Without Tbli

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend

Geoff Troup
9.1

Have always loved Lytton Springs. A great value. Got to taste the 15 before release. Very lucky, in fact the most generously fruity I've ever tasted in Ridge. I'm sure some of this is due to being very young and without direction, but I expect others will feel the same. Still firm tannin and earthy backbone amidst lush and rich fruit. — 8 years ago

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Grenache

Fruit up front without being jammy...caramel flavor comes behind the fruit...finishes clean with some pepper, smooth on the throat, no chalk — 8 years ago

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Valbuena 5° Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 2011

Although it might seem like infanticide to drink this wine this young, it works surprisingly well now. Fabulous knows underbrush and spices and also some plum nuances. On the pallet what really surprises is the velvety and soft nature, while at the same time the tannins provide structure without getting in the way of the overall package. One might mistake this for a second growth Bordeaux of a good year, Albeit with a distinctive personality. — 9 years ago

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Oak without oaky — 9 years ago

Scorewine, David and 7 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 28 Kalimna South Australia Shiraz 2010

Very opaque, high concentration, stains glass, purple in color. Somewhat sweet balsamic, blackberry syrup smell. Dry, medium high alcohol and tannin. What I imagine raisins would taste like without sugar, some oak. — 9 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Lovely cab. Very smooth and elegant even without decanting — 10 years ago

Diseño

Old Vine Mendoza Malbec 2013

We got this wine for $9.99. A great value. Very complex with food with meat and veggies it starts with minerals and plum tastes and end with very spicy anise like under tone. With chocolate, cheese or sweets it is very mild with heavy plum dark fruit and finishes without the spice but keeps some of the anise flavors — 10 years ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2009

Francis Wilden
9.0

2009: quite dense appearance; ripe black / red fruit w a faint touch of horse hair (Brett ); generously proportioned attack of ripe red and black fruit, leads onto medium weight palate which finishes fruitfully but without the verve of a "classic" vintage. A satisfying and quite delicious drink without being memorable. A lot of 09 burgundies would fit these descriptors. — 10 years ago

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit Lodi Petite Sirah Petit Verdot

Yum. Great without food. A bit teeth staining. — 10 years ago

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2012

Lighter golden hued. Honeydew, melon, damp clay and a tinge of turpentine on the nose. Silly and silky smooth on the palate, with a crescendoing gradient of clementine laced acidity. Mid palate shows straw, kiwi, and a balanced playfulness of citrus and limoncello. Oaked but not oaky nor faux butter flavored. Finish is luscious and long. A great example of how to Chardonnay without playing charades. Served decanted and cool. — 11 years ago

C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España)

Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1999

The CVNE (pronounced "coonay") Tempranillo is always dependable and presents a great opportunity to obtain older vintages--back to the 60's and 70's--at a price that doesn't totally kick your ass. This was a mature solid Rioja but without a great deal of verve, depth or punch. Good not great. — 8 years ago

Bill, Mike and 34 others liked this
Bill Bender

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I was there @Mike R a rare Saturday day game here....the Padres pitching staff is a travesty and Hosmer seems to looove Petco! He was the All-Star MVP here a couple years ago.
TheSkip

TheSkip

Is there a Bender & Gritz private box? 🙏🤞🏻
Bill Bender

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Well box seats @TheSkip and they are yours if you get out here

Weingut Knauß

Without All Trocken Trollinger

Tailgate wine. Love it. Fresh! — 9 years ago

speedy liked this

Bodegas El Nido

Clio Jumilla Monastrell-Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

Expressive to say the least drinks like a Napa Cab without Napa terroir. It's a deep purplish black and has all the classic cab notes but the tannin level is just where you want it unlike California where once you leave Sonoma and Napa counties you automatically hit a fruit forward Cab. — 9 years ago

"Odedi" liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1992

Great cedar and cassis nose with a matching palate. Persistent without being boring. Earthiness coming out after an hour to balance chocolate covered berries. — 9 years ago

Jean-Paul Thevenet

Vieilles Vignes Morgon Gamay 2012

Nice earth for a Beaujolais. Well balanced without too much fruit or bubblegum. Enjoyable nightly drinker. — 10 years ago

Belle Glos

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013

Deep reddish/purple color which has me on guard relative to Pinot. Worried that darker than lighter raspberry red has had Mega Red or other manipulation but this Pinot just has concentrated character. Varietal rose petal and cherry notes in aromas. You can see the broad influence from the 3 appellations that comprise the wine. Weighty on the palate without being too over bearing for the varietal. Great accompaniment to the saffron broth salmon this evening. — 10 years ago

Maxence, Josh and 5 others liked this

Decoy

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Nice and earthy. The best is that it is good with and without a reason to drink it, with or without food, it's just good. I'm only sorry that it is gone. — 10 years ago

Decoy liked this
Decoy Wines

Decoy Wines

Cheers!

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2004

Bright, fresh and crisp without that over baked bread feel. Really nice bubbles — 10 years ago

Anthony liked this

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Black Label Claret California Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Really good Bordeaux style red blend for the price. Oak and cherry aroma. I could do without the gold wiring though. — 11 years ago

Apothic

Winemaker's Blend California Zinfandel Blend 2012

Inexpensive and tastes like prune juice. Luckily I'm getting old and quite like prunes. Easy to drink without decant or aerating. — 11 years ago

Dave Wismer
with Dave
Dave Wismer

Dave Wismer

Meh (Shrugs shoulder). Will put it on my wines to make me poop list.
8.6
Jo Anne B

Jo Anne B

Too funny. We must all be getting old b/c I have a bottle in my current collection. Note to self constipation = Apothic Red.

Vietti

Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo 2011

Langhe Nebbiolo such as this one by Vietti is basically a baby Barolo. A Barolo with more approachable tannins and acidity. However, it does not mean it a Langhe has no ageing potential. In 2016, this 2011 vintage still got its gripping tannins without losing all of its fruitiness. Violet on the nose, pomegranate on the palate. — 8 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Drank at party without aeration / decanting. Needed to open more. Second glass much better. — 8 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

So pretty and balanced, nose of earth and dried leaves, dry red fruit with cedar and tobacco, always pricey but great glass of Cabernet without question. — 9 years ago

Pooneet liked this

The Prisoner Wine Company

The Prisoner Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend

One of the nicest California blends that still had some spice without being too rounded as some Meritage blends can be. — 9 years ago

Mary Cianfrocca
with Mary
Ian liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Wow. So good! Perfectly balanced. Lots of pretty red fruit, Long smooth finish, no discernible heat, elegant with enough heft without being over powering. — 9 years ago

David Schwartz
with David
Joseph liked this

Vietti

Castiglione Barolo Nebbiolo 2010

Nice and light, paired well with strongly seasoned fish and chicken. Wonderful with a meal without overpowering the food. — 10 years ago

Kim Crawford

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Semi dry. Great with or without food and not too expensive. — 10 years ago

Cantina Zaccagnini

Il Vino Dal Tralcetto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2011

Cute rustic packaging. Price point 👌 great with or without food. — 10 years ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 1998

1998 Vintage - beautiful dried strawberry and cherry with roses, forest floor, barnyard (read brett), roses with soft and enjoyably integrated palate. Hard to differentiate if I would love equally without knowing producer, but really a nice bottle of wine. Gift from @Ann Feely — 10 years ago

Ann FeelyEric SothernKristin Freund
with Ann, Eric and 2 others
Kristin, Anthony and 2 others liked this

Carnivor

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Carmel, coffee notes with light fruit not overly dry. Drink without food — 11 years ago