5/10/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Chardonnay from Umbria, another interesting project from Antinori. These folks don't seem to do anything wrong. Opened in its infancy, I suspect it will continue to improve with age.

5/10/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

A GSMC(Counoise)T(Tannat). For some time these bottles were in an awkward area of my cellar, and thus benefit from a bit of extra aging.
I thought this would be a secondary bottling... but it is radiant... so well balanced and yet still youthful in the glass. likely still very nicely set to drink well for over another 5+ years... still i love where it is right now.

5/10/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I've become so wrapped up with their single vineyard wines i forget sometimes just how lovely this basic bottle really is!

5/10/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

simply lovely! Charbono is a varietal that stands up to aging. It tastes more like a Grenache in character: the tannins smooth out, the fruit is ever present, with hints of truffle and mushroom, a bit of earthiness, yet still well rounded and generous on the palate.

5/9/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

One of my Favorite vineyard sites.

5/9/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I love the way Morgan treats his whites

5/9/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

This didn't stick around long and it was absolutely lovely

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Had this for some time... first bottle opened... worth the wait... good for another 5-10 years.

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

An incredible wine

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Such a wonderful wine it pains me that this winery no longer exists.

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

One of their single vineyards and an excellent one at that!

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

This truly exceeds my standards for table wine

4/25/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

wonderful stuff

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Incredible at this age... resolved tannins... lively, sustained fruit, delicate and yet substantial. Another five years of life easily!

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

refreshing that progress on this level is being made in CA with Riesling!

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I'm a strong advocate for the preservation of this varietal

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

incredible Australian shiraz by Ben Glaetzer. A masterwork that proves that Australian wines are age worthy wines of substance

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

great entry level blend of shiraz and merlot

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

nice entry level Alsatian blend

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

incredible for their entry level pinot

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

A terrific Italian table wine.

4/11/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Of their wines, none are bad wines, this one came in 4th after Keltie, Griffin's Lair and Walker Vine Hill. All such great wines, and such a waste they couldn't be a part of the old vine movement.

3/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I would in fairness note that I was at the same tasting as Salil, and in fact brought this wine to this tasting. Since he isn't taking comments on his post I wanted to add that of the 12 Syrah/Shiraz wines in this tasting being rated and scored by a fairly formidable group that this was in fact rated the #1 wine of the evening (something I didn't realize until this morning when results were published). Everyone has their own taste and Salil veers toward French Syrah with which he is far more familiar.

3/22/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

These really do improve with age... this has evolved from a project to a serious CA sparkling wine.

3/22/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

personal favorite from Trefethen. Vibrant and flavorful from day 1.

3/22/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

likely should still decant for 90 minutes. This is an incredible wine right in its prime.

3/22/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Maybe a bit early, yet so promising. Great Shiraz...it just still seems so young even as the alcohol dissipates and the tannins get silky.

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

It's a beautiful thing this blend inspired by the Woman in the Winery!

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I completely comprehend that retirement is a thing we contend with... but I so regret the fact that this winery is gone!

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Still fresh and presenting as in its prime and incredibly drink worthy.

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I fear that we opened this too soon as it has so very much to offer.

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I selected this wine because of the 39% Zinfandel in the blend with 38% Syrah, 13% Petite Sirah, and 10% Mourvèdre believing it would make it more accessible. Absolutely beautiful with about a 2-3 hour decant. Alcohol undetectable, tannins resolved, lush, fruit preserved, wonderful floral and mineral notes with a soft and delicate character.

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Exceptional single vineyard California Pinot now or over the next five years.

3/14/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Really high quality Bordeaux blend very good now and over at least the next five years.

2/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Good Alsatian blend

2/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

This is a "second" wine ... really! Just fantastic.

2/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I feel like the Pinot is so good we often overlook just how good these chardonnay bottles are... really good.

2/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

As far as I know this was only made once. Shame because it really is incredible.

2/29/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Lovely entry level pinot from a great source

2/15/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

this is a fascinating varietal. If I had given it more time I'm sure it would have earned a higher score.

2/15/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I am not a stranger to Cabernet/Syrah blends. Often it is the Syrah that demands extra patience for aging. In the notes on this wine I didn't see many people who had aged this wine out nearly long enough.
It is only just coming into its own with the Cabernet silky smooth and the Syrah adding multi-layered complexity, minerality, dark fruit and
floral notes. It could continue to improve and open up.

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

I can't begin to express the extent to which I am pleased that a few special wine makers have kept this varietal in existence.

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner wrote:

Very yummy value white Burgundy with the potential still to improve over time.

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Incredibly viable and affordable red burgundy

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Very potent SB from New Zealand

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner wrote:

Could definitely hold another 3-5 years. Better than what you would normally expect of a Cotes du Rhone

2/12/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Always one of our favorite CNdP

2/2/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

Have to give these folks credit for expanding our horizons with these great varietals... and this is a really nice central coast Vermentino!

2/2/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

So this is a step up the ladder at Husch to their reserve Pinot from their regular Anderson Valley Pinot as opposed to their top bottling ... a single vineyard offering called the Knoll. Very nice wines.

2/2/2024 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine:

It is really nice to see how these wines have stood up to some aging and that the alcohol does burn off to reveal some nice evolution.