3/16/2024 - askoje wrote:

Simple and strait forward nose, yellow apples and yeasty bread. Taste follows the palate, very simple and one dimensional. Would have liked more acidity and complexity, finish is short. Nothing wrong, and possibly a wine many people who enjoy slightly sweet sparkling wine will like. Would be better to either buy a cheaper and more fruity Prosecco or spend more and get a champagne.

1/20/2024 - askoje wrote:

Brioche, baked lemon tart and red apples on the nose. Medium acidity, taste follows the nose, red apples and lemon peel, nice mousse. Well made

12/21/2023 - askoje wrote:

Final bottle from the cellar. Consistent with previous notes, still beautiful

9/30/2023 - askoje wrote:

Very bright and perfumy nose with raspberries, red currant and leather. Medium palate, soft, yet dry. Well balanced and enjoyable Syrah, would pair with bbq food.

7/22/2023 - askoje wrote:

Medium light orange-brick red.
Dark cherries, hazel, tea leaves, smoky, menthol and just plain awesome Barbaresco nose.
Beautiful wine, so lively and fresh acidity, but at the same time starting to show developed notes. Outstanding Barbaresco

7/22/2023 - askoje wrote:

Interesting nose with orange peel, peach, nuts and herbs. Palate is medium+ good mouth feel, nice balance, more honey, peach and herbs, very surprised by this. Very “nutty” on the finish.

7/16/2023 - askoje wrote:

Amazing nose, hard to capture all the elements of it. Cherries, espresso, oud wood, almonds, tar, grilled meat (from charcoal grill), roses, cardamom and so on and so on.
Palate is energetic and elegant with outstanding balance and length. This is drinking so well at this stage. 93/94

7/8/2023 - askoje wrote:

Deep red, on the nose I struck with classic LS notes of bramble fruit, wild cherry, mocha and cedar. Beautiful wine, it’s still alive and drinking so well now. Will last a few more years, but would not wait.

7/1/2023 - askoje wrote:

Medium light color. Not cloudy, but not shiny either. Guessing it’s not filtered.
Beautiful nose with cherries, wild raspberries, herbs, baking spices and tea. Needs some air to open up and then it’s even more nuanced with wild strawberries.
Lots of red fruit and great structure on the palate, very well balanced and ends in a long finish. Overall impression is; well made, genuine and elegant.

6/24/2023 - askoje wrote:

Nice nose, red apples, herbal and salt sea.
Good mouthfeel at first, then I thought “there’s no acidity), but it comes through all the way to the finish.

6/24/2023 - askoje wrote:

Flinty, floral, citrus and pear on the nose. Straightforward on the palate, green apples, clean and balanced, very solid QPR

6/24/2023 - askoje wrote:

Smells German, but not Riesling. If that makes sense. Citrus, apples, butter, nice nose.
Medium mouthfeel, herbal and fresh at the same time, nice balance, slightly bitterness on the end. Good concentration. Worth the price, but would not buy again.

6/10/2023 - askoje wrote:

Nice nose, yellow and green apples, some butter and almonds. Medium to light on the palate, good balance. Pretty much as expected, follows the nose. Not a lot of acidity on the midpalate, but more finesse towards the end. Overall this is a solid Macon-Village and good qpr. Would pair with grilled white fish

5/27/2023 - askoje wrote:

Dark and dense red color. Bramble fruit, Madagascar vanilla and mocha on the nose. Very inviting. Outstanding balance with lots of blackberries, dark raspberries, some almond and dried herbs on the back end. This has developed great and is drinking exceptionally now. Very long finish. One of the best Ridge SCM estate I have had. 92/93

5/14/2023 - askoje wrote:

Vanilla, dark plums and strawberries on the nose. Medium mouthfeel, follows the nose, not as oaky as expected. Decent balance, no hard edges, straight forward, simple and fine. Fairly short and forgettable finish.

4/29/2023 - askoje wrote:

Yellow apples, citrus and butter on the nose. Good mouthfeel, nice balance of citrus fruits and oak. Some off-notes on the finish, that takes it down a point. I would say this is EXACTLY what I would expect from the price point, varietal and region.

4/29/2023 - askoje wrote:

Beautiful nose, gives me a citrus orchid vibe. Lemon, oranges, grapefruit and dried herbs. The 2021 is very crisp and delicate, yet with strong acidic presence from the fruit. This is not a warm oaky/buttery chard. It’s a great expression of coastal Cali Chardonnay. 13,5% alc is very well integrated. Long and lingering finish with lots of lime and lemon flavors and some green apple notes

1/21/2023 - askoje wrote:

Nice nose with green apples, citrus, white flowers and melon. Very crisp on the palate, great acitisy and balance. Young, but very approachable. Medium+ length on the finish.

