8/30/2013 - bcahill wrote:

Pleasant enough but nothing remarkable here. Too light bodied for a Cab.

4/6/2012 - bcahill wrote:

Surprisingly "in your face" but would agree with others that there is a bit unbalanced here. Good wine and very food friendly. Would purchase again.

11/25/2010 - bcahill wrote:

Concentrated raspeberry and blueberry on the nose. Round, supple and fruit forward on the palate. Tannins well integrated now but still present enough to age longer. Lingering finish.

10/17/2010 - bcahill wrote:

Brought to Durga Puja celebration. Did not taste.

10/17/2010 - bcahill wrote:

Bottle was corked. Huge disappointment.

10/13/2010 - bcahill wrote:

Not a bad bottle but not typical of my experience with Ridge. Wine seemed hot and disjointed at times but mellowed some with a bit of air.

7/18/2009 - bcahill wrote:

No formal notes but the crowd liked this wine. Remember being a typical example of a Cali cab.

7/27/2009 - bcahill wrote:

Deep ruby color followed by a nose of raspberry with a touch of oak. Medium bodied with some tannins present. Fruit is concentrated and mouth-filling. Respectable finish. Would purchase again at this price.

7/15/2009 - bcahill wrote:

Dark garnet center gives way to brownish/amber tints on its edges confirming its age. On the nose, leather, tobaccoo and dried cherry fruit still vibrant. Medium-bodied and tannins have softened. Elegant finish. Complexity grew as bottle opened up over 3-4 hours. Could still lay down for several more years.

4/7/2009 - bcahill wrote:

Really enjoyed this wine. Nose of cherries and coffee with slightest hint of leather. Silky mouthfeel to this medium-bodied Pinot. Finishes nicely with the coffee and cola commanding attention.

4/3/2009 - bcahill wrote:

No formal notes but enjoyable Zin.

12/2/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Thanksgiving '08 - Intense berry fruit on the nose with inky color in the glass. Medium to full body with plenty of tannin to show of its youth. Flavors of blackberry, plum with hints of leather and a touch of smoke. Solid finish. Will likely rate higher with a few more years of age.

10/21/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Too much alcohol on the nose and the fruit tastes slightly underripe. Thought it might just be closed so I let it breathe for about 45 mins to 1 hour but with no noticeable improvement.

10/12/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Decanted about 40 minutes before serving. Solid nose of blackberry and a hint of leather. Medium bodied with a tannic bite; could use some additional aging. Finish is brief but enjoyable. Would purchase again and lay down for another 3-5 years.

10/9/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Consumed over three nights. Decent, straight forward Cab blend with typical California fruit. Would purchase again to have on hand for informal gatherings.

5/19/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Nothing exceptional, just a good everyday house red.

4/11/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Fogo De Chao - Chicago (Chicago): This was a good way to start our carnivorous feast. Slightly peppery and jammy, this was well structured Zin that everyone seemed to like. No formal notes but was not disappointed with this wine. Would definitely purchase again.

4/11/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Fogo De Chao - Chicago (Chicago): This wine needs more time. It has all the characteristics of what I'd expect from Stag's Leap and Rutherford cabs in general but it was a little green around the edges. No formal notes taken but remember thinking that this wine wasn't quite there yet. A few more years.

4/11/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Fogo De Chao - Chicago (Chicago): This a young wine but has a ton of potential. The color is a deep purple/burgundy showing its youth. The nose is very Cali Cab, bursting with berry fruit. The mouthfeel is full and round with some tanins showing through but well-integrated into the wine. The finish is long and complete. It is easy to see why Cakebread is a favorite of restaurant wine lists.

4/4/2008 - bcahill wrote:

A typical Beaujolais with cherries and strawberries on the nose with a light body. The layered flavors are revealed gradually making this a step up from entry-level Beaujolais. Really enjoyable wine at a good price point. Would buy again.

3/31/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Inky in the glass with a nose of blueberries and a hint of black pepper. Very easy tannins and a well-rounded mouthfeel make this a good value for an everyday wine.

3/13/2008 - bcahill wrote:

In defense of this wine, I probably should have emptied this bottle two years ago. The color shows the bottle's age with the reddish-purple center giving way to "rusty" edges. This tasted thin and watery - possibly underripe fruit? There was a faint hint of tomatoes on the nose and a smell that reminded me somewhat of vintage Port. Solidered through one glass and put the rest out it's misery an hour or so later after confirming that air had done nothing for it.

