Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.7

Not my kind of Ca Pinot. It has some bubblegum red fruits; which is not all that appealing to me. Especially, after well made 22 red burgundies. Also, not all that complex. Enough said. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

Rounding up to 94 here.

The nose is warm & inviting. It leads you slowly through & down its path. Warm compote made with; blackberries, dark cherries, plums, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & some blueberries & raspberries. The core is dark & a touch brooding. Anise to black licorice, baking soda, beautifully, layered baking spices, moist/dry herbs, caramel, chocolate baking bar, notes of fallen tree bark, sun tea with fruit dropped in with amazing fresh & withering red, dark, blue florals framed in slightly candied & liquid violets.

The palate is beautiful and strangely wrapped in a waxy coating. The fruits have a slightly baked to stewed and yet candied topping. blackberries, dark cherries, plums, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & some blueberries & raspberries. The core is again dark & a touch brooding. Anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, baking soda, beautifully, layered baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove & vanillin, moist/dry herbs-sage, bay leaf, caramel, chocolate baking bar, some butterscotch notes, fallen, dry tree bark, dark spices, sun tea with fruits dropped in, dry oak barrel shavings, amazing fresh & withering red, dark, blue florals framed in slightly candied & liquid violets, excellent acidity with a very well balanced, well structured-toned, elegant & polished finish that last minutes falling on dark spice and beautiful earth tones.

This is easy to drink now, but better things lie ahead with another 10 plus years of integration and evolution.

Beautiful 22. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

Nose is not all that expressive. Muted. Macerated Meyer lemon to candied lemon-almost Jolly Rancher, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, pineapple juice, white stone fruit, notes of brown sugar, light herbs, cream, yellow and spring flowers. Took work to pull that out.

Interesting palate. Macerated Meyer lemon to candied lemon-almost Jolly Rancher, along with some sour & tagny tones, green apple, lime zest, tropical melons, pineapple juice, white & yellow stone fruits, notes of brown sugar, honey, caramel notes, dry barrel shavings, light herbs, cream, dry chalky powder, volcanic pulp, moist clay, crumbled & moist sea fossils-oysters, white spice, hints of flint, yellow and spring flowers, excellent acidity with an elegant, polished, balanced finish that lasts a full minute landing on dry powdery soils & nice white spice.

91-92 with a bit of cellaring. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.8

Going to be brief here. If you like an affordable, easy to drink Napa Cabernet and do not crave great or complexity, this is for you. If you have a flare for truly special Napa Cabernets, this is not for you. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

The nose shows warm red fruit compote made w/; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & blueberries. Dark earth with leaves, dry twigs, soft baking spices, fruit cake, caramel, chocolate pudding, light, dry herbs with candied & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in violets.

The wine drinks softly & smoothly w/o a ton of complexity, yet. Certainly is easy to drink now. Ripe & slightly candied; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries & blueberries. Dark earth with leaves, twigs, soft baking spices, dark & brooding spice, fruit cake, meted caramel, chocolate pudding to melted dark chocolate, tree bark with sap, semi-sweet maple syrup notes, light, dry herbs with warm, moist clay, candied & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, very round acidity with with a brooding elegant, balanced finish that lasts nearly two-minutes. Landing in spice and beautiful earths. 91-93 with a bit more bottle evolution. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

Nose is not all that expressive. Lemon, lime, green apple, tropical melons, honey notes, cream, sea spray, pleasant chalkiness, limestone, volcanics, spring flowers framed in yellow lilies.

Palate is; round, high viscosity, paraffin, lemon syrup, lime, nice green apple with skin, tropical melons, hints of kiwi, honey notes, cream, sea spray, nicely toned white spices/ some palate heat, pleasant chalkiness, limestone, volcanics, hints of mushroom, light caramel notes, soft wood tones, white spring flowers framed in yellow lilies, very good acidity and a nicely balanced, well tensioned, polished elegant finish that lasts a full minute and lands on gentle spice & earthiness.

90+ a little with 3 yrs in bottle. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

Full disclosure, I just tasted six well made 22 Burgundies. This is tough follow. Also, I am not the biggest fan of CA Chardonnay. But this is decent.

This is not what I would call a traditional CA Chardonnay. It has a fair amount of tropical fruits. So there is lemon, lime, green apple, but has white stone fruits, tropical melons, pineapple, kiwi, honey notes, white spice, a light wood backbone with a pronounced chalkiness. Excellent viscosity & acidity. It really tastes more like a white blend. Yellow & white flowers and a well polished, elegant finish that lands chalky. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

The nose is a little dull, but shows beautiful, floral & slightly candied red fruits. Dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate syrup, raspberries and blueberry hues. Understated, dark, rich earth, very soft baking spices and dark, red, florals framed in violet potpourri.

The palate entry is wonderful. Ripe, juicy; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate reduction, raspberries and blueberry hues. Understated, dark, rich earth, baking spices-cinnamon stick, clove, light nutmeg vanillin, sandalwood to light cedar shavings, caramel, touch of toffee, dry tree bark w/ a touch of moss covered in sap, red & mid berry licorice/cola, dark, the red, florals framed in amazing violets are exquisite, perfect acidity with an elegant, balanced finish that lasts nearly two-minute.

92+ with a bit more time. It just lacks more depth for a higher score. But hard not to drink now. Good value here at $59.99.
— 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My continuing quest to taste as many 22 Burgundies as possible…

This one is being poured colder than I would like. Because of that, I will skip the nose.

Beautiful palate with nice viscosity. Round & lush. Meyer lemons, lime zest, amazing green apple, pineapple, yellow & white stone fruit, yellow peach, kiwi, thick caramel, heather honey, cream, white spice, grey volcanic minerals, excellent chalkiness, fresh & dry herbs, crumbly limestone, touch more woodiness than I would expect, very light flintiness, yellow lilies, jasmine and white spring flowers, well knitted, balanced, good tension & texture, elegantly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on brilliant fruits, spice and soft earthiness.

93+ with 5 yrs or more in cellar. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is my favorite Zinfindel blend from Ridge. I like it/them more with 8-10 years of bottle age. But this 2023 drank very well young. One of the best current releases I’ve had in a while. Fresh as it was very recently bottled! 93+ in time.

Sirloin Steak was tip top.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — 5 days ago