Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
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Red |
2019 Estate of the Art ALTVSAlexander Valley Red Blend more |
11/2/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 90 pointsLight and clean. Easy drinker with great balance. More ruby garnet in color. Fruit on the nose and brightness on the palate. Well balanced with medium complexity. Maybe this will add some weight with aging as it is a little light. Tannins almost unnoticeable. Blend unidentified. Super QPR on closeout. |
Red |
2021 Realm Cellars The BardNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 pointsIf you like big Napa cabs like Parker then you'll love this one. Grape juice nose with decadence and lingering tannins on the finish. Could be a touch higher in abv than the 14.6 label and it is noticeable on the nose but hidden on the palette by the abundance of fruit. IMO while some pro reviewers reward this style - my score is based on the present and it currently lacks enough depth and complexity at this stage to warrant a higher score. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (20) |
Red |
2020 WeatherEye Vineyards Hillfighter Red Blend WeatherEye VineyardRed Mountain more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 pointsInteresting blend of Cab, Grenache and Tempranillo. Really enjoyable high octane complex darker fruit wine. This easily stands up to more expensive extracted fruit wines from other regions. My only complaint is the slight alcohol on the nose and some on the finish as without would garner at least a couple points higher score. Labelled around 15% but could be a touch higher... |
Red |
2021 Desire Lines EvangelhoContra Costa County Red Blend more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 90 pointsWell made wine from a great vineyard. Light and simple in style but delivers at a good price point. Summer backyard drinker. |
Red |
2018 Cobb Pinot Noir Pommard Selection Doc’s RanchSonoma Coast more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsThis has an amazing nose of fresh strawberry jam with strawberry notes continuing through the palette. This is nicely balanced and truly enjoyable but it lacks the complexity for this price point IMO. Somms will have fun pairing this one... |
White |
2021 Alfaro Family Chardonnay Lindsay PaigeSanta Cruz Mountains more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 pointsClean precise chard in a Burgundian style. Balanced @ 13.5% abv. A touch of creaminess. Excellent. |
White |
2022 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon BlancSonoma Valley more |
10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 pointsNicely done with bright crisp clean fruit. Hints of tart apple. Enjoyable. |
Red |
1989 Domaine de la Tour BourgognePinot Noir more |
9/5/2023 - aaronwine wrote: 89 pointsOld mature burgundy. Acquired taste. Lots of complexity here to like - darker - some bricking - weighty - earthiness and mineral notes. Sipping wine that goes well with cheese / should pair well with meats. For a Bourgogne this has more to offer than expected. |
Red |
2021 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani RanchSonoma Valley more |
9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsFantastic Pagani! This is a great vintage for this wine. Approachable and balanced. Strawberry ripe. Not quite the complexity of Lytton. |
White |
2020 Ridge Chardonnay Monte BelloSanta Cruz Mountains more |
8/27/2023 - aaronwine wrote: NRAt Ridge event. This is a well done Chard with fruit closer to Burgundian style than Cali. It is well made as you would expect from Ridge. However, for my tastes, the french oak was overpowering the fruit and masking the wine's potential at this stage. |
Red |
2021 Ridge Zinfandel BlasiChalk Hill more |
9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 pointsKudos to Ridge for picking this Zin early and making a lower alcohol, balanced, and food friendly wine. This is refreshing and easy to like. I hope to see more winemakers take note that you don't need 15-16% ABV to be delicious. |
Red |
2005 Ridge Lytton SpringsDry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel more |
9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsAt Ridge event from Magnum. This was really nice to be able to try at this age. If you like older complex wines then this is your friend and may surprise you what a Zin can become with age. I suspect this will probably hold on for a little while longer but the fruit is turning. If you steer towards younger wines then you'll want to drink this one up. |
Red |
2021 Ridge Lytton SpringsDry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel more |
9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 pointsAt Ridge event. This is still a baby even if it is a Zin. This is a great Lytton Springs with fruit, depth, and complexity. Can't wait to revisit in 2-3 years. |
Red |
2016 Ridge Cabernet Franc Rousten Monte BelloSanta Cruz Mountains more |
8/27/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsAt Ridge event. Very nicely done Cabernet Franc. This needs some air and decanting but it is not closed or shut-down in any way. Dark fruit with brightness and dimension. Really enjoyable and has a lot of potential and life ahead. |
Red |
1996 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherfordmore |
9/1/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 90 pointsFrom a well stored half bottle. Expected this to be gone. I had a 1994 half bottle that I had to toss. This one is quite enjoyable with some vegetal notes and Rutherford dust. While on the downward trajectory my bottle is showing nicely with smooth tannins and a lengthy finish - a touch of alcohol starting to emerge through the fading fruit. 13.0% alcohol and made in a balanced style - perhaps right before the switch over to high octane Napa cabs. While I like and respect many of today’s Napa cabs I tend to get way more excited about the older Napa style which showcases more complexity, balance, and harmony IMO. |
Red |
2018 Bodegas Roda Rioja SelaTempranillo more |
5/30/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 89 pointsNeeds more time. Better on Day 2. Overall not as strong as I was expecting from Roda. Solid but nothing special. |
Red |
2001 Château Barde-HautSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/30/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 pointsIn a really great place. Over delivers. Excellent aged BDX. |
Red |
1996 Monticello Vineyards (Corley Family) Cabernet Sauvignon Corley ReserveNapa Valley more |
5/6/2023 - aaronwine wrote: 92 pointsA well stored bottle. Great aged Napa Cab… lengthy finish… improved in glass 14.1% abv - nicely balanced |
Red |
1979 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
3/31/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsThis was a high shoulder fill bottle and was still fresh though not youthful. Strong color and vibrant fruit. Classic older Napa Cab. Medium finish. Similar on Day 2. |
Red |
1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private ReserveNapa Valley more |
3/31/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsUpon opening could sense the power of the vintage with deep fruit that is certainly fading. Lengthy finish. Day two this was more oxidized, lost it's bouquet but added some mid palette. Seemingly on the downward slope. |
Red |
2012 Humanitas Pinot Noir Truchard VineyardCalifornia more |
3/25/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 90 pointsAt a tasting; Its been a while since I've had a Caneros pinot and I was pleasantly surprised as I've shifted more towards RRV and Anderson Valley in recent years. Balanced fruit that is not over the top. Lacks a little in complexity and finish but is a solid enjoyable wine that is drinking well right now. |
Red |
2019 Bucher Vineyard Pinot Noir Russian River Valleymore |
3/25/2023 - aaronwine wrote: 91 pointsAt a tasting; Interesting flavor profile that is on the riper side with a mix or sweet earth and charcoal. |
Red |
2017 Soléna Pinot Noir Domaine Danielle LaurentYamhill-Carlton more |
3/25/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 92 pointsRandom opportunity to taste this and was quite impressed. Nicely integrated and balanced. Great fruit, strong finish, and complex. |
Red |
2020 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant JesusPinot Noir more |
3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 93 pointsNeeds time but this wine compared to other 2020 Bouchards tasted (Le Corton, Ancienne Les Caillerets, and Clos de la Mousse) has more freshness and acidity. The fruit has depth and there are layers of complexity that should integrate in time. Unlike the others the fruit here did not jump out as ripe or overpowering. Very nice! |
Red |
2020 Bouchard Père et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée CarnotPinot Noir more |
3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 90 pointsMany will like the velvety mouthfeel of this wine. The tannins and acidity exist but are hidden by the almost over ripe fruit. Good minerality. Everything is here and ripe! This is more Russian River Valley in nature - the warmer vintage shows. |