Santa Ema

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. The 1985 is lovely and came more than willing, with a mix of tart, ripe and desiccated red fruits, Montmorency cherries, red currants, graphite, toasted coconut, leather and nuts. There was a slightly sherried character early on the nose but the structure seemed to defy age. No need to cellar further as this is delicious now and well stored examples should continue to be through 2030+. — 11 days ago

Jan, Ira and 12 others liked this

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Grenache 2021

Nose: elegantly herbal.

Palate : delicious. Sweet cherry. Some spice. Salivatory.

Long finish.

47% stem.
— 13 days ago

Paolo Bea

Santa Chiara Umbria Bianco Malvasia Blend 2019

Pours a copper-gold color that will immediately make you wonder if this has been oxidized, but apparently that's the style. Like their reds, they seem to turn everything up to 11 in Montefalco.

After decanting in the glass, aromas of toffee, white flowers, almonds, bitter oranges, and minerals. Very funky and interesting, but not something I'd hand innocent wine drinkers.
— 19 days ago

Ira, Joe and 4 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Bea 😍

Tensley

Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2023

2023 vintage. From Coravin. Syrah for Cabernet drinkers. Massive, smooth body and currently without any of the quirky, bretty Syrah flavors that can pull a full frontal assault on the palate. Delicious. Would love to taste in a decade to see what weightiness has left the building and how it has been replaced by the wine nature abhors a vacuum flavors. 10.23.24. — 21 days ago

Ericsson, Ron and 12 others liked this

Roar

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2017

Just drinking great and loaded with complex and integrated fruits, cola and other. Nice long finish — 7 days ago

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Rosé of Grenache 2023

Nose: rose. Perfumed. Elegant. Intense in a pretty way.

Palate : mineral. Bright cherry.
— 13 days ago

Ceritas

Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

Nice wine, but a bit less full and interesting than I was hoping. Slightly thin and almost a bit watery. Still nice refinement and a decent finish. — 24 days ago

Ira, Bob and 3 others liked this
Tyler Felous

Tyler Felous

Have had the same “what am I missing” experience with Ceritas. Perhaps just drinking too young…or not?
Pooneet K

Pooneet K Premium Badge

@Tyler Felous I’m not sure. I’ve had other bottlings - both younger and older - that I quite enjoyed. But for the price the variability is disappointing.
Tyler Felous

Tyler Felous

Agreed. Waiting on some of their new Cabernet bottlings. Optimistic 🤞

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Ron R
9.3

Honeydew melon and pineapple everywhere.. broad and expansive on the mid-palate. Moderate and honied sweetness is tucked in with complementary acidity. A beauty. — 4 days ago

Tom, Ted and 21 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2014

2014 drunk in 2024. I kept a bottle of this $14(!!) wine—2015 price—for 8 years on a hunch that it would hold up, and it did. I don’t know what it costs now, but back then it was head and shoulders the best American supermarket wine. — 8 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Wow! Really hit the spot with the next generation. We went out with a bunch of 30 something things and they fell over for this wine. So did I and can’t believe how good it was. Really would like to get some more. — 12 days ago

Bruce liked this