12/17/2023 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

You’ll need a Durand to pull this cork. Stored perfectly since issue. This was enjoyed by quite a group of folks that hadn’t had experience with older wines. So, it had good color, little bit of fruit remaining, just very slightly medicinal, tannins way in the background, filling the mouth. I don’t think this is in decline. I do think it has another 10 years of life. Certainly drinking well now.

7/8/2023 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

We had this in L’Isle-sur-la-sorgue FR at Hotel Henri. They poured it with the dessert. It is a lovely, gently sweet simple muscat. While in FR I went online only to find it blocks away from our California home at K&L wines in 375ml. Such a great memory to repeat here back in CA.

6/15/2023 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Waa a pnp after a brief decant at Trattoria Centro in Levano, Italy. Bricking color, not a bit of sediment. Balanced, no acid bite, easy to drink - smooth tannins. Fruit is softened but present enough. Really enjoyable at €160. Recommend, but if you have time allow for a decant of a few hours at least.

4/20/2023 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

The provenance on this bottle was very good, so your results may vary. The nose of cedar and wet earth is just stunning. The color is a sharp burgundy with no bricking. The taste is smooth, silky, good fruit, nice bite of acid. This aged into an exceptionally pleasant wine with a long finish. Stunning.

2/15/2023 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

The provenance of this was from the winery to 54 degrees over it’s life. Butterscotch has taken front and center. A slight sweetness and oak is present. Almost roussanne like. Starting to have a taint of brown. Stunning and a favorite of the six of us tonight. Over a three hour open, it just improved. Lovely slight citrus. Acid is gone. I have three more in the cellar and I could see them not improving but not dropping off for a number of years. It’s not a drink up wine, but I’d say three years or 2026 would be the upper limit of opening.

12/20/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Give it an hour open. This has developed well. Gamay imprint for sure. Fruity, a bit tangy, sour sour cherry, youthful vigor. I think it is drinking well now and maybe has a year or two left in it.

12/11/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Mature and at a good point to consume any remaining in your cellar. I could see another 2 to 3 years without much improvement, but not dropping off materially, if you happen to wait. I do see others saying 2029 as the upper limit. I’m just not sure you gain anything by waiting. Maybe. Good bite, fruit evident, nice pucker, slight green/citrust, wonderful mid-palate freshness. This really has good good cut and cleanses your palate. Wonderful by itself and perfect with a cheese course, oysters, calamari… I think you get it. The best for me is I picked these up at Spectrum Wine Auction recently at well under original pricing. Lovely stuff. Got 6.

12/11/2022 - Steve Brickley Does not like this wine:

Thought it lacked fruit, acid, even for the price. Maybe give it a couple years.

12/4/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

My previous 2017 note indicated a more immediacy to drinking these. That wasn’t the case for me. This is drinking just as it has before with slight acid, bit of citrus, butterscotch, almost some petrol (in a good way). This has resolved beautifully with a nose of Chablis. No decant needed. I’m guessing this will keep mellowing without dropping off for a number of years. It’s is a great place so I wouldn’t wait though. I’ll hold my mangum for many years.

7/17/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Outstanding. It’s been kept at 55 degrees since made. Lemon, good acid, golden, mouth coating, long finish. Chablis-like except for a touch more fruit. This is such a beautiful wine in a good place. Did not require much more than a hour of air. No decant. No sediment.

7/12/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

A lovely wine. Nice acid bite. Citrus. Palate cleansing. Good cut. This has years in front of it. No hint of premox.

7/4/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

It’s starting to be drinkable with a six hour decant. Has decades of life in front of it. The nose jumps from the glass. The American Oak flavors evident and front and center in a good way. Classic cab depth and roundness. A lovely wine we flew to Nice France and enjoyed on the balcony overlooking the Med Sea.

6/25/2022 - Steve Brickley wrote:

Decent enough on pnp. Some fruit. A bit of stink/forest floor on the nose. Not a rebuy for me.

6/25/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Thoroughly enjoyable on pnp. The nose on this is almost better than the wine itself. Nice fruit. Good acid bite. Smooth. Resolved. Ready to drink. A rebuy at $33 in Italy.

6/25/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Drinking well on pnp. Fruit has dropped off but still has some. Smooth. Not a rebuy for me, but really pleasant.

6/14/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Real earthy nose funk that I really like that reminds me of Chinon’s musty nose. Has an aged quality right up front. Fruits gentle and sweet. Acid bite nice. Chalky. Chewy. Medium finish. Easy to drink. QPR for me at €20 in Sanremo, Italy. I’d buy it again.

6/2/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Drank this from magnum at Le Supreme in Lyon FR. This is drinking very well now and has years in front if it though.

6/1/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Enjoyed at Le Supreme in Lyon. Crisp, light, clean, good acid bite but slight, melon, some citrus, saline. Very easy and enjoyable.

