#AgedWineTuesday
This is a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Paso Robles. Easy drinking and spicy at this point.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Showing red and black fruits with vanilla, licorice, cedar, earth, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, chocolates and coffee.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
Showing great complexity with a smooth mouthfeel. So pleasant and enjoyable by itself, and really gorgeous after 3 hours of airtime.
This 23 year old is not going to get any better with time, but it is delicious now. I just love these aged Bordeaux blends.
Interesting, elegant and rich. Fruit forward and extracted.
I've had a younger vintage of the Reserve a few years ago, and it is very consistent. Nice to see these quality wines out of Paso Robles.
Robert Parker 91 points.
A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 19% Merlot. Aged in French oak barrels for 33 months (60% new). Unfiltered and unfined.
14% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$180. — 3 days ago
Absolutely delicious. The 27% Zin makes itself noticed on the nose, which has the telltale brambly blackberry competing with the deep red berries of the Carignane. And there’s a bit of the signature Ridge American oak adding a vanilla/smoky note on top of a little gravel. Texturally soft and mouthfilling, it’s ripe but in beautiful balance. Tangy acids from the Carignane. A bit of tannin, but it’s very soft. I don’t see this as a long ager, but really nice now. The finish is a little short, but that’s common in my view with Carignane, which tend to give a significant initial whack of flavor and then dissipates quickly. — 14 days ago
Bargain find in Houston TX. Lovely blend of pepper, blackberries and cranberries and the slightest hint of effervescence that gives lift. Enjoyed outside in 90 degree Texas humidity and was light as a feather. Perfect example of the balance that can be achieved with California wines. — 3 days ago
Consistently my favorite RM Pinot, this was the last of my 2016s…no restraint! No surprise, it showed the most layers but also the most in reserve for evolving down the road. For those who still have, I’d hold another 2-3yrs, or decant 2+hrs.
This was opened later in the evening alongside other wines, but at least was given a decant for about an hour before it was mostly consumed. Out of the 2016 single vineyard Pinots I’ve consumed, the easy answer is it’s mostly similar to the Summa, but just because that’s the easy answer doesn’t mean it’s the wrong one. The similarities with the black tea, pomegranate, mint, and muddled underripe raspberries are obvious but where it diverges from the Summa is with the blood orange…the citrus layers here are absolutely fantastic. A great combo of fruit and savory notes (doesn’t seem to have much whole cluster), with nervy acidity and a lengthy finish. This is just beginning to unfurl. — 2 days ago
Optio Vineyards San Luis Obispo Grenache 2020, California
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Strong nose of blueberries, dried figs, raisins, oak, licorice, cooked cherries, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light tobacco and black pepper.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with stewed blueberries, cherries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, bitter herbs and peppercorn.
Nice length on the finish with round tannins.
This young Grenache is drinking very nicely already. Spicy and rich.
Nicely balanced with mild complexity. Showing a smooth mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
Easy drinking and good by itself. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
Grapes were aged in oak barrels for 17 months. A tiny production of only 3 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$58. — 9 days ago
Has the stuff to go the distance. — 4 days ago
Loved it. Great finish. — 13 days ago
Ganesh
Sooooo good . Get your hand on it an drink! — 7 days ago