10/23/2021 - grub94 Likes this wine:

Upfront aromas of forest floor followed by some dark cherry and leather. On the palate the acidity and tennis trump the flavors....needs time. Some dried mushroom, earthiness, dried rose petals lead into a lengthy fine finish.

11/8/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Drinking very well. Petrol and slate we’re predominant, somewhat oxidized in color but it did not detract from the enjoyment of the wine. Wish I had more.

8/31/2021 - wine4lux Likes this wine:

Soft notes of lemon curd wrapped around a subtle touch of oaken notes. Creamy texture, acidity and lemon notes made this wine a great pairing with scallops in a brown butter, caper and wine wine sauce.

8/31/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Cherry and earth on the nose and palette. I used my Coravin to pour 1/2 the bottle 2 weeks ago. It drank well and was fairly round. I consumed the remainder of the bottle last night and was drinking beautifully, possibly a little better than the first pours.

8/29/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

I opened the bottle and had with a steak. Notes of vanilla, earth and tobacco. Paired well with my steak, had 2 glasses. Did not realize that it needed decanting, but drank the rest the next day with chicken pot pie and it was a great pairing. The extra air really helped, it was plummy and delicious. I will decant my last bottle before drinking.

7/7/2021 - wgilbert3 Likes this wine:

Nice CC. Good balance and very good flavors at this price point

8/2/2021 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Virtual tasting #20 started off on a high gear with the Reserve Pinot Gris, only to have it overshadowed by this stunner. Once people started sniffing all I could hear were Oooh, Aaah… On the nose the group noted aromas of licorice, forest floor, pepper, white chocolate, cardamom, black cherry, raspberry and rosewater. How’s that for complexity?

The palate was absolutely delicious- I was so excited to drink this wine. Super smooth with silky tannins and gentle acidity- we got flavors of raspberry, black cherry, Rooibos tea but it lost the pepper component. The depth of this wine was beguiling. On our tasting sheet I gave it a near perfect 19/20. Technically speaking, this $35 wine gets 93 points and 5 stars from me. You could cellar some, but why wait? Damn that was good. Might end up on the best-of list.

https://caspernick.com/2021/08/02/8350/

7/21/2021 - ersmith Likes this wine:

Still nice. Not oxidized.

7/20/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

This is still within the drinking window in my opinion. Earth and dark fruit on the nose and palette. It actually was better on the second day.

7/20/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Incredible dark honey color with Apricot and white peach on the nose and palette. The dark oxidized color made me think it was going to be past it’s prime, but it was amazing. Only 7.5% alcohol.

7/15/2021 - Wrighty Does not like this wine:

On a list of 3 whites, didn’t expect something so interesting. Suspect a lot of customers return it as ‘off’. Colour is a light rose, crystal clear. Nose is woody, some apples and hints of moss. Palate is heavy, almost chewy. Can’t say it was particularly enjoyable. Long finish but not one I savoured.

A wine for a wine dinner, or a tasting, but not one of three on a hotel list.

7/1/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Drinking very well. Earthy dark cherry on the nose and palette. Would definitely buy more of this in the future.

6/26/2021 - grub94 Likes this wine:

Same as prior notes.

4/7/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Not very complex but was a decent wine. Had with lamb that was sous vide and then charred on the grill. 13.9% alcohol, but it stood up to the lamb.

6/12/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Good wine, oak, tropical fruit and well balanced with a decent finish. I would buy this again.

6/9/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

grapenuts blind tasting. Decent wine, mostly cab with a dose of petit Verdot. Seemed to be alittle thin compared to the other wines on the table. Black fruit, plum and some cassis.

6/5/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Perfectly round and totally enjoyable. Just enough tannic bite to pair with a strip steak and Caesar salad. Definitely not out side of the drinking window and would be great for at least a few more years. I am never disappointed by this wine.

5/28/2021 - vitroman wrote:

Very light and not a lot going on. Some grapefruit on the nose an palette. Needed some air and gained alittle complexity. Have 5 more bottles and will let them age before opening more of them.

5/28/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Deep dark extracted Pinot. Strawberry and earth notes and a long finish. Mike Smith continues to shine no matter what varietal he works with!

5/26/2021 - Michael Mackenzie Does not like this wine:

After my glowing note on this wine, I have tried two more bottles. Sadly they both have an intense "armpit", nettly nose which is odd. Tried vacuvining the second bottle and revisiting it a day later. It got worse. What happened?
The retailer told me that he prefers to let the wine rest a few months before trying it when it arrives. Perhaps a sunny August day then?

5/21/2021 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

What a great Pinot Noir! Decanted for 2 hours. Notes of red cherries, strawberry jam, rose petals, black tea, sea salt dark chocolate, and a whiff of wood. Medium acidity, medium body, and medium length. It is such a delight on the palate. Fruit forwardness reigned in by the fleshy but well integrated tannins that makes for an elegant finish. For a Pinot, I was surprised how much body this wine has. WS 92 pts and WA 91 pts are spot on. A fantastic example of the skill of winemaker Véronique Boss-Drouhin and her team. Its relative value makes this wine even more special.

