Pepper's Pride

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022

Pale lemon in color.

Dry on the palate with a pronounced nose.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Showing limes, grapefruits, lemons, green apples, spices, herbs and light earth.

Long finish with tangy limes.

This is a delicious Chardonnay from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and complex. Elegant and robust at the same time.

A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Showing potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.
— 24 days ago

Ira, Tom and 12 others liked this

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

The surprise of the night. An over performer. Dranks with a full body. Tastes of a more expensive wine. — 2 months ago

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Sonoma County/Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

2021 vintage. Perhaps the most polished Pride Mountain red I've ever had. Missed the chunky rusticity. Had this been blind tasted, never ever woulda guessed Pride Mountain. All that said, the juice is drinking closer to a Shafer style. Slightly feminine and easily navigated tannins. 8.28.24 — 3 months ago

Ted, Ray and 13 others liked this
Norman Gennaro

Norman Gennaro Premium Badge

This and their Merlot have held up pretty well. Found in storage and need to burn. Not hard work.

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Sonoma County Cabernet Franc 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days. Better on Day 2 and Day 3. The 2021 pours a deep ruby with near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of red brambles, green bell pepper, tobacco, purple flowers, dry gravely earth, soft 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 and satisfying. I don’t drink Pride very often but there is a lot to like. Super consistent. Drink now with some patience but better after 2026 and through 2041 — 7 months ago

Douglas, "Odedi" and 8 others liked this

Paloma

Napa Valley Syrah 1997

So, Barbara and Jim Richards (RIP) planted 5 acres back in 1991 (1990?) of Syrah on the northeast (downslope) corner of their Paloma vineyard on Spring Mountain in what visually looked like a “low spot” (partially shaded and also maybe an area that maybe occasionally got standing water back in the days when California got enough rain). The rest of the vineyard was of course Merlot and also some Cabernet Sauvignon used mostly for blending with their fantastic mountain Merlot. The vineyard is just east of Pride Mountain and across the road from what used to be (??) Schweiger Vineyards.

Anyway, Bob Foley, who was making the wines for Pride in those early days, was consulting for Barbara and Jim early on, but I have ZERO information as to what involvement he had with the Syrah, if I recall correctly, the first Syrah in 1995 was less than a barrel (12-15 cases), and was aged in a super OLD, neutral barrel. My Chicago friends, who knew the Richards, dragged me along to taste that fateful day. That 1995 Syrah, first wine they ever made from those young Syrah vines, was, frankly, eye-opening and FANTASTIC, as I told Jim Richards that day. After tasting the INCREDIBLE 1995 Syrah, which was so northern Rhône-like and so pure, I begged Jim to sell me a bottle or two, but he politely declined. Later that day, after tasting the rest of their great wines, as we were leaving, Jim GAVE me a 4-pack box of that 1995 Syrah, which he wouldn’t accept any $$$ for, and that 1995 Syrah still in my memory remains the GREATEST CA Syrah I’ve ever tasted!!

As you can probably tell, I adored Jim and Barbara Richards, amazing people and generous to a fault!! Amazing people!!! I don’t think I ever met their son, Sheldon, but from all accounts he is continuing the tradition of great Paloma wines, though that great Syrah vineyard was pulled out in the early 2000s — Sheldon, if you happen to see this post, I welcome any corrections if I got any details wrong!!

Oh, and this Syrah is pretty dang good as well!!!
— 17 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Scott@Mister, John and 7 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Doug Powers so enjoyed! Thanks
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Love the story!
Aravind A

Aravind A Premium Badge

This is what great wine is all about.

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Reserve Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Big ripe flavors of berry, plum, cassis, silky, balanced with its fresh acidity showing notes of cedar, mocha & spice — 5 months ago

Shay, Tom and 7 others liked this

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Mountain Top Vineyard Merlot 2000

Cedar, red licorice and ganache. — a month ago

Juan liked this

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

ready to drink, delicious cab. — 2 months ago

Ron, Paul and 9 others liked this

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Sonoma County Viognier 2023

September 7, 2024 at Pirouette. — 2 months ago

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Sonoma County Merlot 2007

Need to drink these but still very nice. — 3 months ago

Paul, jesus and 5 others liked this