Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Most of the wines I open tell me a story w/ each sip. Most tied to my late wife Sofia. My memories of this producer precedes her.

This is a producer that flashed early in my wine journey. Generally, one you have moved on from today. That’s until, their 2013 is offered at $39 recently. A grand vintage. For me, I wanted to see the wineries progression and experience earlier memories that flood back w/ each sip. It has done that.

I have a Napa history infatuation. This one is kinda of a pleasure-pain thing. While I enjoyed this producer many years ago, the 2020 Glass Fires destroyed 90% of their vineyards, almost all their structures & their 19 & 20 vintages. I can’t express enough what a gut punch that is for its owners & staff. It is an insurance nightmare and let’s not forget that after all the time it takes to re-plant vines, it takes at least 7 years before you get useable fruit to make wine. So…a ten yr plus setback w/ nearly no revenue stream.

The wine tonight w/o a ribeye, showed excellent fruits that the 13 growing season brought. But what followed was a lean mid plate and finish. With the steak, not so.

The palate shows M+ velvety, dry tannins. Ripe, rich, lush, ruby fruits of: blackberries, black plum, baked plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, poached & fresh strawberries & an understated array of purple fruits. Moist, grey, volcanic clays, moist tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, dry, crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, dry brush, dark cola, black licorice to anise, dry herbs-bay leaf, sage, dark, mid spice with some palate heat, sweet tarriness, dark, fresh, candied & withering red roses, lavender & dry violets, excellent acidity with a well balanced-knitted, nicely structured & tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

This is nice on its own but so much better with a ribeye. 92 on its own with a hour decant. 92-93+ with an hour decant plus a juicy, well seasoned MR ribeye. — 5 months ago

barak heller hayun

8.9

fresh salty acidic trocken Riesling.
blind tasting i was lost and guessing very good entry level chablis, but it's too rich, probably.

chamomile, honeysuckle, whole lime, lemon juice and some green 🍎 with white pepper and sea salt sprinkled on it.

cold it's delicious, warming up complexity arrives.

long pleasant 🎯

drinks lovely on it's own chilling and watching the dead sea. salty enough... — 5 years ago

Martin Sher

9.1

Any day of the week! Great off dry Riesling from one of my favorite wineries. Sweet orchard fruit that goes down with frightening ease. — 6 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.5

Another terrific example from one of my very favorite wineries. Dark and nearly opaque. Inviting floral nose. Rich earthy taste of dark fruit, spices, vanilla and pepper. Long, round finish. This will continue to improve for at least four or five years. — 7 years ago

Christopher

9.0

Nice sweet refreshing red. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Artesa (ahr TESS uh) means "craftsman" and connotes "handcrafted" in Catalan, language of Barcelona and their owner, Codorníu, one of the world's largest and oldest wineries. Ruby with sweet berry fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate cranberry and cherry flavors with spice. Fine savory tannins medium finish ending with mineral notes, nice value. — 9 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Balthasar Ress – Riesling Trocken – 2022
Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
An approachable, region-level dry Riesling from the Rheingau. This 2022 Trocken leans bright, casual, and easy-drinking, an entry point to the estate’s style, offering immediate freshness rather than layered complexity.

Aromas & Flavors
Crisp green apple, lime juice, and a touch of white peach. Light hints of citrus blossom and wet stone add a subtle mineral note. Straightforward and fruit-forward.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, refreshing, and clean. Zesty acidity drives the palate, finishing bright and uncomplicated. A smooth, casual trocken without the depth found in single-vineyard expressions.

Food Pairings
Sushi, salads, grilled shrimp, roasted vegetables, or simple weeknight dishes. A great “fridge door” Riesling for everyday enjoyment.

Verdict
A friendly, no-frills dry Riesling with easy charm. Less complex and more forward than the Hattenheim bottlings, but perfect when you want something crisp, refreshing, and uncomplicated.

Did You Know?
Regional “Rheingau” bottlings are sourced from multiple sites within the appellation. They are designed to showcase a house’s broad style, freshness, purity, and accessibility, without the specific personality of a single vineyard. — 8 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Bright pale gold with a wee bit of haze (unfiltered?). Strong mineral and green apple on the inviting nose. Brisk acidity leads the medium palate which yields layers of ripe green apple, grapefruit rind, wet stone, Melba toast, and others. Finish is stony and lingering. Amazing example of GG Riesling from a premium VDP producer. Ready for a wide range of foods from fish to pork. Upscale of course. Drink now through 2040. — 2 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

Nice cab. I found it lacking a bit of refinement considering we were at one of the best wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe. But solid wine, and amazing winery. Syrah leading the way in this region I strongly believe. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

One of my bottles. One of my favorite wineries and easily one of the top 5 winery visits I’ve ever done. To me, this is “classic” Continuum in that is has just a impeccable balance of both fruit and herbal/savory notes both aromatically and on the palate. I let this slow ox for a couple hours, checking in ever so often, and found this hit stride after about two hours of air. Lovely bouquet of potpourri, lavender, graphite, sage, currant, ripe blackberries, black cherries and mocha. On the palate, its profile is soft yet all encompassing. Mulberries, cassis, tobacco leaves, herbs de Provence, licorice, dark cocoa, baking spices and a touch savory toward the finish. Enjoyable now and not getting better. My thanks to @Bill Bender for this. — 6 years ago

with joe, Weston and 1 other

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

One of CA's oldest wineries, Far Niente, founded in 1885 by world traveler John Benson. The winery flourished until Prohibition, at which time it was abandoned and fell into complete disrepair. The stately stone shell of a winery was purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel. Tropical and stone fruit aromas with complex spice and oak notes. On the palate apple, melon and citrus flavors, creamy, with toasty oak, fig and honey tones. Lingering finish ending with vibrant acidity & mineral character. Consistent. Nice! — 8 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Lily blossom, underripe nectarine. Apricot. Intense acid. Mineral presence. Ripe peach. Med- to med body. — 9 years ago

J Greene

9.2

2nd review on this, third time tasting. Great wine but scored a bit lower than original (maybe I was too excited about one of my fav wineries). Just needs more time. The nose is beautiful but the palate needs a bit more time to balance out. Great complexity and on its way the being a well balanced delight…just another few years. — 9 months ago

Jessica Cansler

9.0

Great dry Riesling. Drank during Hurricane Helene with pierogies! — 2 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark transparent amethyst. Abundant nose of black cherry and wet stone. Medium palate confirms the nose adding a bit more black fruit supported by sturdy, medium acidity. Soft tannins assert toward back palate and on the lengthy finish. A solid intro to German PN with equally solid Rhein earmarks, this food-friendly red is a perfect companion to most fare and a great counterpart for Germany's universal white: Riesling. Drink now through 2026. — 3 years ago

Peter Falk

9.1

Riktigt god Riesling i högform. En favorit — 6 years ago

with Annika Lindh

Bill Mowry

9.0

Eagle Ridge is one of my favorite boutique wineries in Livermore. They use all estate grapes and the Petite Sirah is their signature wine. This 6 year old PS has flavors of plum and brambleberries. — 7 years ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Honey and nectar, pairs beautifully with a blue cheese to balance out the sweetness. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This wine is made by Michel Rolland. Large and in charge merlot. Mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, and a lot of ripe blackberry. Nutmeg and cinnamon. Cab lovers merlot. — 8 years ago

Erin DiGiulio

9.4

Very good, drinkable and pleasant — 9 years ago