5/13/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

For €10 this is unbelievably good. Had I known this would be an easy case buy. Fully approachable, chewy tannin, decent fruit, medium finish, classic nose. I’m going to try to find it again here in Nice FR at the grocery store.

5/2/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable. Bought direct from the winemaker. Nice acid cut, melon, lifted scent, citrus, rounded/full body, ready to drink or hold. Would rebuy.

2/13/2022 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Nose of dark fruits. Chalky or chewy that puckers you mouth in such a good way. Purity of fruit, almost single note, but not in a bad way. Blackberry without the sugar. Dusty, powdery, pepper. I am really impressed with this wine. Has some aged rhone and chinon characteristics. The earth taste, but not quite chinon earth. This wine escapes my description, sorry. Lovely. Went back for three more. I’m not sure age will make it a better wine, but I don’t see it dropping off. Pop n pour and this worked right out of the gates.

10/19/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Wow is this drinking well. Smooth finish throughout. All resolved. Nice cherry bite. Powdery coating feel. Lively fruit. Just lovely. It has years left in it. This stored at 53 degrees since inception.

10/10/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Enjoyable, clean, crisp, light, easy, fragrant. We had this in the South of France with Pascal at his chateau Domaine des Carmes in La Thor FR.

8/20/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Quite enjoyable. Fruit took some time to emerge behind moderate tannins. We did a 5 hour decant. I’d suggest a 6 to 12 hour decant.

7/30/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Allow about an hour or two of air. Fully resolved. Acid bite slight but there. Slight butterscotch but not in a big way. The character of Porter Bass evident. Easy to drink with fruit just starting to take a background. This has years left in it although mine from the winery to 53 degrees since release. lovely. So enjoyable.

7/28/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

This went from the winery to 53 degrees. Drinking very well with a future in it. Darker side of syrah. The nose cherry fruits. The fruit starting to fade a bit, maybe resolve is the right word. Smooth yet a bit tangy. Tanins in the background. Lovely wine.

2/27/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

A bit of petrol and oily texture on the open, but just marries so well witb the flavors. Citrus, but slight, bread yeast, slight hint of buttery roundness, fully integrated, acid in check but keeping this going. Color watery yellow. This is up there with some of the best chard I have had. Provenance is winery direct and 51 degrees. Wow. This has a decade or more left in it. I do like understated wines with subtle flavors. This has it.

2/20/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Lovely, fully integrated with years in front of it. Smokey, plenty of fruit for the longer haul, forest floor. Wow, a beautiful wine with no edges and acid way in the background. Round. Essence of Cab Franc.

2/13/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Perfectly stored. After an hours air, the fruits are in the background but still make themselves known. Lovely, fully resolved cab drinking quite well with another 10 years left, if provenance was excellent.

1/5/2021 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Bought and stored on release in a temperature controlled cellar. Opens beautifully on the nose on pop and pour with black fruits. Rich purple color with almost no bricking on the edge. Tannin bite is slight, opens fully on the palate. Fruit is evident and not lost at all. Good balance. Very fine tannins so stand it up for a few days before opening. No hurry to drink the remaining as I don’t envision decline. These seem to be able to stay in a holding pattern for at least ten more years if you have had good provenance. A lovely wine that would go well by itself or with a meal, but don’t overwhelm it. PNP was just fine.

12/5/2020 - Steve Brickley wrote:

While perfectly drinkable and enjoyable, the fruit has left the room and what remains is a light, slightly acidic, balsamic, tar and subtle black fruited wine. I think this is a remembrance of what it was at the height maybe 20 years ago. Enjoyable for what it is - a 66 year old wine.

11/28/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

My second bottle of this and it did not disappoint. Tar, light black fruits, no edge anywhere, round mouthfeel, fruit still there, alcohol way in the background, cloudy so let it settle a few days, soft cork but in good shape, bricking, nice acid. While drinking well now, this has a decade or more in it if you want to keep it around. I have two more in the cellar for another time. Lovely experience.

10/10/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

On pnp, this is ready right out of the gate. Smooth, finished, dark fruits and almost a cab/merlot mature density. Wow this is really good. Went in for a case and a half more right away.

8/28/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Served chilled. Subtle strawberry. Acid. Light and easy to drink. A poolside wine.

8/28/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Lovely. Chilled in the fridge and drank with homemade pizza. Crisp apple, nice acid cut, clean and slight yellow tinge. This is cool summer in a glass.

7/17/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

A beauty in the style of Provencial rose. Very easy to drink with nice acid, crisp, touch of strawberry. Really enjoyed the new label.

7/9/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

On pnp, 1,000 years of Croatian joy was unleashed like a Dementor from Harry Potter that sucked us in. Dark cherry on the nose. The fruit is blackberry, but not juicy, just right for me. Acid in check, neutral oak, 13.7% alc very reasonable. Above all, just the history and effort that the Ridge team and Dr. Meredith did to bring this to bottle. Worth a try for sure, bring your wand.