1/21/2023 - askoje wrote:

Very light, Some honey and pineapple on both nose and palate. Has a spice component that I find strange. Thin and unbalanced. Better options at this price point

12/24/2022 - askoje wrote:

Apricot jam, emmental cheese, maple syrup, and hint of browned butter on the nose. Taste follows the nose, more sherry-ish than expected. Not my style

12/24/2022 - askoje wrote:

Dark dense red, nose bursting with dark cherries, cocoa, sandal wood, Madagascar vanilla and blackberries. Amazing nose! Outstanding palate, follows the nose, delicate, complex, perfectly balanced. Long finish. If you have this in your cellar, I think it will keep longer, but it’s drinking so good now so why wait

12/10/2022 - askoje wrote:

Red crisp apples, sourdough bread, nuts and herbs on the nose. Taste follows the nose. Fairly light and lacks both in acidity, fruit and complexity. It’s good but not memorable in any way.

11/20/2022 - askoje wrote:

An array of bramble fruit on the nose, with some notes of biscotti/baked pie crust and herbs. On the palate this will is still very well balanced, delicate yet with enough intensity of flavors. Outstanding wine from Ridge. Would drink remaining bottles within 1 year.

10/15/2022 - askoje wrote:

Beautiful nose with almonds, cherries, and the same biscotti/cardamom I found in the 2017 vintage. I find the 2018 vintage to be slightly more fruit driven vs 2017.

On the palate I get cherries, then more dusty notes of almonds, rose hip and herbs. This is in my opinion such a great expression of Chianti Classico. Medium+ length finish, overall balance is great. QPR is fantastic 91/92

9/17/2022 - askoje wrote:

Dried Mediterranean herbs, lemon peel, nuts and butter on the nose. Medium+ mouth feel, not super oily, but has weight without being over oaked. Nice length on the finish. Excellent QPR

9/3/2022 - askoje wrote:

Medium deep red. Dark forest berries, cherry, leather and baking spices/nutmeg on the nose. Medium to light mouth feel, very lightly oaked, follows the nose. This was a lot lighter in style than what I would expect from Ribera Del Duero and 14,5% alc. Well worth the price

8/13/2022 - askoje wrote:

Lemon pie, yellow apples and almonds on the nose with hints of dried herbs. Very well balanced wine, medium+ mouth feel, delicate apple and lemon flavors. I think the 2018 vintage was a slight step above in quality, but this is still delicious. Great finish and very solid qpr. Very accessible now

8/10/2022 - askoje wrote:

Papaya, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple on the nose and slight hints of vanilla. With air some hints of rosemary. Medium mouth feel, nice balance and not warm or too oaked. Solid qpr

7/8/2022 - askoje wrote:

Nice nose with yellow apples, peaches, plum and slightly perfumed/flowery on the end. Taste follows the nose, medium to full bodies, medium to low acidity, well balanced, yellow apples and pear on the finish. Nice mouth feel without any oak. Well worth the price

6/25/2022 - askoje wrote:

Yellow apples, slate and apricot on the nose. Taste follows the nose, light bit not watery, well balanced, fresh acitdity. Medium finish. Would pair with Asian/spice dishes. Worth the price.

6/5/2022 - askoje wrote:

Upon removal of the foil, the cork stemmed to be in a poor state. Thankfully it was just the top, and the wine was in great condition.
Papaya, mango, wet slate and moderate petro on the nose. 20 years of age and yet so vibrant with fruit. Well balanced and nice Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Would not keep remaining bottles longer. Would have hoped for a longer finish.

6/5/2022 - askoje wrote:

Beautiful nose with dark cherries, blackberries, vanilla and dried medeteranian herbs.
Taste follows the nose,very delicate yet structured. This is drinking perfect now.

1/14/2022 - askoje wrote:

Immediately after opening;
Cherries, almonds, autumn leaves, vanilla and leather notes on the nose.
Very nice palate, cherries are bursting with acidity and more dark berries. This Barbaresco has depth of flavour, lots of young fruit and overall excellent balance and structure. Not as dry finish as I would expect, but very pleasant. Really like this of Barbaresco. Would cellar several bottles and try in 2-5-10 years or so.

1/11/2022 - askoje wrote:

*No decant*
Bright and lively nose with pear, lemon, lime, brioche, dried thyme and almonds. Needs some air to open up and show it's full potential.
Starts light and delicate on the palate, then amplifies and builds up with layers of flavours from the nose. Delicate, yet structured and with a powerful core. Finishes very long with hints of lemon biscuits and grapefruit. Outstanding overall balance 94/95. Would cellar and keep 2025 and well beyond

11/14/2021 - askoje wrote:

Consistent with previuos bottle. Drinking perfectly now

10/22/2021 - askoje wrote:

Consistent with previous bottle taste earlier this year,
Deep, dark forest berries and baking spice with Madagascar vanilla on the nose. With air, notes of espresso.

