3/1/2024 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Clearly more traditional CA style. Riper Richer and Rounder than others. Not my favorite but if you want something less acid driven than the rest of the lineup. This is for you. Sold out super quick so kind of a one off wine.

10/13/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Cedar, Tobbaco,black fruit on the nose. Tastes the same as it smells. Lovely perfectly aged example.

10/7/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Rich Black fruit and cedar and cigarbox with black pepper on the nose. Same on the palate with nice layers of piper and smoke. Fine resolved tannins on the finish. Another awesome of bottle of Ridge. Its drinking amazing with significant life ahead of it. I don't see why this why wont easily go another 10+ years. Cork was in OK condition.

9/15/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Soft, Round, Simple Pinot Noir. enjoyable for 1/2 the price

9/15/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 Does not like this wine:

This wine is flawed. VA. Astringent, totally out of balance. Over manipulated.

8/31/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Notes of Cherry and blueberry on the nose and some mild brett in a good way. The palate was very earthy with mild tannins and a pretty long finish. I wish all $15 Borrdeaux was this. Enjoyable Wine.

8/3/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Absolutely singing. Fruit, Cedar, dust, tannins, earth and acid all in balance. taste like montebello. Wish I had more. One of the best bottles of Ridge I've ever had.

7/2/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Absolutely fantastic. Picking up some weight. just hints of reduction and beautiful green apple/lemon. Great mouthfeel and a nice med/long finish.

7/2/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Very nice. bigger than the split rail.

6/11/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Wow. I dont get all the bad notes here. Smells like white burg. Hint of reduction and salinity on the noise with green apple and hints of orange. Beautiful acidity through out. Great minerality on the palate and it tastes like it smells. Apple, orange and light tropical fruit with a med+ finish on saline and aciditic frame. I guess I got a good bootle. Wish I had more. It spoke to me.

4/22/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 Does not like this wine:

big Bold, sweet, hot and oaky. Not what I want in a Cab.

2/19/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Served double blind at bottling day. 2 winemakers called smoke taint immediately upon blind tasting. Ash on the nose and the burning in the back of the throat. I didn't get the ash on the nose and still thought it was an enjoyable wine but The burning in the throat was very obvious and longnlasting and took away from and otherwise well made wine.

2/19/2023 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Nice Bottle. No Noticeable smoke taint on this one like the 2020 Marine. Pear, Graepfruit on the nose, hint of reduction and dreat acidity and minerality on the palate. Med finish. nice wine.

12/5/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Soft simple and ready to drink. 1st vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from this legendary site. I preferred their Cabernet Franc from the same site. It has more depth and tannin. This would be very agreeable for a variety of palates at a dinner party but for me lacks Complexity compared to the Cabernet Franc and Ians other Cab Sauv sites. Reasonable 1st vintage. I suspect next vintage will be better.

11/19/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Does not like this wine:

Yuck. Over extracted fruit and oak bomb. The oak is bright clove. Great site but this is a not a style of wine I enjoy. I've enjoyed this producers Bald Mountain Chardonnay but this one is a F in my book. If you're looking for Ripe napa style cabernet this will work for you but as an example of restained Santa Cruz Mountain Cabernet it fails.

11/5/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

This was great. A Style I enjoy. Good acidity and fruit

10/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

See my last note. Nothing is changed. Its holding but wont evolve further. I would drink up.

10/3/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Meh. Too much oak. Its not my favorite example of mission. I can see a lot of folks enjoying this as its easy drinking. not for me

9/11/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

still very young. will benefit from more cellar time

8/14/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Fantastic Santa Cruz mountains Pinot Noir. Light, refreshing, cherry, strawberry, earth and the smell of Redwood forest floor that I love in SCM Pinot. I'm sure it will age well but its awesome right now. One of my favorite SCM producers.

8/14/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Has strong ecualyptus character. nice fruit and tannin. Fully mature. Its not declining but I don't think it will improve. Drink or hold short term. Nice wine.

8/8/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Flawed

8/2/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Perfect fill no brett like Wetrock mentions but everything else aligns. On the ripe side for Mount Eden Cabernet. Nice leather, cedar and fine tannins. I would not pop again for another 5-10 years but it will probably go another 20 years. My bottle was very primary.

7/29/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Stunning Wine! WOTY Candidate. Shows much younger than its age. The fresh cherry on the nose and the palate. the intensity grew as the wine opened up. Cherries became more candied and full bodied with air. Nice Silky tannins and a nice long finish with some complexity from the secondary notes. This wine is still mostly primary and youthful but really does have complexity and length. Total lack of Cameron funk on this as well. A new benchmark in aged Oregon Pinot Noir for me. Thanks Rob!

7/29/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Gift to Dustin at Kelly Fox

7/29/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Yummy

7/26/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Very reduced. Hard to get much on the nose other than reduction. Certainly not thinking Pinot Blanc. After 24 hours still very reductive.

7/2/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Youthful. Blind folks were calling 5 years old. barely any penetration on the cork. just getting warmed up. Would easily go another 20 years. No way is this past prime. totally primary.

6/25/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Good, light but a bit simple.

6/12/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

I think its shutting down. Upon PNP not much on the nose except tannins. Pallete was acidic, a little thin on the fruit and some earthy tannins. Let it sit in the bottle for 4 days. The fruit then came out. nice ripe cherry notes, with some cedar, redwood forest floor and a really nice finish with smoother tannins. Quite a transformation. Great wine after it opened up but I was a little confused upon PNP.

