6/23/2016 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

I drank this over a wonder French American Bistro dinner and it was a fantastic pairing. I could barely put the glass down this was so delicious. Not too anything. A good balanced wine that had the right acid level for fantastic food.

8/1/2015 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Kind of a wild cowboy to my palette. A tad too much on the hot side and gobs of jammyness. But if you're in to that kind of thing then maybe this is the wine for you. It still had it's merits which is why the somewhat decent score. Kinda spendy for what it was though.

2/18/2015 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Wonderful balance of fruit and earth.

12/28/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Deep rich thick and delicious! It's too bad John doesn't make this anymore.

11/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

One of the greatest value Pinot Noir blends from one of the greatest winemakers of Pinot Noir in California. Ted Lemmon is one of my heroes. Once a bottle is open, I can't stop putting the glass up to my mouth and is gone sooner than I wish.

11/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

A very French styled wine. If you prefer a sourness to your wine over the fruity or juicy norm of California, then this wine is for you. It really needed food to mellow it out, but still pretty tasty.

11/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still a fantastic value wine, but it may be loosing a bit of it's pizazz as it ages. I would go as far to say that it's over the hill. Certainly it benefited from its youth when consumed younger. The fruit and earthy flavors blend well and the finish is pleasant but doesn't have the structure to linger as long as I hope. But for the price, I'm being way overly picky. I still lick my lips and think, yum!

11/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

An outstanding bottle of wine. Very smooth and feminine but with plenty of body and mouthfeel. The finish is astounding for a California Pinot Noir. Along with the dark red fruit flavors, it has a wonderful hint of mushroom, which I rarely find in Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs. This is definitely a hidden treasure. The favorite of the night against a Hirsch and a Kosta Browne!

11/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still tons of structure to keep it holding together for many more years to come. Big and bold for a Pinot while still remaining elegant with quite a long and pleasant finish. Quite an effort. Hirsch continues to be one of my all time favorite California Pinot Noirs.

10/23/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

The perfect age for this wine. Drinking wonderfully. Lots of structure and complexity for a Zin. Like no other Zin on the planet. Don't expect jam and juicyness. A Zin for a Cab lover.

10/23/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Very fruity for a Santa Rita Hills Pinot. Still very enjoyable.

10/23/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Really quite enjoyable. Still plenty of fruit. A classic tasting California Pinot.

10/23/2014 - rcurlee wrote:

bottle was a bit off, probably corked

10/4/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

I really loved this wine. For me it was very atypical of a Cali Cab. It was elegant and soft on the palate. In fact, it had a touch of menthol mouthfeel, which was very pleasant. The delicate nose matched the flavor very well. This is not a powerful cab, but instead very feminine and gentle. A breath of fresh air!

9/25/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Picked up some weight since my last bottle. It seems to me that it's at its peak.

9/11/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still a fantastic wine for the price. Such a great value and very drinkable.

9/9/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Quite powerful and rich for a Pinot. Lovers of soft Pinots beware! It's still quite structured and fruity, so it has plenty of life left in it. I wish I had more.

9/9/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking well, but not as structured as I expect from a Hirsch. Maybe it's time to drink it up before it starts to go downhill.

8/31/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. Needed some air to regain fruit. It wasn't off-putting when first opened, but tasted a little flat. It gained weight after 30 minutes or so. The flavor ended up a great balance between earth and fruit. I expect the wine is beginning its downward turn, so drink 'em up if you have 'em!

8/21/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Not a Dagueneau, but still one of the best and most drinkable Sauvignon Blancs made in California.

8/21/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Oh it's not a Chateauneuf du Pape? Could have fooled me!

8/3/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Really big and powerful for a Pinot Noir. It reminds me of a Kosta Browne. If you like that kind of PN, then you'll like this one.

7/27/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking amazingly well. Definitely not past its prime. Wonderfully silky texture. Earthy and deep as you would expect if a wine at this vintage but still with a surprising amount of fruit. The color too was not overly rusty. Not a single thing to complain about.

7/27/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Wonderful combination of fruit and earth. Great mouthfeel. Beautiful color that holds all the way to the edge of the glass. I can't imagine it getting any better with age.

