Freddy R. Troya

9.2

The Calling “Dutton Ranch” Chardonnay 2023
Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A very expressive and generously styled Chardonnay sourced from the legendary Dutton Ranch vineyards, one of Sonoma’s most respected grower sites. The Calling crafts this bottling with a fruit-driven and naturally energetic personality, allowing the vineyard character to shine through without excessive winemaking manipulation. A Russian River Chardonnay that leans vibrant and mouthwatering rather than overly buttery or heavy.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy tangerine, lemon curd, Honeycrisp apple, and ripe pear immediately jump from the glass. As the wine opens, layers of lemon verbena, ginger, citrus zest, jasmine, and subtle green tea nuances begin to unfold, adding complexity and freshness to the profile.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a rounded yet energetic texture. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively and refreshing while the fruit concentration gives it a generous California richness. The finish is persistent, citrus-driven, and beautifully mouthwatering.

Food Pairings
Excellent with roasted chicken, buttery seafood dishes, crab cakes, grilled salmon, creamy risotto, or triple cream cheeses.

Verdict
A compelling Russian River Chardonnay that balances generosity and freshness extremely well. The Dutton Ranch fruit gives this wine a very polished and expressive character while still maintaining tension and precision. Rich enough for California Chardonnay lovers, yet vibrant enough to remain highly approachable.

Did You Know?
Dutton Ranch is one of Sonoma’s most iconic multigenerational vineyard sources, supplying grapes to numerous top-tier California producers. Their cool-climate Russian River fruit is especially prized for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thanks to the region’s fog influence and long growing season.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the type of Chardonnay that reminds you why Russian River Valley became world famous for the style in the first place. Expressive, mouthwatering, and dangerously easy to revisit glass after glass. Cheers! — a month ago

Sunny

9.4

Paarn 20€ und schlug in der Blindverkostung 300€ Weine — 9 months ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

Saint Amour. Raspberries & stuff. — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Shuts down quickly in the glass, I opened too soon obviously, Give it 5-10 years Winery notes, For the first time, we have combined the finest parcels in our two long-term Syrah sources – Hoppe-Kelly & our Green Valley Estate – into a single thrilling wine of grand scale complexity. The resulting wine is simultaneously harmonious, complex, expansive, and ethereal.

— 5 years ago

Chris B.

9.2

According to sources much more knowledgeable than me, 2016 was a fine year for the Southern Rhône. This was a sumptuous bottle and at $32, a bargain for the quality. Smells like a sandalwood candle and tastes like ripe stone fruit (cherries, plums) but there’s enough lingering herbs and tannins to give it staying power. Tastes a little more alcoholic than it actually is but this only adds to its luster as a wonderful dinner wine. — 6 years ago

Brad S

9.2

Beautiful color. Outstanding value. — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Another winner from Greywacke, Kevin Judd sources his Pinot Noir from the more clay-dominant Southern Valleys. The wine finds a more exotic profile for Pinot - macerated blood orange peel and pomegranate meet a dizzying array of spices and herbs - curry, saffron, smoke, spearmint, and thyme. Savory, well structured, and long. — 8 years ago

Ted

9.1

Beautiful. Bigger bodied wine than I was expecting with it having some age to it. — 2 months ago

with Jeni

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of the oldest sources of Shiraz in the Barossa with vines first planted in 1847 by Johann Fiedler, a Prussian Lutheran. Their premium wine, The Ancestor Shiraz is produced in minimal quantities from this original vineyard ($300). Since 1860 the Schulz family have been custodians of Turkey Flat. Getting back to this wine, just medium weight, not a Barossa blockbuster. Red spicy fruits, with a little pepper - a seamless palate. Recommended. The house style…, they aim for an elegant yet powerful wine. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits, floral and new leather notes, fruit sources from several vineyard sites. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum fruits with tobacco and pepper spice. Firm chewy tannins, savory on a medium+ finish ending with notes of oak, mineral and earthy character. Drinking well now, good value. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Very pale lemon in colour. Grapefruit notes on nose and palate. Mineral notes with a bit of funk. In the lean style still with brisk acidity. Bellwether is a Coonawarra winery but Sue Bell sources this Chardonnay from the cool climate Tamar River in Tasmania. When I did vintage in early April at Bellwether a refrigerated tanker of the latest vintage arrived from the Tamar River which we then transferred into a combination of new and one year old oak puncheons for maturation. An excellent wine for its genre. — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

A delicious Chardonnay from Donelan. Certainly plenty of richness, apricot, white peach, floral elements too. But not remotely heavy. Nicely finessed and, goodness me, it's hard to resist a second or third glass.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Such fun being part of the community - thank you to everybody whose wines appear on my feed. I've learned so much from so many people and value the constant sources of inspiration from everyone. — 7 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

There are some places in the world where they view present day America as a place where we expect to be happy. Should we feel bad they live in places where you should just expect hardship? We live in a time and place where we can focus on building our inner selves and have a chance at....When we're not constantly putting out fires we can really focus on...should that be a source of shame. When the desperate struggle to find food and shelter is finally behind us, we can turn our attention to other sources of pain and truth.
This is the kinda wine you feel bad about being able to enjoy. I feel privileged. — 8 years ago

romo

9.3

Called St Joe Syrah. Fig and plum smoke, beautiful balance. Took this home. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon Blend – 2023
Bates Ranch · Fellom Ranch · Monte Bello · Vidovich Vineyards – Santa Cruz Mountains – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A beautifully balanced mountain Cabernet blend with a composition of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot that showcases Ridge’s signature restraint. The 2023 vintage delivers intensity without excess, deep, structured fruit framed by refreshing acidity and lifted aromatics. A wonderfully clear expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ cool-climate character.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, plum, and wild blackberry layered with graphite, cedar, dried sage, and faint tobacco leaf. Hints of violet, cocoa, and mountain herbs add nuance as it opens.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with refined tannins, bright natural acidity, and a mineral-driven core. Concentrated yet composed, power without heaviness. The finish is long, savory, and clean.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, rosemary lamb, roasted mushrooms, beef tenderloin, or aged cheeses like Comté or Cheddar.

Verdict
A lovely, balanced, and quietly intense Cabernet that delivers depth without going over the top. This is classic Ridge, mountain purity, elegance, and quiet power.

Did You Know?
Ridge sources this wine from four historic high-elevation vineyards, Bates, Fellom, Monte Bello, and Vidovich, all influenced by ocean-cooled nights and fractured limestone soils. These sites consistently produce Cabernets with structure and freshness uncommon in California. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Fruit sources from 7 organic vineyards over 3 AVA’s, Ruby with aromas of red/black fruits and earthy spices. On the palate youthful flavors of cherry and black raspberry, cacao, tea and licorice notes with elegant spice. Fine rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, cedar and earthy mineral notes. Good value! — 4 years ago

Kirsten Christiansen

9.5

One of the things I love in a Sauvignon blanc is when it has that green pepper thing going on and Marlborough is one of the most consistent sources for that so I always celebrate when I find a good one. And this is a good one. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

Awesome...and surprisingly approachable given that it’s in the early edge of the estimated driking window from a couple of different sources. 15min in that new decanter and it’s ready to go (althought it has years of evolution ahead of it). Just fantastic! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Eric Stec

9.3

2015 on May 21, 2019
A very distinct, unique red with tannins and fruit, but an unexpected and nuanced presence of berry, slight cinnamon, nutmeg and stone. Amazing round of all the reasons wine is a treasure. Hunting this down again! Costco Christmas package. — 7 years ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Love all the ‘09 Roessler Pinot Noir. Too bad they sold the rights to most of their sources. — 8 years ago

with Bonnie