6/13/2023 - zoeldar Does not like this wine:

Undrinkable plonk. Who the F- made this crap? Seriously, who rated this above 75 points? Sorry to be so blunt, but really not acceptable wine.

11/5/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Very well-made CA Temp, lush and tasty! Bought on auction, will be looking for more...

7/2/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Drinking exceptionally well right now…tannins fully resolved, lovely balance and delicious fruit. Will not improve, but hella wine for 2011 vintage!

6/18/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Drinking superbly…just starting to hit its stride, I’ll bet. Classic Boudreause nose and maturing fruits. Lovely balance after a bit of air, sweet cassis balanced off of savory herbs and wafting aromatics. Very pretty example of WA cab-based BDX blends can/should be…

4/18/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

This is my second bottle, and I'm as impressed as the first time. Superior fruit and excellent winemaking combine to create a very special Malbec. Beats the tar out of most South American takes. Deep red fruits, sweet tannins and just a fantastic balance. I'm now drinking the open 1/2 bottle after two days on the counter (ie. 5-10 years aging) and it's even better than the first night. Worth every bit of the claimed $65, at <$15 it's a no-brainer. In DeN's mystery pack - we win!!

3/30/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Wife opened this a day earlier, so I'm tasting 24 hours open...and wow, what a beauty. Not for the shy, it is a fairly bold (yet balanced) mix of black fruit and plush tannins. Best guess is Venge single vineyard PS at $60/btl, and this fits (bingo!). Lovely wine in no rush to consume, will continue to develop for 10 years - give it plenty of airtime.

2/2/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Lovely wine after it gets a lot of air...sweet fruit flavors in the best of ways, this is what WA Cab Franc can be...

1/29/2022 - zoeldar Does not like this wine:

Turned out to be a "meh" RRV Chard...a tad tart (acidic), muted RRV fruit, uneven finish...bought via DeNegoce, and a disappointment.

1/27/2022 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Solid chard...bouquet somewhat subdued at first (too cold), opened up with a nice restrained floral note. Somewhat tart at first, needed some air and warmth to really open up...then a lovely drink.Great QPR at $12 (LB)

12/18/2021 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Slowing coming into its full glory...double decant 12/21...knew it was a winner from the core pop, full of rich black fruit. Initial pour a tad warm but full of promise, classic deep brooding Napa cab in the best of ways. Slowly opened up over time, best on day two (open on counter). Rich and plush fruit with fine tannins (present but not an issue); black cherry and cassis, touch of vanilla, some bramble...just delicious! Easy 5-10 years on this puppy but will be tough to resist.

1/29/2021 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Big vino as expected from this house...took time to open. Lovely black fruits, intense on the palate - careful what to pair with here, can overwhelm. Interested to see on day 2

1/29/2021 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Intense example of Ritchie fruit, full of spices and energy. Plenty of wood here, not for the shy. Better as stand-alone vs. food...

1/29/2021 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Lovely balance of RR fruit and oak, nice intensity, deft winemaking. Better as a food wine than stand-alone sipper.

9/13/2020 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

My goodness, this is drinking prime right now...had with baby backs, near perfect pairing. Tannins have nicely resolved (mostly), fruit still has sizable backbone. Not rush to consume, but tough to put down. The balance in this wine is fabulous, showing typical Ridge restraint without any compromise. Delicious...

7/3/2020 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Nice surprise of a GO wine here...quality A Valley fruit, nicely oaked and very balanced. Plush tannins and decent finish make this a no-brained for the QPR.

12/13/2019 - zoeldar wrote:

G gggt

9/23/2019 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Notes from CO_Roots13 are spot-on (nicely done, btw). Beauty right now, but not sure of how much more developed this will go. Had most of the bottle last night, it was fantastic. Remainder tonight was solid, but not as exciting/spicy/dense, which tells me we're in prime time right now.