Great structure and depth on the palate. More dark berries such as wild raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Geyserville balances the richness of the fruit with a delicate approach all at the same time. Very long and seamless finish. 92+++

10/16/2021 - askoje wrote:

Right from the beginning the nose is bursting with intense and pure blackberry fruit. Rarely experienced such distinct aroma in a wine. Then comes Swiss Ementaler cheese, pine, thyme and grilled meat. Outstanding nose! Taste followes the aromas from the nose, with finess, backbone, great acidity and blackberry fruit. This is in it’s prime window for me now and will hold for many more years. One of the most delicate bottles of LS I’ve had

10/10/2021 - askoje wrote:

Deep color, dark forest fruit, raisins, vanilla on the nose. Straight forward dark fruit, and full bodied. For my palate the oak is a bit too dominating and it was probable best a few years ago. Overall solid but not very unique

9/4/2021 - askoje wrote:

1 hour decanted. The 2017 opens with darker berries, predominately dark cherries. Followed by liquorice, mint, thyme and dark roasted espresso beans. With more time in the glass, some orange peel comes thru. On the palate, classic Barbaresco characteristics but slightly darker fruit style. Tannins are surprisingly fine and smooth, overall balance very good and a very long and enticing finish.

8/28/2021 - askoje wrote:

Wild raspberries, cherries, pine and earthy notes on the nose, amazing nose! Very delicate and complex PN. It has a very interesting and elegant nose and palate with both depth and finesse. Outstanding finish. This is clearly the best PN from what I have had so far.

8/11/2021 - askoje wrote:

Nose opens with melon, yellow apples and lime. Taste follows the palate, quite straight forward and a bit more muted and plain than expected. Overall balance is ok, but finish is rather short and slightly bitter.

7/19/2021 - askoje wrote:

An hour decanted. Elegant nose with ripe cherries, strawberries, biscotti, almonds and thyme. Structured palate, starts dry and firm, then opens up with lots of cherry flavor and beautiful finish. Classic style, no oak dominance and overall a great expression of Sangiovese

7/11/2021 - askoje wrote:

Beautiful bright and complex nose with lemon, almonds, butter and lime zest.
Taste follows the nose, great balance and brings a firm backbone. Has weight and complexity with acidity to match. Excellent Chardonnay - Cellar candidate for the next 5 years.

7/5/2021 - askoje wrote:

Yellow apples, lemon peel, cinnamon, cardamom, herbs, hints of flint rock, very interesting nose. Great character.
Palate is packed with citrus flavors and the herbal/spice from the nose is nicely balanced. Bursting with flavor and uniqueness, this was a very interesting Chardonnay. Well worth the price 90

6/12/2021 - askoje wrote:

Deep red, beautiful Cabernet nose. Dark wild raspberries, plum, blackberries, Madagascar vanilla, cocoa. Beautiful texture, delicate and fruit shows great complexity. Not an owerpowering Napa cab, every balanced and long finish with some herbal notes. Drinks perfect now

5/22/2021 - askoje wrote:

Very interesting nose. Dried dark cherries, herbs, buffalo mozzarella, and a component I rarely find in wine, sort of red/dust/rusty farm soil. Smelled better than my description. It had some noble/exotic notes for sure. Very nice on the palate. Lots of acidity and cherry fruit, at the same time balanced and dry. This wines goes on and on and has a very pleasant and interesting flavor curve. My first Fontalloro, and certainly not the last. Would love to taste a newer vintage. 92/93

5/22/2021 - askoje wrote:

Elegant nose with developed aromas of plums, figs, dark chocolate, oak and hints of smoked wood. Big and powerful at first on the palate, lots of dark plums from the nos. Still structure and tannin to last, but I would not wait longer. Very well made wine with great balance and long finish. This wine needs a nice grilled steak

4/23/2021 - askoje wrote:

Interesting nose. Nuanced with herbs, green apples, vanilla and orange peal.
On the palate lots of grapefruit and lime, much more tart fruit than expected. Lacks some balance and overall finish for my palate. Fell a bit down on the mid palate and finish. Love the style and would try a different vintage if I find one int he future

4/23/2021 - askoje wrote:

Yellow apples, vanilla, butter and lemons on the nose. Classic Cali Chardonnay profile. Great mouth feel, rich and balanced. Vanilla, lemon ice cream and green apples. Long finish and great balance. Maybe not the most unique Chardonnay, but it is well made.

4/11/2021 - askoje wrote:

Unquestionable Thackeray classic.
Deepest forest berries, charcoal grilled meat, Italian espresso, Madagascar vanilla, and more than ever before eucalyptus on the nose.
Cassis, blueberries, black forest raspberries opens on the palate, then herbal, espresso and dark cocoa dust follows. Best bottle so far and it’s getting better and better since the first I tasted in 2015
Outstanding balance, depth, complexity and long finish. 94