7/3/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

I’ve tried this Geeser eight times now. Just went back for nine more. I’ve been drinking Ridge Zins since the mid 1970’s as it is near us to visit. Today I decided, for me, yes, this is the best Geyserville I have ever had. It has that balance of not too much fruit, not subtle or weak, hidden alcohol, lovely dark fruits and spectacular coating mouth feel. Dynamite juice and its only a two year old.

6/25/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

This is drinking very well now with no signs of dropping off in the next five plus years. Saline, slight acid bite, cool weather chard, touch of vanilla, enjoyable green notes, citrus. This is up their with some of the best California chardonnay I have had.

3/31/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Cork came out clean, long. On the nose lemon/citrus and slight forest floor hinting at its age. Color is starting to take a bit of brown tinge with typical chard yellow. The scent jumps out of the glass almost as if a five year wine. Youthful. The taste is round and even chewy with nice acid bite to mid palate. Alcohol noticeable because fruit has taken a back seat slightly. Just a beautiful wine with it easily lasting to and past 2025. Borders on corton charlemagne but without the acid cut. Drink now or wait. Outstanding. Maybe 1 to 2 hour decant but try it from the start. Memorable.

2/26/2020 - Steve Brickley wrote:

Past peak in my view. Thoroughly enjoyable but the 14% alcohol is noticeable as the fruit, honey has taken second place. Don’t get me wrong, this is in a decent place, just dropping off.

2/2/2020 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

We had the last bottle at dinner at Joe’s of Westlake in the SF Bay Area. This has some time left for certain, but no shame in opening it now. The first thing that grabs me is stems, whether it had them or not. Not greenies, but a firm tannins. Beautiful fruit with a good dash of peppery spice. Long finish. I wouldn’t call it chewy, but certainly mouth filling fruit. A lovely wine. This came from the cave at Rhys nearby to our cellar at 51 degrees, never moving so provenance good.

8/27/2019 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

While I didn’t give this much air, you should give it 2 to maybe 4 hours in a decanter. Balslamic, somewhat hidden behind dusty and still prominent tannins. Smooth, underlying fruits just peeking out from underneath. I have my doubts that this will shed its tannic shield without further drop off of fruit. I can’t say to consume now because this has much more time left - probably to 2030 or more - but I wonder what would survive. I firmly think it is worth trying though if you have time on your watch. Still an almost deep red color, stunning nose of aged spices and forest floor. The fruit is improving leaving a spectacular mid palate feeling and taste. So enjoyable.

7/5/2019 - Steve Brickley Does not like this wine:

Disjointed, soda pop sugary flavor, thin. Not typical of Foillard for me.

7/4/2019 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

This not oxidized for point of reference to prior note from other. Nice fruit, ever so slight sweetness, easy, some citrus, dry strawberry. Enjoyable.

1/27/2019 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable. Butterscotch, citrus, acid bite, round mouth feel, bread yeast. I think the price is high though and not a rebuy at $115 per for me. Maybe it is my preference towards a steely Chablis that taints my thoughts. Great wine that you won’t regret opening.

8/4/2018 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Pop and pour. A very easy wine to drink as cooled in fridge on a hot day in Nice. Watery but in a really good, light, airy way. Citrus and bit of yeast. Crowd pleaser. Enough complexity to keep things interesting. Not sure how it would age. Thoroughly enjoyable and I’d buy it in California if I could find it.

7/10/2018 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

I agree with the three prior tasting notes. I wouldn’t call it sweet, but it does have a certain roundness that is pleasing. I have had this twice now and just added three more. Drinks at opening and improves over the hours. I don’t have much experience with aging viognier, but this seems like it has many years left in it, possibly to 2023 - 2028.

6/17/2018 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

This is the lighter side of Chinon. The fruit is taking a backstage to light tannins, good funk. After one hour open with aggressive swishing in the decanter, the fruit/cherry became more evident. Fully resolved and ready for consumption. I’ve had this a few times before and I’d say its dropping off slightly, but I see no hurry in drinking them up. It wouldn’t surprise me if these stayed suspended for ten years (2028). It just doesn’t have much of a spine, so expect a more subtle wine. No question though — it’s Chinon. Cork was in firm moist solid great condition and came out with a single slow pull with a long screw— just watch that last quarter inch and be patient. (Envoyer sourced)

5/31/2018 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine:

Musty nose; yeast, must, honey (not sweet), gentle fruit, lows but enough present to give a clean finish, aged oak, lemon/citrus notes, nice full mouth feel. Thoroughly enjoyed this and its fully open for business. I don’t see this dropping off any time before, say, 2023 and it could go on longer. My concern would be the fruit may dwindle away in 5-10 years. No hurry to drink but enjoyable. Give this a half hour plus on opening as I got a bad mustiness on immediate opening that went away quickly.