7/27/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still quite fruity and fresh tasting. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth. I love this for a value Russian River Pinot Noir. It holds up to bottles twice the price.

7/23/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Very juicy but not terribly complex and lacking structure.

5/29/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

A super jammy Zinfandel. If you like stewed fruit flavored wines, then this is the wine for you.

5/29/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Fabulously dark and rich for a Grenache. The color also is a beautiful deep ruby that stays dark to the edge of the glass. The only other California Grenache I've had of this caliber and quality is a Sine Qua Non. John Alban is truly a master winemaker and deserves all his accolades.

5/23/2014 - rcurlee wrote:

Drinking wonderfully. A very elegant pinot with a great silky texture.

5/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

An awesome value Rhone.

5/12/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

A very jammy Zinfandel, which despite being usual for a Zinfandel is unusual for a Ridge Zinfandel. Still very tasty and what I expect a Zin lover is after.

4/8/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Enjoyable. Very bright and fruity.

4/8/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still very drinkable but definitely starting to fade. Drink em if ya got em!

3/31/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Wines like Martha's Vineyard affirm my faith that California can make as silky and soft wines as those of Bordeaux. If you're looking for a California blockbuster of power and concentration, this isn't the wine for you. Instead this wine is very feminine with finesse and elegance.

3/22/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Wonderfully delicious. Leaves nothing to be desired.

3/13/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Excellent value wine. Exactly what a Rhone lover looks for in a daily drinker. Nice full body and rich fruit.

3/13/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking very well with plenty of life still in it but probably not going to develop any more. Fairly deep fruit for a pinot with nice earthy tones to balance it out. Quite delicious.

3/6/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking wonderfully. Plenty of fruit. Not at all over the hill!

1/19/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Ted Lemon is one of the greatest winemakers in California in my opinion. This Anderson Valley blend is a fantastic introduction to his burgundian style for those that don't know what a marvelous artist he is. This vintage is hitting its stride and still has many years of enjoyment left. Don't expect super bright fruit. Instead enjoy its smooth, lush, and deep richness.

1/19/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

I decent and likable bottle, but there are many more Saint Joseph that I like more for similar cost.

1/19/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Drinking absolutely wonderfully now. I wish I had more! Not overly fruity or rich. Silky and smooth with the right balance between earth and fruit. Hirsch really has a treasure trove of great Pinot.

1/1/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

An absolutely delicious bottle of wine. Very classic CdP with a wonderful mix of fruit and earth. The body is a little on the lighter side than what I normally expect from Vieux Telegraphe, but still silky and smooth nonetheless.

12/28/2013 - rcurlee wrote:

A fantastic wine for making beef stew because it is thick and has a full body. For a drinking wine, it's good but a little flabby. I think the flavor doesn't match the good mouthfeel.

12/19/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Still drinking very well, but I'd say it's probably just at the crest of it's declining phase. I did still get a sense of stemmy tannins and some decent fruit still. I recommend you drink it if you have it before it's too late to enjoy what it has to offer.

12/19/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Quite drinkable. Very juicy and lots of bing cherries.

12/19/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

A very traditional California Cabernet with that touch of green bell pepper. Delicious and still plenty young. I'm sure it will drink well for many many more years.

12/19/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

One of the best aged wines I've ever tasted. It was still very fresh and lively with plenty of fruit. It's clearly not over its prime and has many years of life in it. What a pleasure to drink!

12/9/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Not the best Martha's I've ever had but still a top quality California Cab. I get the feeling that it is about to pass its prime, so possibly this is a shorter lived Martha's than other vintages. Also lighter mouthfeel than I remember other vintages.

12/9/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Nice cherry fruit and a hint of sour in a very Burgundian way. Quite enjoyable and a fantastic value for a high quality California Pinot. I don't expect it to gain more with age, so better to drink it up now.

12/7/2013 - rcurlee Likes this wine:

Once again Ted nails a Burgundy styled wine from California. Wonderful earthy tones without the overt fruit found in most California Pinot. Drinking wonderfully now and I don't think it needs to or could gain any more from age.