11/25/2018 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Solid offering from Northstar on an off vintage...pnp at a dinner party, all the guests enjoyed. Subdued tannins yet still some grip, well-rounded flavors dominated by the merlot, methinks. Well balanced, drink sooner than later

10/28/2018 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Past reviews are spot on...exceptionally well-made PN, showcasing strong fruit and a deft balanced winemaker's touch.

3/12/2018 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Superb bottle of an intricate Carneros Syrah...very mellow on entry, silky and supple, opening open on the back palate to an array of spice, white pepper...in its prime nie

2/23/2018 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Ah, a sleeper...didn't know this was Laetitia, but snarfed a bottle on auction. Upon opening, nose was a-ok, and double-decanted an hour before dinner. Took that long to open up, and then "wow-ser"! Rich, bright fruit, lovely balance of varietals. Aromatic, lush, yet structured. Wife shared "Best of 2018 thus far". Lovely wine with her meatloaf...still sipping 3 hr later, and delicious. Probably peaking now...perhaps 1-2 years left.

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - my notes say "Bingo". Superb quality evident on nose and in mouth...deep, complex, lush, yet super-tasty and extended finish. Beautiful Cab

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - tasted side/side with the '09, dramatically different styles (H Barrett vs. TRBrown). Both were enjoyable and impressive in their own vein. The '12 is lush and polished, clear impact of lotsa wood and ripe fruit. Very well made, very tasting, won't peak for 5-10 years.

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - impressive PN from this cab house, didn't expect the level of sophistication and balance. Beautiful and well-priced...

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - very solid and nicely structured, interesting euch and cassis on finish. Still room to develop further, certainly well-priced for this level Napa cab. Will not disappoint.

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - wow, a stunner! Deep, lush, powerful yet polished single vineyard. Impressively accessible this young, but layer upon layer of complexity. WOTN in a room of many contenders. Retasted at end and confirmed.

11/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at '17 St. Helena Appellation (SF) Holiday Wine Experience - stunning Zin, markedly better and more polished than the '15 Hayne regular bottling (which was no slouch, either). Deep yet vibrant, with that core of Hayne fruit yet layers of complexity. Should develop further over 2-3 yrs. Seek this one out!

11/5/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Tasted at SF Vintner's event...OMG this is drinking so well right now. Lovely nose, then takes off in first taste. Ripe, full fruit but all so balanced...just coming into its own, at least 10-15 yrs of life here, and should continue to evolve nicely. My fav Cab of the entire event...find it

11/5/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Drinking fab! Popped a bottle at (appropriately) Two Birds/One Stone...gorgeous nose, rich cassis and blue/black fruits...well-balanced and all so lively for a 20+ yo vino. Old school lives...well

9/16/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Very solid showing...ripe and ready after a double decant, restrained tannins yet not fully resolved. This puppy has lots of time left, no rush, but not sure it will improve much from this point. Lovely spice and sweet cassis, well-balanced and deep. Lovely.

8/27/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Wow, this has held up nicely. Full palate of smokey cherry, lush and full. A fine example of what aged Carneros can become...

4/11/2017 - zoeldar Does not like this wine:

Bought on a GO closeout at $5, not too impressive...somewhat thin and lacking any vibrant fruit, nothing wrong but not a repurchase.

3/9/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Wow, coming into its own...wonderful sweet fruit, oak now more integrated...fab winemaking!

1/3/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Found these lurking at GO closeout...super bargain for a big Chard. More fruit and balance vs. their Napa version, and preferred. Nice crisp palate with plenty of everything...classic RRV terrior with slightly heavy-handed winery style, but thoroughly enjoyable.

1/3/2017 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Nicely made Carneros Chard, with plenty of oak and fruit for those that like this style (we do!). Nice citrus notes between the wood staves, clean and balanced finish. Superbargain at GO closeout

12/14/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Drinking lovely right at the moment. Nose is a bit reticent, gives up a bit of cherry and cassis. Entry is smooth and balanced, with a rich full swath of fruit balanced with just the right amount of tannins/acid. Better alone than with food...rich WA fruit, very classic palate. Bargain, thanks JonR!

