Joan Ziegler

9.2

Big bold long finish. Terrific for celebrating Jeffery’s birthday at the Hilltop restaurant in Truckee with Sylvia Lucy & Rafael. Great wine to accompany great food & even better company! — 17 days ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Another winner at $25.00

K&L notes as follows,

Oakridge's Single Vineyard wines are renowned for their stunning transparency, allowing the unique characteristics of each vintage to shine through. Among the Chardonnays produced by Oakridge in 2021, the Willowlake stood out as the undisputed star. Situated on a distinctive, 900 ft elevation site in the Upper Yarra, the Willowlake vineyard is planted on red, volcanic soils, wrapping a hilltop with a predominantly northern aspect. This unique location yields Oakridge's most robust expression of Yarra Valley Chardonnay. The aromatic profile of the Willowlake Chardonnay is incredibly striking, beginning with a foundation of stone fruit, complemented by notes of brioche and lemon. As the wine breathes in the glass, a subtle oak character emerges, revealing hints of baking spice. On the palate, a powerful surge of Meyer lemon takes center stage, accented by nuances of mandarin and saline. What makes this wine truly special is its weighted center, balanced by agile outer edges. This duality grounds the core fruit flavors while maintaining a lively dance around the palate's edges. The wine's acidity is perfectly balanced, making its presence known in the mid-palate and persisting through a long, umami-rich finish. This is classic Oakridge - a harmonious blend of power and finesse. The Willowlake Chardonnay is substantial and serious, yet simultaneously refreshing and vibrant. It stands as another testament to the exceptional value of Oakridge's Chardonnay. — 2 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Smokey dark red cherry, menthol, eucalyptus, cooked mushrooms, and barnyard funk on the nose. The palate presents dark cherry, cinnamon, clove, cooked strawberry, rhubarb, fresh strawberry, cranberry, and minerals. Low tannins, medium alcohol, high acid, and long finish. Excellent SLH. — 4 years ago

with Susan

Michael Herzog

9.1

Beautiful cherry flavors and a nicely balanced cab. Love their single vineyard cabs. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1996, with 76 acres on hilltop in the Yakima Valley, and planted 10 acres of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc & Syrah, with first harvest 2000 and created L’Orage, blend of the 3 planted grapes. Deep Ruby with rich fruit aromas with floral oak spice, for this Napa offering. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with cacao and toasty cedar notes. Fine tannins, a bit tight, long finish, well integrated, nicely balanced. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, dark chocolate, limestone minerals, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

The body is still firm, thick, grainy and full. The structure, tension are still tight. The length and balance are working their way into adolescence. Sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, black raspberries, juicy, black plum, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, semi-sweet tarriness, understated herbaceousiness, limestone minerals, powdery sandstone leather, dry tobacco, saddle-wood to cedar plank, dark spice, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

It’s still a youthful wine with another 10-15 years ahead.

Photos of; the hilltop town of Barbaresco with the Produttori tasting room underneath and right of the tower, the Produttori tasting room and the co-op of Produttori. Third largest in Europe. — 7 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

v20. Never disappoints..ever! Soft dried herb and cedar nose. Juicy, rich, black currant fruit. Velvety, long, slightly astringent mocha and leather finish. Nicely balanced food wine. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A few things; I still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge, not even a corked bottle & I’ve had a number of them. First time having this bottling. I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends but when I do, I prefer Ridge’s style.

96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. Decanted 40 minutes.

Intense nose of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries and hints of blueberries, incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty, dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice, some; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers.

The palate shows; round, lush & juicy fruits of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, liqueured dark cherries. boysenberries, notes of poached strawberries and hints of blueberries. Incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice with some heat, a little; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, finely crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, used iron pan notes, powdered minerals, liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers, excellent round acidity, tall structure & fairly big tension, well balanced and nicely, layered, polished finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds.

Still a bit young to me. Better in 5-7 yrs and will drink well for another 5-7 after that. More new wood use here than I am used to in their Zin & Zin blends.

Paired nicely with my Allen Brothers burger.

