Jakub Kalinowski

9.3

Tight & closed with dark black currant, graphite, cracked pepper, green bell pepper and an animalistic whiff. With time more fruit comes to the front but also some bay leaf, the graphite turns into stony minerality.
On the palate this is tightly wound around a core of pure black fruit and graphite & iron minerality. Amazing energy & power yet in a closed, quiet way. Gloved. Terrific depth. Love the cloves & bay leaf & rocky minerality in the super long finish.
This is quite profound - and is so very young.
A great wine from an unusual place. Love it! — 8 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.3

Medium Ruby with lovely aroma of cherries, Raspberry, red plum, red currant, mountain herbs and violet. Medium body, crisp acidity and medium Intensity flavors of cherry, plum, raspberry, violet and an herbal note of bay leaf and bell pepper. One year aging in older barrels. Only 1,000 bottles produced. The tannins are notably soft and silky. La Visciola is widely considered the greatest producer of wines from the Cesanese grape (they also have two other bottlings). — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

Let's start the week off with another Left Bank Bordeaux the 2016 Les Clos Des Carmes Haut-Brion. The second wine from Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion a blend of 51% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot.

On the nose the is brambly black fruit, black cherry, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, vegital notes, bay leaf, chocolate, currants and minerals.

On the palate I am getting black cherry, cherry, plum, blackberry, vegital notes, green bell pepper, violets and minerals.

This wine is medium to full bodied with medium + acidity and medium+ grippy tannins that has a long dark fruit mineral finish. Have a great week and stay healthy and safe for the rest of the week. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.2

Nose is clean, medium intensity of cranberry, bramble, green bell pepper, eucalyptus, fennel, tomato leaf, vanilla, coconut, cedar, nutmeg, mushroom, vegetal, wet leaves, and farmyard. All of the above on the palate plus dark cherry, blackberry, butterscotch, charred wood, leather, and forest floor. Medium tannins, high alcohol, and medium plus acid. — a year ago

Renato Hoyle

9.0

Match stick, ethanol, green bell pepper — 2 years ago

Seth Masterson

9.3

I'm probably partial because he's my neighbor but anyway the glass is full of spicy artisan black licorice and fruit leather made with black currants and just a touch of bell pepper on the nose that triggers a mouth watering effect for me.
First taste is very earthy, to the point that you would think that there's got to be dirt on your teeth. It's thankfully lighter than most 'Cali cabs' but it is grown in a high (300m) area of the Santa Cruz Mountains and blended with an intelligent mix of merlot (17%) and cab franc (4%). And only 13% abv.
I think it's about $45 or $50 retail which is a steal. — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

Tonight's wine is the 2017 Ridge Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

The nose has rich dark fruits of black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, licorice, chocolate, violets, graphite and rich earth.

The palate reveals black cherry, blackberry, black currant, green bell pepper, soft toasted oak, graphite, licorice, spice, violet and earth.

This wine is full bodied filling the mouth with rich notes, medium + acidity and medium + mouth coating grippy tannins that moves nicely into a long black fruit finish. This wine does not disappoint for a second wine from Ridge. I hope your week has been going well and we have all been safe and healthy. Let's look forward to the weekend with more openings. Have a great rest of your week. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Shengli Hu

8.9

Medium minus concentration of garnet color. BRETT. Roasted green bell pepper, tart tomato leaves, hawthorn, iodine, dried tea leaves, oregano, bay leaf, blood/sanguine. Medium acidity, dissolved medium+ tannins, medium+ finish. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.4

45 min decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable medium garnet color with bricking. On the nose: beautiful perfumed notes burst from the glass with sour cherry, mint, dusty earth, currants, wet cedar, green bell pepper....could sniff all night! Taste: soft and round, smooth, elegant wine with raspberry, cedar, currants, musky earth, and a nice dark chocolate cherry finish. YUM! A wine that has hit its stride over the past few years with time to go. — a year ago

with Brenda

Nick Arensdorf

9.1

Juicy fresh blackberries and reduced black cherry, bay leaf and green bell pepper, and graphite. Subtleties of anise, mint, sandalwood and vanilla. Bursting flavor on the palate in my opinion. Deep purple, medium tannin, medium acidity. Yummy $15 rec from Mark and BGarden. — 3 years ago