Petite Verdot

Stags' Leap Winery

Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2020

This is a full bodied wine providing intense, concentrated flavors of blueberries, raspberries, violets, and cassis, with an underlying layer of dried herbs. It has quite high tannins that provide a chalky mouthfeel, but it’s balanced nicely by med/high acidity. On the finish, notes of earthy bitter chocolate accompany the fruit and violets, and the tannins provide just a slightly drying mouthfeel. I think this wine would go well with something robust like ribeye, lamb, or smoked ribs/brisket. I had it with sausage and mushroom pizza, and after the first glass it became a bit too much. — 12 days ago

Tom, Matt and 3 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 8 days ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 9 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

A big brooding breast. Intense and slightly feral. Powerful deep fruit, ferrous notes, pepper and a hint of band aid. Really present and powerful but still refined. A great wine — 19 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Shay, Jay and 4 others liked this

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Elivette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

I sort of forgot that today marked the 50th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris and this was the best I could do to celebrate in the moment; a wine from a participating producer but in the red category, instead of white. From magnum, the 2010 “Elivette” pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, Fresno chili, dried purple flowers, purple SweeTarts, tobacco, some dried herbs and fine spices with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ viscosity and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is long with ferrous minerals. Tasty stuff. Drink now with some patience and through 2040. Bottle No. 095/900 magnums. — a month ago

Matt, Jan and 8 others liked this

Château Lascombes

Margaux Merlot Blend 2005

So much lighter than the CA wines but delightful. Possible WOTN. — a month ago

Scott@Mister, Peter and 11 others liked this

Realm Cellars

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

KA
9.3

Jean Georges Steakhouse Las Vegas — 20 days ago

Rick liked this

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Merlot Blend 2023

fun bottle - will be great in 5 years. nice pre-ripe black currant on the finish — a month ago

Bogle Family Vineyards

California Petite Sirah 2022

Excellent red and great value. Bought at Jacksonville, Florida and drank in Dublin, Ireland — 2 days ago

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2022

Somm David T
9.2

Two things were true tasting this 2022, it wasn’t their best bottling & it was no near ready to drink. Hard to tell which is more true. Maybe, it improves in time?

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window. #

2026 Taste of Oakville.
— 5 days ago

Tom, Scott@Mister and 8 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Somm David T
9.2

Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.

2026 Taste of Oakvile
— 5 days ago

Paul, Peter and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline @Somm David T — Love reading the dialog!
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Thanks @Tom Casagrande I love and appreciate my fellow Somm, @Somm David T ‘s perspective greatly so I too enjoyed the dialogue

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Subdued but pleasant. Bought at JAL Mall for ¥9,500. — a month ago

Orin Swift Cellars

Machete Petite Sirah Blend

It was great buy more — 22 days ago

Château Chasse-Spleen

Moulis en Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

We took no specific notes but an excellent cabernet based médoc that is always elegant and well done. — a month ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 4 others
Peter, Jamie and 2 others liked this
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

We took no specific notes but an excellent cabernet based médoc that is always elegant and well done.
Alexandre Pagliano

Alexandre Pagliano Premium Badge

Dark rubi robe with violet reflexes. Nose of tobacco, cedar, liquorice and asian spices. On the young aide but great médoc that is mostly cabernet but with some fresh merlot in it. Good stuff as always.

Ridge Vineyards

Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and dried mixed brambles, Luxardo cherries, red and purple flowers, black pepper, vanilla and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is one of the more approachable young Geyserville’s I’ve had in a long time and remains on of my favorite Zinfandel-based blends from Ridge. Drink now through 2048. — 2 days ago

Daniel, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

For me, one of their top three blends. Maybe, two.
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T yep. Lytton maybe just behind.

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend

Ridge Three Valleys 2023
Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A classic Sonoma field blend composed of 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Crafted in Ridge’s signature transparent style, this vintage leans toward a riper and more fruit-driven expression than many of the winery’s other bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry preserves, ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry compote dominate, supported by touches of black pepper and baking spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and a broad, generous texture. The fruit lingers across the palate with a warm, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
A natural companion for barbecue, smoked meats, burgers, and hearty pizza.

Verdict
While impeccably made, this is one of the few Ridge wines that didn’t quite resonate with my palate. It leans a bit too jammy and overripe for my preference, though lovers of rich, fruit-forward California reds will likely find plenty to enjoy.

Did You Know?
Ridge has long been one of California’s pioneers of ingredient transparency, listing the exact grape composition directly on the label.

🍷 Personal Pick
I truly love Ridge wines, but I’d still reach for Lytton Springs or Geyserville before this bottling. If bold, juicy Zinfandel blends are your style, however, this one could easily become a favorite.
— 18 days ago

Ted, ESF and 1 other liked this

Venge Vineyards

Scout's Honor Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend 2022

Full bodied zen- very nice wine. It was better with some air so let it breath — 16 days ago

Matthiasson

Napa Valley Red Blend 2014

Paul J
9.4

PnP. Always great! See previous notes. — 4 days ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke

Dominus Estate

Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013

This showed dark cherry, berry, currant fruit, earth, spice & tobacco notes with a Bordeaux style — a month ago

Ira, Rob and 7 others liked this

Turley

Hayne Vineyard Petite Syrah 2004

Pretty good. Kicked off a lot of sediment

Great structure and opened up to reveal the fruit after 30 mins to an hour
— a month ago

Tom, Paul and 1 other liked this

Château Meyney

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2020

2020 vintage. Has it all and right now. Picked up for $34.99 at Trader Joe’s. PNP or decant…your choice. 5.13.26. — a month ago

Ruud, Doug and 13 others liked this