Karyn Fricke

9.1

Very good. Lots of fruit. Well balanced although a bit high on the alcohol side. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

For more than 75 years, the Martini family winemakers have crafted wines from Sonoma and Napa counties. Michael Martini, 3rd generation carries on the tradition. 100% Cab, aged in French oak (75% new) for over 2 years. Deep Ruby, aromas of red/black fruit, complex spice with smoky notes. Flavors of blackberry and currants with an earthy character adding a array of spices. Fine tannins, opening nicely, long finish, ending with notes of fruit, cacao & tobacco. Still has room to age. — a day ago

David Walser

9.5

I tasted their higher priced bottling several years ago that I really enjoyed so when this popped up on Wine Access I jumped on it. So sad that I didn’t order a case as this is a delicious wine. Celebrating a birthday out on the town for a change. — 5 days ago

Michelle OwensMartin

9.4

Light-bodied, thin-legged Pinot with notes of red cherry, baker’s vanilla, milk chocolate, tar, and unburned firecrackers on the nose. I have a tendency to smell firecrackers. Anyhoo on the palate cranberry and tart cherry with hints of herbaceous eucalyptus, mint, cinnamon, and black tea. Short finished but well balanced. Went surprisingly well with pizza rolls. — 6 days ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 3 days ago

Shay A

9.3

WNH Sonoma Coast Pinot tasting.

I decanted this for almost two hours, consumed half, and then sealed and came back to it two days later.

Strawberry everything, for the most part. Strawberry preserves topped with some black pepper, sage, lots of floral notes, and currant. Acidity is really nice on the palate, with a lifted profile yet rich. Not full on kirsch, but some added ripe black raspberries, plum, and herbal spice toward the finish. When I came back to this a few days later, it was much more expressive and had just a kiss of orange zest. Obviously young, but fun to try. I’d hold another 3+yrs, or decant for a couple hours. — 9 days ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

Opens with a spicy black currant, plum, and cracked pepper nose. Heavy and round in the mouth, leading to a long sweet finish, with nice mid-palete acidity. The Mourvèdre is very expressive. — 6 days ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of light burgundy, bubbly and clear. Nose of nice aldehyde, ripe raspberry, wet mushroom, a bit cinnamon and soda powder, and a bit savory spice. Nose is very good. Taste follows nose with addition of bitter zest, a bit metallic note, peppery, and some more sweetness from berries. Aftertaste is medium long. Pretty good. — 5 days ago

ESF

8.9

Not sure if Draper is still making these wines, but Ridge has been so consistent & solid over the years... and this affordable kitchen sink blend is delicious: dark & rich, big extraction here w/mouth coating tannins and gobs of brambly red & black berry fruit. Def some oak in this bad boy, hi ABV as well. Bit unruly right now - probably needs a nap for a few years. — 9 days ago

Tom Garland

9.4

This is the Pauillac style of their 3 wines with 71% cab, 14% merlot, & cab franc, malbec, Petit verdot. +3 hour decant (lots of chunky sediment). A superlative deep dark garnet color. On the nose: dark cherry, vanilla cream, pine tree, blackberry, cedar, and slight minty menthol. Taste: an intense, smooth, full body wine with blackberry, cassis, tobacco, red plum, crushed gravel, and a peppery mineral long finish. YUM!!.....drinking well with the +3 hour decant, and should have many years ahead, no hurry. — 13 days ago

with Brenda