9/17/2013 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:

TasteLive #Touraine: Setting the International Standard for Sauvignon Blanc (TasteLive.com): (13%) 100% Sauvignon Blanc – One of these kids is not like the other… Different texture, much heavier (thought maybe time on lees but later learn it spends 8 months aging in oak casks) with overripe peach and stone fruit flavors showing some nuttiness/oxidation around the edges. From there honey and floral notes emerge, along with balancing acidity, on a soft, lingering finish. This captures your attention for sure. That will be good news for some and not so much for others. Not what I was expecting from a Sauvignon Blanc but definitely unique which is worth extra points in my book…

Wine Geek Notes: Imported by Charles Neal Selections

2/10/2013 - alex.lewis Likes this wine:

layers of flavor with just the right amount of toasted oak. Grilled pineapple, green apple, pear, cut grass, madrone skin and a wisp of sea air. Salinity with acid with a little butter. Great with all kinds of food. I like it best a little cooler than room temperature.

2/5/2013 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:

(14.5%) 100% Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) – Sweet, dark, lush fruit. Full-bodied, rich, forward and overpowering. Coupled with a bit of cloying this isn't a match for my preferences.

Wine Geek Notes: A Jorge Ordonez selection

11/1/2012 - Keith Levenberg wrote:

Sweet fruit bomb with a huge thwack of volatile acidity. I know this is Musar, but this bottle didn't work; the VA was no background note.

6/25/2012 - Sakas wrote:

A nice, well crafted wine but not quite doing it for me. don't know if I don't care for Viognier or what, but every single wine dominated by Viognier I have had int he past 2 years has impressed me.

This has an appealing fruity/floral nose but on the palate there is this waxyness with underlying new oak that is a turnoff for me. A slight mineral tinge to the midpalate and finish that I like a lot but not enough to say that I love it. I may be wrong, but seems a bit heavy handed in the winery to me, which is suprising comming from a biodynamic establishment. I'm glad I experienced it but won't be jumping for more. Natural cork; 13.3% abv.

3/10/2012 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine:

What a gorgeous offering here from Ridge. So plush and opulent with old world sophistication beneath new world primary characteristics. Such a solid play under $30. Would buy more.

3/5/2012 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:

(14.2%) Made by the Hahn Family this Grenache hails from Lodi. It starts rich, ripe and juicy with loads of black cherry flavor. A bit over the top and a touch sweet (can almost feel tomorrow’s headache…) before toning down a bit on the backend to deliver some spice on a short finish. This one could have used some acidity for balance. That said if you like your wines fruit forward (and don’t mind a touch of sweetness) this one might be for you…

11/20/2011 - SonomaWilliam wrote:

Newly released GB, only 25 cases made. Native yeast and ML fermentation, aged on the lees in neutral French oak for 5 months.
Nose of white pear, grapefruit, lemon zest. Rich mouthfeel combined with excellent acidity, dances on the tongue in a great finish.
I made this wine, and I love it, its one I almost wish wouldn't sell. :)
This amazing fruit was lovingly driven 6 hours from Los Olivos to Russian River.

10/5/2011 - gatame wrote:

completely dry, medium body, low/moderate acidity. Deceptive nose of watermelon Jolly Rancher and sweet flowers. Fruit flavor takes a back seat to nuanced minerals and spice on the palate. Food-friendly solid value.

30% grenache , 30% cinsault, 20% syrah, 10% carignan, 10% tibouren.

10/22/2011 - SonomaWilliam wrote:

Interesting how others notes are all over the map. Concur with Jason, this wine has great minerality, and is much better not overchilled (like many white wines, but especially this - I tried it both ways.) Darker yellow straw color. Great nose with stone fruit/peach, hint of petroleum (standard for riesling.) There is tiny bit of RS many wouldn't detect, and goes well with the wine. At 12.5% alc and $8 sale price, any Riesling or Alsatian lover should grab a bottle, if any left.

8/24/2011 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:

(13.5%) Big honeyed, pollinated floral nose. This one is rich, juicy and fruit forward on the palate loaded with peaches and some pear/cantaloupe notes on the edges before a mineral acidity emerges on the backbone leading to a crisp, lingering mineral rock finish with touches of citrus. Best Pinot Gris I’ve had to date but I’d still recommend pairing this one with food. The Thai recommended by the winery seems like a good place to start.

Wine Geek Notes: 18,430 cases produced, under screwtop (which I prefer)

11/30/2010 - Jason Rzutkiewicz Likes this wine:

not enough formal notes to score this but I wish I had another case. Nice eucalyptus with plum and oak on the nose. Well structured throughout with a pleasant, barrel driven soft tannic finish. A very nice wine that couldn't be drinking much smoother than it is now. Shame it was my last bottle as the quality is well beyond $8 price point right now

11/24/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote:

This is a gorgeous wine.

On the nose I get rich ripe raspberries, menthol, rose petals, and flinty Certs retsin action. On the palate some earth comes forward. Mushrooms. Chalky tannins.

Still shows some tannic bite even after a quadruple decant. Will benefit from time, but I didn't regret opening it now. Could be my wine of the year. The kind of wine you want to seek out and stock your cellar with. Can't recommend a wine any more enthusiastically than this one. Truly special. Read more...

7/14/2010 - eldiabloazul wrote:

Terrific value. Thanks goes to Jason's wine blog ;-) As described below, and great chilled on a hot evening. Paired nicely with Korean BBQ and garden salad with spicy Thai dressing.