5/15/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Deep and Dark color in the glass. Smells like the full carbonic that is. Flowers, cherry, rhubard on the nose and the leading the palate as well. There is serious concentration and fruit throughout the front and mid palate. Long finish is driven by ripping acid. This wine is not subtle in concentration or flavor despite weighing in at 12.2%. For serious acid lovers only at this point. I'm sure it will mellow some more. Will update note after tasting on Day 2.

5/7/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

A more serious version of the crack. For acid lovers only, Yum. Seriously young. Delicous flinty reduction and vailed upon opening,. Tons of acid upon
PNP at cold cellar temp. Layers of fruit and minerality unfolded and slowly evolved. Very good after 3 hours. Was best after 2-3 days in the decanter. Darn good. When is there going to be more Riesling? Usually this gets quaffed. Deliberate attempt to check evolution. The fruit really comes out once the wine gets some air.

5/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

This tasted great when we bottled it and it and still does. A gorgeous example of an SLH Pinot Noir. Lots of red fruit flavors on the front of the palate. There is richness and balancing acid on the mid palate with more fruit and some oak on the finish. Dominant redwood tones with mushrooms in the wine. Its not shy buts its not overblown either. Its a very well made SLH Pinot Noir. A little richer than my normal style but full of flavor. Its just starting to evolve, I am in no hurry to drink to the remaining 2017 Roars. I would say it's getting better and will peak in another 5-10 years. Very fine wine @Scott Shapley

5/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Ridiculous deal from Costco for <$15. Its just a baby. It needs more time and love. Its very enjoyable now but has plenty of structure,
Other notes have it right.Far less fruity than other lean California Cabs served side by side. Graphite, dirt, tannin with balancing acid. This might show might show mature in another 10-15 years. Hold or Drink

5/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

No detailed note. Another good bottle from this producer. Great acid on this wine. Good QPR

5/6/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Old Note. Drank a month ago. PNP I briefly thought it might be fat and flabby. It was far from it. Fruit, Acid, Malo and subtle oak. The flavors bounced around my palate. It is hard to define the style for me. Should have bought more of this producer. Its got lean elements its has rich elements. Nice wine, very good QPR. RIP Jim.

4/30/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Drinking well. still primary no hurry to consume. light and bright. great balance and length

4/30/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Awesome wine. Fully mature. cedar, leather, fruit, hints of brett, fine tannins. Excellent finish. Drinking at peak. WOTD at a recent blind tasting.

4/16/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Fantastic. Still fresh great herb notes with a long complex finish lovely wine. Gift from a friend

3/20/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Cooked

1/21/2022 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Yum. Everythings integrating nicely. great fruit, and earthiness. Still extremely primary. This wine has another 10+ Years ahead of it. Drink or hold

12/22/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

see my previous note. great wine.

12/21/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Yum. very primary no hurry to drink still see possible improvement buts its a delicious and crushable wine. Great balance. Great QPR

12/12/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Originally wrote: Flawed. Heavy VA. Tasted like apple cider vinegar upon PNP.

After 1 day in the decanter, it was quite improved with only hints of the apple cider vinegar.

After 2 days in the decanter, The reduction is gone. Vinegar taste is gone and tasted like good chardonnay.

This is not typical of my experience with this producer. It was enjoyable after 2 day decant. Maybe it was some interaction with the reduction that made it taste of VA when there wasn't. weird bottle.

12/9/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Startting to mature. see previous notes. Its aging like its siblings and will benefit from another 5+ years. really nice wine.

12/5/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Fruity, super primary, nice tannins. Integrating nicely. Still needs more time for oak to fully integrate. This wine seems to have a long life ahead of it. Whether it turns t ninto something more interesting who knows but seems like it was bottled yesterday and has another 5-15+ years head of it. Was best after sitting in the decanter for a few hours. will rety on Day 2.

12/5/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Yum. matchstck, citrus, nice body. opens up after a hour a so. Best a room temperature. Delicous wine for what it is...

12/2/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

This is drinking really well. Has not fallen apart like 2011 and 2012

opened up after 24 hours...

11/24/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:

Tasted in Grassl Cru glass. Light to medium body with a dark cherry hue. The nose leads with crunchy strawberry, earthiness, and hint of funk. The palate is the same. Strawberry, tart cherry, earth, spice, and the funk. Great balancing acid throughout. Very rustic and old-world leaning. Makes me think more of Cameron because of the funk but it's much more restrained than a Cameron Dundee hills would be. Vincent nailed his 2019's. I think this is his best vintage yet. Amazing value at less than $20 on release. Noticed a composite closure but not a Diam. 2018's had corks. I'm loving the closure upgrade.

11/24/2021 - Seanwsmithm3 wrote:

Tasted in Grassl Cru Stem. Notes upon PNP and after two days. Medium bodied in the glass. not completely opaque but limited translucency. Tart Cherry and lots of earth on the nose. You can smell the structure in this wine. On the palate more concentrated that say a whistling ridge. tart strawberry, black cherry lots of earth and spice. Great balancing acid as all Goodfellows seem to have. This wine is quite structured and dominated by the stout tannis at this time. Very enjoyable even though its just a baby and will likely benefit from a decade or two in the cellar. As with most goodfellow wines it seems to open up more and pick up weight after a few days in the decanter. Very enjoyable as long as you like some firm tannins.