Photos of; the drive up entry to Ridge’s tasting room hilltop above Cupertino, cellar barrel, Ponzo Vineyard fruit and their tasting terrace. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Happy Prosecco Week!  We’re celebrating the occasion with a special bottle that is NOT the kind of Prosecco you’d use for your mimosas …

It’s the 2021 Cartizze, Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG produced by Bisol, a family-owned and -operated winery since 1542.

It comes from the prized, historic hilltop site of Cartizze (a “grand cru” level vineyard in Prosecco Superiore DOCG). This single vineyard site is treasured for its ideal growing conditions, capable of producing the highest quality fruit to make highest quality Prosecco.
 
Elevations stretch up to 1,000+ ft offering both cooling influences and increased sunlight interception, especially with a south-facing aspect. Fruit going into a Cartizze wine must be hand-harvested, which promotes fruit selectivity.

You may notice the label doesn’t even mention “Prosecco” … this is because the quality of the location “Superiore di Cartizze DOCG” supersedes any other naming convention in terms of indicating the wine style.

Its color is pale lemon with a delicate, creamy mousse. The nose opens with a medium intensity bouquet of lemon peel, ripe pear, apple, quince, white peach, honeysuckle, white blossom, and blanched almond. On the palate, this wine is off dry, with medium alcohol (ABV 11.5%), and medium(+) acidity, lending balance to the structure and profile. Flavors match the nose and it’s delicious, layered, and vibrant.

Cheers to the diverse world of Prosecco! — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Brandon Boesch

9.5

Frog’s Leap. “Hilltop” Rossi Vineyard Cabernet blend. Nose of dirt, currants, anise, plums, just slightest hint of violets. Palate is plums, currants, herbs, a bit of cocoa, some tobacco, pepper, and subtle tannins. Will be interesting to see how this ages since it’s so enjoyable with an hour of air now. — 6 years ago

Donald Williams

9.1

This is how you make Thanksgiving turkey leftovers special: Meeks Hilltop Zinfandel from Peter Wellington. — 7 years ago

with Bonnie

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.

This was a very nice Pinotage. Not quite the same style as Kanonkop. It’s a little softer and not quite as dark in fruit. Still a very well made wine. Enjoyed it quite a lot.

Photos of, the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, Anthony’s pouring our tasting, barrels around our tasting, and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop. — 7 years ago

JKT

9.0

Nicely matured but still up on the hilltop. No need to wait. — a year ago

Matt Perlman

9.5

Sangiovese / sagrantino / montepulciano blend from hilltop vineyard, several years of tank and cask ageing but no new wood. Huge wine but somehow manages to be lively and dimensional. Dark, fleshy red and black fruits with lots of savory, herbal and floral elements — 2 years ago

Eric Grasser

9.2

Special hilltop vineyard of 3 acres of 70-year-old vines. A natural matured profile such as dried cherries, tangy raspberry, sandy tannins, powdered soil, licorice and full of truffle. Still a bit austere with a sharp acid drive — 3 years ago

Rio Kara Herbik

10

Wonderful and surprising Syrah tasted at Tinto Wine at Hilltop in VA Beach as a part of a Thankgiving themed tasting. — 4 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.3

Hidden gem. Made with fruit from 3 hilltop vineyards. Raspberry jam, rose petal, leather. Beautiful tannins. Another one that delivers the next day. Perfect with Pastaria, while taking care of 3 kids, solo. — 4 years ago

Rebecca Fallon

9.3

Gorgeous natural wine, great on its own, clear and light. — 6 years ago

Marla Frederick

9.6

Perfect V-Day wine from Monterey — starts out with some botanicals and softly rolls across the palate into lapsang souchong and coffee beans. Despite the Italian name, I feel I am on a lush hilltop in Southeast Asia. Not an everyday drinker due to price, but an ideal special occasion wine, particularly one falling on Friday fish day. — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Poached pear and brown sugar, baked apple with cloves, cinnamon, black tea, orange peel, sage, red hots, grilled corn husk, tamarind, nutmeg and yam lead you into the glass. Big rosemary-sage entry and dark caramel release the heat beast of cinnamon, cedar, ginger, stemmy pepper, lemon oil, cherry, pine resin, smoke, tobacco leaf burn, and a pleasant vanilla-Pecan finish that leaves a dry, satisfying sensation. Wild, hot rocket through the centuries to a smoldering hilltop and a fine clogging replete with déjà-vu. — 7 years ago