — a month ago