Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2015 “Soul of a Lion” pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, plum, purple flowers, Fresno chili, tobacco, leather, vanilla and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and silky. A fairly massive wine but there’s plenty of character to keep it unique and interesting. Drink now through 2035+ — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose raspberries, black blueberries, cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with black cherries, plums, light oak, chocolates, herbs, coffee, licorice, light tobacco, light earth, cola, spices and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Paso Robles is drinking very nicely now. Elegant and rich. I really enjoyed the nose.

At this point, the Mourvedre is more dominant, and it feels like a California Merlot. Tangy and interesting with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and ready to drink. I've had the 2023 vintage recently, which I liked better.

A good food wine that paired nicely with my double cream Brie cheese.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Mourvedre. Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels. A tiny production of only 900 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$62. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 14% Petite Sirah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec & 4% Petit Verdot, aged in 75% new French oak. Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with notes of tar, tobacco and cedar. Fine chalky tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cedar, tobacco and sweet spice. Very nice, easy drinking, enjoy! — 8 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A wondrous dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating notes of black cherry, stewed blue fruit, forest floor, chocolate, grilled meat, pine. Taste: juicy, fresh, velvety wine with dark cherry/plum, dried herbs, crushed gravel, leather, and an orange peel milk chocolate long finish. YUM! Nice representation of the Paso high alc (16%) cab/syrah blend. — a year ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.2

Brecon Estate Feral Underclass Petite Sirah 2020, Paso Robles, California

This is a delicious Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.

Full bodied, big and bold with medium acidity.

Very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits, light cedar, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, coffee, mocha, cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 3 year old Petite Sirah will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. A delicious wine.

A blend of 76% Petite Sirah and 24% Zinfandel. Aged in oak barrels for 18 months (40% new). A small production of only 8 barrels.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$76. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and 17% Shiraz from Paso Robles, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits, cigar box spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with notes of cinnamon, vanilla and cacao. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, lively acidity ending with fruit, toasty oak and herb character. Very nice! — 4 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

This wine is medium dark, with a brilliant ruby edge while pouring. The nose brings red fruit - cherries, plums, raspberries - and a nice toasty vanilla note. The palate offers plenty of fruit and a nice dollop of tannins, just right for pairing with some good meat. I had it with my holiday filet of beef, and it was fine. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 7% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah, deep Ruby color with aromas of red and black fruits with tobacco and woodsy spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with smoky tobacco, black pepper and herb notes. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, ending with fruit and spice. — 3 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

A fine example of white Granache from Paso. 13.5% ABV — 4 months ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Rich, nutty, viscous, mineral undertones, very southern Rhone-like in its aromatic and flavor profile, long, lingering finish, very fine Roussanne!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

An absolute powerhouse from Daou’s crown jewel label from Paso Robles AVA, this is easily one of the most opulent and complex Cabernets Paso Robles has to offer. The 2019 vintage brings depth, elegance, and structure in perfect harmony, bold yet incredibly refined.

It opens with an intense bouquet of cassis, blackberries, and dark chocolate, layered with espresso, cedar, truffle, and just a hint of tobacco and anise. The aromatics alone are captivating.

On the palate, it’s full-bodied and richly textured, with a cascade of dark fruit, mocha, and graphite. Fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity give it great lift and structure. The oak is seamlessly integrated, and the finish is long, luxurious, and multi-layered.

Whether you’re enjoying it now or cellaring it for the next decade or more, this is a bottle that truly delivers. Worth every drop. Cheers! — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

The 2021 Proprietary Red Wine Pure Paso® mixes plum sauce and fig with grilled herbs and dusty dried flowers. It's elegant and refined with supple textures and polished black fruits that envelope the palate in youthful concentration. This leaves a pleasantly chewy saturation and a coating of fine-grained tannins. Finishing long, classically dry and complex. (Eric Guido, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

This 5 year old Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely now.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 16 months in French Oak barrels.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$42. — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

Deep, vivid ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented cherry cola, dark berry and lavender aromas show fine clarity, and licorice and succulent herb notes emerge with aeration. Gently sweet and broad in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet blackberry, cherry preserve, mocha and floral pastille flavors that tighten up through the midpalate. Gently gripping tannins sneak in slowly on an impressively long finish that strongly repeats the spice and floral notes. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2022)
— 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 83% Syrah, 14% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, deep Ruby red color with aromas of black fruits, baking spice and cedar notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe blueberry with pepper, oak, cacao and herb notes. Fine savory tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. Drinking well now, will improve! Nice! — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, dried figs, light cedar, dark chocolates and light black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, peppercorn, licorice and light herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Tempranillo from Paso Robles. Fruit forward, chewy and complex. Rich and extracted.

Already drinking beautifully, although still young, and the alcohol is nicely integrated. It is drinking much better than the 2022 vintage I had not long ago.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine. Paired beautifully with my steak.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

10

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 58% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 6% ZInfandel, 3% Petite Sirah and 3% Graciano, deep Ruby with aromas of red and black fruits, herbs, spices and floral notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and raspberry with floral herbs, cedar, tobacco and black pepper. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, toasty oak, touch of espresso and meaty pepper spice. Good now! — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of 58% Petit Verdot and 42% Petite Sirah, deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, cigar box and herb spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plums and currants with, vanilla, herbs and spice. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, tobacco, cedar and nutty herb spice. Nice! — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

Saturated ruby-red. An expansive bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruit preserves, cherry cola, exotic spices and potpourri; vanilla and licorice accents emerge with air. Deeply concentrated, mineral- and spice-accented blueberry, kirsch and fruitcake flavors are complemented by a hint of candied violet. Broad and seamless in texture, finishing with superb, floral-driven persistence and fine-grained tannins that lend discreet grip. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2022)
— 4 years ago