12/9/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Very solid Merlot, a little bit of cedar and sweet spice on nose, tannins still tenacious, albeit fine-grained. Could use 4-5 hr decant, but we PnP with dinner. Touch of spice on the finish, a cranberry tartness as well. Closeout bargain from LBottle

11/22/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Lovely accessible WA red blend, delightful at this point. Very Bordeaux-like with a WA twist, lush on the palate, forward red fruits with a nice balance of oak and savory...great Burger vino!

11/14/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Solid yet sublime...sorta mellow and subdued at first, and then a broad palette opens. Lovely balance of coastal fruit with structure and acid...really nicely done.

9/4/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Second bottle two years later - wow - continues to be amazing! Wonderfully decadent nose leads to complex palate of red/black fruits coupled with a savory character from age. Hits on all the right cylinders...just amazed the table. On second night, open on counter - still excellent (indicating perhaps 5+ years life).

9/4/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Superb - drank along side an '04 Opus, and table was divided on the fav...WCole was more traditional Napa (old school), with layers on the palate and an extended finish. Still vibrant, but probably near peak in terms of evolution. Valette steak paired well

9/4/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Superb bottle here...in an exceptional drinking window, wonderful black and blue fruits on the palate, smooth and extended finish. With the NYStrip at Valette, perfect match.

8/28/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Marvelous bottle...peaking if I were a bettin' man...tannins have mellowed, yet fruit still vibrant. Beautiful balance, structure, blue & black fruits. touch of spice on the finish, in a good way. 5+ years left, but might as well pop these if you got 'em. (PS - cork was a mess, disintegrated)

7/27/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

This was stunningly good - as fine a Carneros chard as I can remember. Slightly reticent nose at first, then opens up to citrus (lemon) overtones. Balance is the word here, even as the label touts it's "smooth and buttery" character. That's a marketing error, as it has so much more restraint than typical Napa butter bombs, as well as defining acid and structure. More Chablis than Montrachet, but plenty of stuffing. Paired nicely with sushi...

7/25/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Very solid showing here, this bottling keeps raising the game year after year. Balanced and poised with lemony overtones, as it warmed it became richer and better - serve next bottle less chilled. Delightful and good QPR.

7/25/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Lovely mid-aged Togni...just what I hoped for/expected. Perhaps nearing peak, very Bordeaux-like and accessible. Required some contemplation to get the full Monty, as it drank so easy. No rush to consume, past notes here look to be spot-on. Whole table loved it.

7/25/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Very interesting and delicious, albeit unusual aged PN. Complex and dark nose, with some herb and - I called it - tarragon. Palate is lush and rich, without the light lingering most PN strive for...instead, this was big, dark, and fun to contemplate. Savory characteristics matched well with first courses...lovely example of an evolved big PN from RRiver...nice work, JeffM.

6/11/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Superb bottle here...so disagree with past posts about non-typical Syrah - this is the real deal. Tasted blind with a Syrah maestro winemaker - he pegged it as a new World syrah right away. We were both wow'd by the freshness and complexity of this bottle. Lots of life still, no need to rush consumption, but doubt it will develop much further.

5/29/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Meerlust got it right...perhaps a bit overwrought on the fruit, yet still somewhat balanced. Deep savory components, berry finish lasts a while. Interesting and entertaining if not exceptional.

5/28/2016 - zoeldar Likes this wine:

Hmmm...interesting. At first a touch hot, needed some air (double-decanted, but still needed 15 min). More floral on the nose than typical for BJ...and some white pepper too, which comes across on the palate. Well-made, solid wine. After 4 hrs, softens even further, nice sipper. Nice contemplative late-night quaff, raging bargain at GO