11/2/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Light 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.

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

If 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.

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Interesting 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...

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Well made wine from a great vineyard. Light and simple in style but delivers at a good price point. Summer backyard drinker.

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

This 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...

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Clean precise chard in a Burgundian style. Balanced @ 13.5% abv. A touch of creaminess. Excellent.

10/8/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Nicely done with bright crisp clean fruit. Hints of tart apple. Enjoyable.

9/5/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

Old 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.

9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Fantastic Pagani! This is a great vintage for this wine. Approachable and balanced. Strawberry ripe. Not quite the complexity of Lytton.

8/27/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

At 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.

9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Kudos 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.

9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

At 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.

9/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

At 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.

8/27/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

At 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.

9/1/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

From 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.

5/30/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Needs more time. Better on Day 2. Overall not as strong as I was expecting from Roda. Solid but nothing special.

5/30/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

In a really great place. Over delivers. Excellent aged BDX.

5/6/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

A well stored bottle. Great aged Napa Cab… lengthy finish… improved in glass 14.1% abv - nicely balanced

3/31/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

This 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.

3/31/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Upon 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.

3/25/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

At 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.

3/25/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

At a tasting; Interesting flavor profile that is on the riper side with a mix or sweet earth and charcoal.

3/25/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Random opportunity to taste this and was quite impressed. Nicely integrated and balanced. Great fruit, strong finish, and complex.

3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Needs 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!

3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Many 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.

3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Somewhat lacking at this stage. May improve. Oak is noticeable and lighter on the acidity / freshness.

3/24/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Nicely done with good balance throughout. Still young and should improve with a few more years. The oak is present but in the background. Lengthy finish. Very enjoyable.

3/21/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Well done! This white is enjoyable with clean lines and a crisp finish. Good acidity - cant wait to try with food.

3/21/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Certainly well past its prime but still drinkable and quite enjoyable. This was a well made wine with good acidity and balance. Matured fruit with complex oak influence.

3/11/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Outstanding and surprisingly accessible now. I found this wine to be more approachable than the 2018 I was able to try last year. This is hard not to like and reminds me of the 2013, which is an amazing wine! Should reward some patience. Complete balance. Fortunate to have been able to try - thank you to Ridge for doing tastings of these special wines.

3/5/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

This is a jammy fruit forward wine that if blind could be mistaken for new world IMO. Noticeable alcohol on the finish that coupled with the upfront fruit seems to have it a little out of balance. It is in a good spot and enjoyable and maybe it calms down a little with further age. Not my preference for BDX at this stage though.

3/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Very nicely done with great potential still. Lengthy finish and complexity. Nothing not to like here except the price point which is high for Leoville historically but is justified by the wine in the bottle.

3/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Of 3 2016s in a tasting (Leoville Barton and Domaine de Chevalier) I preferred this wine. Well built - still young - long finish. The Leoville was outstanding but this is my jam.

3/5/2023 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Solid BDX and does not disappoint. It did not show in a manner that I felt deserved a higher score but it is a great wine.

2/5/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

This is stylistically old school and some will like the darker fruit and complexity while others may prefer lighter brighter wines. The score is reflective of the quality and this is a very nice Bourgogne that does not disappoint.

2/5/2023 - aaronwine wrote:

From 375ml. Vibrant and light on its feet with depth and concentrated ripe apricot. Not as weighty as other vintages but outstanding balance and acidity. Lengthy finish. Hard not to be delighted.

12/25/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Already fading and solidity into the mature fruit stage. Nice complexity. Not bad but surprising this is tasting so old already. Prefer the prior generations of Silver Oak.

12/25/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Still in its youth. A little tight. Enjoyable but not noteworthy.

12/23/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

This reflects both the terroir and the vintage in my mind. Fortunate to have come across a few of these and some other 1986's from someone elses cellar. Agree with other notes. Musty nose with delicate fruit holding on with good acidity and tannins. Bricking at the edges.

12/23/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Still alive and kicking but on the downward slope though enjoyable. This bottle was well stored and a did not disappoint. Great winery!

12/23/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

This wine shows a lot of potential but it is closed down at the moment and not integrated. Alcohol burn on the finish. Dark fruits and weighty but not over the top. Lengthy finish. Decanted for a few hours and better on second day. Will wait 5-10 years to revist.

11/18/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

I tried this prior to WS announcement of all places at a concert - thanks Constellation - it was the premium bottle selection and was less than what it's going for now. I think the WS rating is accurate so probably take a point off for CT average but I left my score at 94. WOY is another debate but for sure Thomas, the winemaker, deserves the accolades. This is too young now IMO. I'd wait at least 2-3 years for it to integrate and calm down a little. It was served in a plastic decanter and decanting definitely helped. If you know To Kalon's signature you will pick it up but this is not a $300 version. It is great for what it is and I appreciate that something good seems to be coming out of Constellation buying Schrader. Happy to have had the opportunity to taste it and probably will not try again for 5+ years.

11/13/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Surprisely light on its feet with reduced apricot and blood orange. Classic. Delightful.

10/28/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Just as others expressed this needs time and is still a baby but it is a solid offering with firm tannins, floral and earth notes, a lengthy finish and gives you a sense of the Grand Vin.

10/9/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Still has grippy tannins on the finish and life ahead but showing nicely with plentiful darker fruit, menthol, and forest. Well made as expected. Enjoyed with food.

9/11/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

At Ridge. Exceptional.

5/30/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Great bottle! Dark fruit, earth, complexity, integrated tannins, lengthy finish. Well balanced. More old Napa in style than new Napa. Classic.

4/1/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

From bottle I had coravinned a year earlier using the vintage Coravin needle. The wine is much better this time around. It has better integration and more balance. Perhaps this needed more time and some accelerated aging due to use of the Coravin, which I've become hesitant to use on bottles not being consumed within a few months.

5/15/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

More oak influence than I prefer. This wine does not disappoint and is still young. Improved with air / time in glass. Complexity, weight, and balance. Do not over-chill as there is a lot going on here. While not a Napa bomb it is still very much CA in style. Impressed but I'd rather have Burgundy at this price point.

5/15/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine:

Recall trying this around the time it was released and it being somewhat of a fruit bomb, unbalanced, with no complexity. Happened upon a bottle in a small wine shop in a back cubby - basically been on its side on the floor for the past decade plus. Bought it for fun and surprisingly this one turned out better than it started life from my memory. Mellowed fruit with complexity and a lengthy finish. Not exceptional but far better than expected.