P.S. - Tasted the little leftover the next morning and the wine had lost most of its bouquet and elegance. Not a wine that gets better the next day. One does not expect that of a Pinot Noir, so not surprised.

5/21/2021 - Sean McGrath wrote:

Disappointing. I've had the 2018, which was delicious and also the 2019 Governo. This bottle is the first that I didn't find really nice. Not much at all, really. The wine was fine, but very basic in terms of aroma and taste. A simple Chianti.

5/18/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Slight slate nose like Riesling. Had some weight, minerality and was enjoyable. I have 6 bottles that were sent to me in error by wine access, so the price was right. I wil leave the other 5 bottles to age in the cellar to see if they gain in complexity.

5/15/2021 - DaveNC wrote:

92 on day one, 94 on second day. Wonderful red berries, nose and palette. 27 retail, high QPR

5/10/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine:

Retail $38. Under cork. I spent just about two hours on a Zoom call with Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone. We had planned to chat about the current releases, but we ended up talking about the 2020 fires, the dot-com "boom" in Napa, and the relative ease in acquiring a logging permit in Napa (in 1971 vs today). We did discuss how S-M approach to Chardonnay has evolved over the past 50 years (it became even more food friendly) and why it continues to be such a great value (Stu wants to make a profit, but has little desire to live an "opulent lifestyle"). This Chard? Whoa. While there are certainly markers that this is from California (rich, luscious fruit), it also pays homage to its French heritage with near-bracing acidity (keeping that fruit in check) and a judicious use of oak (even though this wine sees 85% ne French oak, the barrels are made from an oak species in between the Loire and Burgundy regions that has a much tighter grain, which ends in a lower oak "influence"). Whoa. Rich lemon curd and rind on the nose along with an impressive minerality, a touch of white pepper, and just a hint of oak. The palate? Whoa (again^2 or is it ^3?). Tart, fruity, mineral, rich, just about everything you would want in a Chard. And then a bunch more.

www.thedrunkencyclist.com

5/10/2021 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Cherry, flowers and wet rocks on the nose. High acidity as you would expect and paired well with pesto and penne. Medium -bodied, very sparse tannins. The finish is not notable. I like this very much as an everyday wine with Italian flavors.

5/9/2021 - slywka7 wrote:

Decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of mint, blackberry, currant, eucalyptus and dried cherry. Flavors of blackberry, currant, dried cherry, mint and tough of earth. Ends with a 30-35 second finish with blackberry and dried cherry notes. This is drinking quite well right now and better than the last bottle I had. No where near fading at this point.

5/9/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

What a great chard. I have had Pinot Blanc from Katherine’s vineyard years ago and it was great, so i tried this at it got a 92 from WS. It was all of that, very complex with Citrus on the nose and earthy palette. It them morphed into a somewhat buttery mid palate and then finished with a long toasted coconut finish. Delightful and a fantastic
QPR for $16.

5/8/2021 - Robbie K wrote:

A hazy dark ruby colour.
A cedar and blackcurrant/dark cherry nose of medium intensity.
The new French oak is prominent on the palate although the body of the fruit does its best to compensate.Violet coming through, otherwise similar black fruits as were evident on the nose. Acidity adds freshness and persistence to the back palate.Tannins are  fine and silky and the alcohol perfectly balanced.
I initially tasted this within a couple of hours of opening, and it wasn't pleasant with varnishy oak sitting on top dominating the fruit. In fact, it really didn't fully come into its own until the next day after a night in the fridge and then brought back up to room temperature.
The wine is singing right now, with the acidity providing a vibrant and youthful freshness.Given this is the case, plus the absence of tertiary characters, it could  potentially last for another decade.

5/3/2021 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I know this is a lovely wine from my previous tasting notes. As an experiment, paired this evening with pasta and red sauce. Not a good idea at all. Thought the acidity in the tomato sauce would pair well with the acidity in the Pinot. Next time will pair with a Tuscan or Piedmontese wine.

4/28/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Drinking very and will hold up in the cellar for another 2 years +. Classic Sangiovese character, earthy, and delicious.

4/22/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised by this wine. Very round, with depth and intensity. Cassis and earth on the nose with a decent finish. Excellent QPR...quality to price ratio. Drank 1/2 of the bottle with dinner, left the rest of it corked on the counter for 3 days, drank it last night and it was perfect.

4/21/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

Doesn't smell smokey now.

4/13/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

This was a great bottle. Very refined nose and palette, dark fruit, extremely round and drinkable. Very fresh and not a hint of age. Would last many more years in my opinion as there is no dark edge.

4/11/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Decent nose and palette, not a long finish. Probably would not buy again.

4/9/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Dark cherry and a little vanilla. Round tannins and a medium finish. Paired very well with broiled salmon.

4/2/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Not much oak and definitely not buttery. Some minerality, But a somewhat short finish. Very drinkable, but would not age this vintage any longer...drink now.

