Monte Sur

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Last had 4 years ago and was excited to check in - this didn’t disappoint. That perfect ridge mix of old world sensibility and composition with new world fruit and character. 13.8%. Finish is long with nice acid. Great pairing with steaks. Nice wine.

Happy New Year!
— 7 days ago

Jay, Ira and 7 others liked this

François Chidaine

Les Choisilles Montlouis-sur-Loire Chenin Blanc 2020

14.5%. 🍎 apples, ripe, a big wine. Really well done yet over the top for me. Apple pie. A fantastic wine for asian food! I had a hard time with this one! On one side I was smitten and on the other side I was wondering what could this wine be with this quality grape material picked earlier and therefore less alcohol and more elegance? — a month ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 2 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

These days that’s not an uncommon question to ask.
Matthew Cohen

Matthew Cohen

Elegance schmelegance. 14.5% is the new 13%.

Get with the program ;-)

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 24 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age.
— 12 days ago

Ted, Sagee and 9 others liked this

Delamotte

Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2018

Brioche and yummy green fruit. Good on its own without food since the acidity wasn't very high. — 11 days ago

Romano Dal Forno

Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore Corvina Blend 2013

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…

So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039.
— a month ago

Mark, Douglas and 6 others liked this
Zach D

Zach D

That’s a super tough blind tasting. Good deductive reasoning. Cheers

Krug

Clos du Mesnil Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 2005

Elegance in a bottle — 3 days ago

Juan, Rob and 4 others liked this

Union des Proprietaires Recoltants

Le Mesnil Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Non vintage but with >5 years bottle age. Amazingly dry and crisp. Was not expecting apple and dryness. So fine with yeasty notes. Long and satisfying — 9 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

An icon for a reason. Exactly what you want from a California Cab. Balanced yet bold, powerful yet refined. Amazing. — 24 days ago

Marc, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Unlike most other Cabs they use American Oak

Louis M. Martini

Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Delicious cab. Aged nicely. Paired well with our slow cooked beef. — 20 days ago