3/2/2008 - bcahill wrote:

Tons of strawberry on the nose. Soft and round on the palette but the finish is forgettable. This wine is good, not great, but there are better values to be found.

12/26/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Decanted for about 30 minutes. Leather, dried cherry and raspberry on the nose. Medium-bodied with good concentration of fruit. Finish confirms the hints of leather. Enjoyed by all and would purchase again.

11/22/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Served with Thanksgiving dinner so no formal notes. Well integrated with cherries on the nose and a bit of a bite on the finish. Would buy again.

11/18/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Everyday drinking Bordeaux. A little tight on the open and chose to decant for about 30 minutes. Earthy nose with hints of tobacco and smoke. Medium bodied, subtle berry flavors consistent finish. Showed well several hours after opening. Would purchase again.

11/18/2007 - bcahill wrote:

No full tasting notes but this was a simple but straightforward Cab. For the price, I might buy again for an everyday selection.

11/20/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Light, fruity and easy-drinking. Everything I would expect from this wine.

11/10/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Very good QPR. This vintage seems to be much more vibrant than the past. Jammy zin fruit really shows on the nose with good mouthfeel. The finish is appropriate. This is a good everyday wine.

9/8/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Millenium Park. Medium to light bodied w/ dried cherry on the nose. Easy drinking every day wine.

4/29/2007 - bcahill wrote:

This is a very nice, light "patio wine". It is not overly complex and I didn't take detailed tasting notes but this could be a good go to wine for the spring and summer especially at the price.

4/21/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Had at a store tasting. I am usually a big fan of this winery and their wines but in my opinion, the 2004 missed the mark. Judging by the other reviews, it is possible that I just caught a bad bottle. I found the wine to be unfocused and hot. The structure just wasn't there. At this price point, there are other Napa cabs that I would reach for.

3/24/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Mainstreet Spring Tasting 2007. Pleasantly surprised by this wine as I did not have much familiarity with Chiarello. This wine was smooth and balance with a solid core of dark fruit. For a Cali Cab, the price is more approachable than most.

3/26/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Mainstreet Spring Tasting 2007. This was a good wine but at $100+ there are much better bottles to be had.

3/26/2007 - bcahill wrote:

Mainstreet Spring Tasting 2007. Beautifully done - tight now but will definitely improve if cellared properly

1/31/2007 - bcahill wrote:

A great inexpensive tawny to have on hand for cold winter nights.

12/17/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Decanted for over 3 hours. This wine did not disappoint. Elegant and well-balanced with dark fruit and hints of earthiness. Well integrated and complex and worthy of a special event.

10/20/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Excellent! Beautiful color and jammy nose with silky-smooth mouthfeel - finish lingers for quite some time. Excellent on its own or with seasonal fare.

10/14/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Really enjoyed this. It is very big to start out but really reigns itself in with some time. Not a quaffer but definitely a hearty red to pair with slightly more substantial meals.

10/20/2006 - bcahill wrote:

I was underwhelmed by this wine. The nose was difficult to detect followed by a thin, flabby mouthfeel and no finish. After about an hour of air it gained a little something all the way around. I guess you get what you pay for when you are well under the $10 mark.

10/7/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Good solid value and great everyday Italian to have on hand.

10/18/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Dark ruby in the glass. Earthy nose with hints of tobacco. Tannins are slight if any but the finish is easily missed. Light enough to be quaffable and a good value.

8/13/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Fruit bomb! This is an enjoyable quaffer but I found that it needs some time to breathe so the heat can subside. It is a step away from sweet and the massive explosion of red fruit throws off the structure and balance.

7/7/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Notes not kept but remember it being tasty.

5/22/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Simple with nice fruit. Served with grilled veggies and chicken.

5/21/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Brought to UIC potluck. No formal notes but the crowd really enjoyed this.

5/19/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Call me crazy but the nose had a smell of deli meat - bologna specifically. This was in jarring contrast to the otherwise decent flavor of this wine. I bought it for some reason and I'm sure it wasn't the bologna smell. Would take another shot with this in the future...but only one more chance to prove me wrong.

5/19/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Good everyday quaffer. Definitely needs a little air before coming alive. Great with pizza.

5/14/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Great! I forgot I had this and stumbled across it to serve with some grilled pork. This was great from beginning to end with a nose of raspberry and hints of chocolate. It has a fuller body and strong balance. Should've bought a case of this.

1/1/2006 - bcahill wrote:

Loved it! A nose of caramel and bananas. This was excellent.