Solid Ground

Adelsheim

Breaking Ground Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2021

Red fruit, cola, spice. Long finish. Medium tannins. Balanced Pinot noir — a month ago

Castello di Monsanto

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2020

Really tasty. Full bodied with medium acidity and medium/high tannins. Plums with hints of blueberry are joined by interesting herbal notes of thyme and sage. Also has a nice earthiness that veers into a touch of just-ground coffee beans accompanying the fruit and herbal flavors on the finish. Really good, and went well with meatball, ricotta, and mushroom pizza. — 2 months ago

Tegan, Tom and 6 others liked this
Joel Lara

Joel Lara

@Dave I really enjoyed it. Looking to explore more CC. Didn’t have good experiences in the past with Chianti, but I didn’t know that classico was the subregion to get.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Of the other subregions, there are some really good producers of Chianti Rufina.
Joel Lara

Joel Lara

Thanks @Tom Casagrande for the insights. Looking forward to exploring.

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2007

Mary H
9.3

The definition of aging gracefully; astoundingly lifted and perfectly clean flavor. The weight is extraordinarily light for rioja, solid but not rough, with delicate dried fruit, raisin, spice, leather. No harshness or bitterness, not overtly acidic but enough that just disappears into the background. Medium-long finish. Decanted rapidly for ~30 minutes allowed some of the cellar funk to blow off. — 5 months ago

Ira liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend

Pale salmon color, small, delicate bubbles. Aromas of strawberries, lemon zest and grapefruit. What a solid NV champagne, red berry flavors, lemon and stone fruit on the palate.

🍇45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier.

🏅96 Points- Wilfred Wong
🏅93 Points - James Suckling
🏅92 Points - Robert Parker
— 5 months ago

Chad Biscardi
with Chad
Dave, Tom and 15 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Guidalberto Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2021

From makers of Sassicaia, Deep Ruby color with aromas of fresh red & black fruits and earthy floral notes, 55% Cab Sauv, 27% Merlot & 18% Cab Franc. On the palate flavors of cherry, plum & blackberry with floral, licorice, cacao and earthy notes, well integrated. Fine tannins, a wine with a solid structure, elegant and smooth, long finish, great mouth feel ending with fruit and oak. Will age well over next 5+ years. Nice! — 8 months ago

Andrew, Tom and 4 others liked this

Château d'Armailhac

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Not quite as mature as the 2012. The 14 was solid and nice but the aromatics were lacking. Needed more time. — 4 years ago

Ron liked this

Smith & Hook

Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Pat A
9.2

Good solid Cab for $28. Had at Victoria's wine Wednesday. — a day ago

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1986

Poured into a decanter to remove sediment prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 1986 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, green bell pepper, tobacco, dried purple flowers, earth and fine cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (integrated) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A solid but somewhat demure showing, particularly in the midpalate. Drink now. — 19 days ago

Tom, Jan and 7 others liked this

T-Vine Cellars

Hallowed Ground California Red Blend 2020

Jammy & concentrated. Good bulk find — 3 months ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

took about 45 min for first signs of life but opened into a solid mexican cocoa nib and cedar — 5 months ago

Dave, Jay and 5 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

It was more subdued than I expected. I tend to like the Merlot heavy Bordeaux but this one was still a bit muted. Perhaps it needs more time even though it’s well in its recommended range. Dark and heavy. Solid but left me underwhelmed. Decanted. Better after an hour. — 6 months ago

Robin, Tom and 18 others liked this

Seghesio Family Vineyards

Sonoma County Zinfandel 2022

ESF
9.0

So solid, year in year out - I know they make a ton of this, and yes it’s at Costco, but when you’re looking for a reliable Zin, this is it. Bordering on being too fruit forward - this barely checks the box for secondary aromas & flavors. Balanced harmonious with intermediate aging potential. Try to find their single vineyard offerings. — 2 years ago

Tom, Bob and 6 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. — 11 days ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 9 others liked this

Bedrock Wine Co.

Old Vine Zinfandel 2022

ESF
8.9

solid Zin - bit too fruit focused & manipulated for my taste, plus it's expensive ($30) for what it is, prolly a crowd pleaser — 3 months ago

Brian, Tom and 6 others liked this

Château Meyney

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Really solid. 13 years old and still fresh. — 5 months ago

Xenia Zollinger
with Xenia
Dave, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Solid Sonoma Cab that tastes like Left Bank Bordeaux. Supple feel, dark berries, cedar, graphite, tobacco. A little eucalyptus and a little espresso. Lengthy tannins. Drinkable now and will age for some time.
Listening to Radiohead
— 5 months ago

Rick, Serge and 21 others liked this
Dave

Dave

No, the wine was nice! Just pulling the Radiohead song that was on at that moment 😀 But @Anthony De Blasi was going for it!
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Alt/art electro rock + silver oak you can't go wrong with that combo!

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo

Floral notes on the nose — roses, hibiscus, plus mint, and the dry fragrance of sun-bleached wood. Strawberries on the front. Medium tannic structure. Black tea high notes with hint mint on the mid palate. Citrusy finish with long acidic afterburn. My description fails in that it makes it sound like a light and floral wine. But taken altogether, this is wine is rock solid, and it hasn’t even begun to develop. — 6 months ago

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2010

Classic Rioja. Plum, vanilla. Solid core backbone of acidity. — 4 years ago

Aravind, Paul and 9 others liked this

Faust

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

2019 vintage. A little chunky. A little plushy. Solid welterweight in the Napa cab classes — 4 years ago

Rob, Martin and 12 others liked this