3/24/2021 - lvjohn Likes this wine:

Amazingly great wine! Decanted for about three hours before sampling. Everything is wonderful and balanced with bright sweet Grenache fruit flavors leading the way. Great mouthfeel, great nose, great color, and great aftertaste. We downed this bottle with ease!

3/23/2021 - vitroman wrote:

This was a a big wine when it was young. It it round now, but very non descriptive. Subdued nose and palette. OC

3/16/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

A little closed when first opened, drank 1/2 of the bottle. Would have rated it an 89 the first night. Consumed the remainder of the bottle the second night and the wine was singing! Earth, minerality and candied cherry with a great finish. Final rating of 92.

3/12/2021 - Woody18 Likes this wine:

Lovely Cabernet. Decanted for 3 hours. Beautiful deep purple. Pleasant floral nose. Black cherry and a bit of mocha on the palate. Round, smooth, balanced. Drinking well for a young cab.

3/10/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

A little funk on the nose and palette when first opened after decanting. Earthy, mushroom taste. Funk blew off in a few hours and the wine was ver enjoyable. It is listed at the end of it’s drinking window and I agree. If you have any of this vintage, you should consider drinking it now in my opinion.

3/8/2021 - vitroman Likes this wine:

Perfect for a top sirloin as it is not a fatty steak and there are not a lot of tannins. Paired well and I will use it with lean steak in the future as I have more in inventory. It is very round now, but should evolve with time in the cellar.
This was day 2 and it was showing better than day 1.

3/7/2021 - Scutz wrote:

Spectacular and in peak drinking form.

3/1/2021 - LotionInTheBasket Likes this wine:

Kind of having a good day, decided to drink something better than average in the moment and something that made me think. This is that for back and forth on what I've read on how Caymus has "changed". When is another thing. Later years are more charged. Arguable around this vintage, experiences and opinions varied and I let the bottle talk. This sits back a bit from more "modern". Popped for a 2 hour decant. Dark in the glass, heavier viscosity is apparent. Deeper violet,opaque, little give at the brim swirling or otherwise. Nose is relaxed fruit, purples and black, more interesting is the box of bullets ammo smell/graphite mixed with tobacco and magic marker intertwined with florals. While the front being plush plums and skins + vanilla, it flips towards more the tertiary on the mid-palate and that;s the star. It creeps up .Well integrated glycerin, some tar mixed with (pick some) spices, graphite, anise even showing up late on the fruit's behalf, just a lot to take in. Acidity feels like more a supporting actor in all yet can't be ignored underneath. It does not present or finish like more modern vintages I've had IMO. Not many left like these. Love the all the little things here, not over-powered with fruit, polite, elegant, and just delightful. Hindsight even the weight was not what it was when i started. It made me think and still does.

2/26/2021 - Steve Simmons Likes this wine:

Had this 2018 after 24 hour double decant. Had as part of Sunfish cellars zoom tasting with Ridge general manager David Gates. Tasted side by side with 2012 and 2014 Lytton Springs.

72% Zin, 18%PS, 8% carignane. 14.5%
Garnet
Aromatic blackberry and raspberry
Off dry, medium body, bright and juicy, low tanins
Black fruit, blood orange, tangy raspberry
Very flavorful, not jammy, long finish.
14.5% is hardly noticable

Vertical tasting takeaways:
Surprised how nice the 2018 was this young. The 2018 actually had more fruit and less tannins than the 2014 (which was most muted of the 3). Now not afraid to open more of the 2018s early.
2012 was best integrated, and overall most pleasing/elegant package.
Had all 3 wines with beef bourguignon (recipe/pairing recomendation from Ridge website). Which was both a fantastic pairing and recipe.

2/9/2021 - Deux Chevaux Does not like this wine:

25 months after the prior, and like that and others we’ve had, all bought directly from Kermit Lynch‘s shop in Berkeley.

This has been a disappointment for us over over the last few bottles — and yet some recent reviews gave us hope. But again we found it thin and rather hot — and although we like a touch of bitterness, this was a bit much.

Perfectly stored, by the way. We love Kermit and his wines.

1/17/2021 - VlgJeff wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes, but it took a bit longer to completely open, and shed a fair amount of sediment. The aromas were of dark cherry, oak and leather. The medium bodied palate showed the same dark cherry, oak and leather, along with a touch of spice. The acidity is nicely juicy but only a tad more than balancing, and the tannins are well integrated.
Overall, not too different from the 2006 'regular' (not Tradizione) bottling that we had on 1/12/21. Might have been interesting to have had them side-by-side. Competent Brunello for ~$35 that should hold for a couple more years.

1/7/2021 - nisid Likes this wine:

Lovely wine. Still quite tannic. Needs a hearty piece of meat or a few more years.

11/28/2020 - RichardU71 Likes this wine:

Ruby red in the glass and the rims are starting to get a rusty color. Fresh on the nose.medium to full bodied, starts quite dry but over the evening it develops mature tastes and is full of sweet black berry fruit. Great expression of a cab from Spain.