Southwest Mountains Vineyards

Clos La Coutale

Cahors Merlot 2023

Simple and enjoyable. Very dark, spicy, tannic, and medium bodied. Good!
Listening to Waxahatchee
— 14 days ago

Joel, Ray and 18 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Right on! It's so cheap I'll get a few to tuck away @Doug Powers
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Before 2010 this wine needed 10 to 15 years to soften tannins, since then the producer focusses on ripe fruit and smoother tannins.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Peter van den Besselaar, I very much appreciate you posting these insights about the changes in the winery’s growing/ripening process. Those old ones, it was difficult to even guess when they’d be ready. At least the 2000 I posted on has great fruit currently, and not terribly drying tannins!!

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2018

Golden color. Green apple and vanilla (light oak) on the palate. Age worthy. April 2026. — 3 months ago

Château Bouscassé

Madiran Tannat Blend 2019

Ming L
9.0

The 2019 shows a darker, riper profile than the ‘17 and ‘18 vintages. Blackcurrant, blackberry compote, and plum dominate at this stage, layered with licorice, cocoa, and a touch of earth. The palate feels fuller and more concentrated as well, but still quite balanced. Fine yet grippy tannins. Only 13.5% abv.

Powerful yet polished, it should evolve beautifully over the next decade.
— 4 months ago

Tom liked this

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Ungrafted vines. Delicious — 4 months ago

Ryann Swan
with Ryann

Rhys Vineyards

Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay 2013

This one had signs of seepage on it so I opened it planning on throwing it out. What an amazing wine and so fresh! Maybe another bottle seeped on to this one? — 5 months ago

Rhys Vineyards

Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2009

Nice, cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Good red and dark fruits on the palate. I served it a bit too cold, but as it warmed up, the earthiness that this wine is known for came through. I don’t love California Pinot, but Rhys almost always impresses me. — 6 months ago

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah 2013

Very old world, savory. Beautiful — 6 months ago

Steven and Serge liked this

Uroulat (Charles Hours)

Jurançon Petit Manseng

Had a bottle over a week or two earlier this year. Wild stuff. — 18 days ago

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2030

Good wine, nice depth to the fruit with long finish — 2 months ago

Domaine Eden

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Deep purple color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, earthy tones and herbs. Blackberry on the palate, earth and a hint of vegetation. Very tasty cab.

🍇 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

🏅94 Points - Robert Parker
🏅94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
🏅91 Pints - Wine Advocate
— 4 months ago

Paul, Austin and 17 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Nice pull!
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

Mount Eden Cabernet clone from the old Cinnabar property. Most people don't know this clone has Château Margaux origins. This cab and the Mount Eden Estate (and the old old Mount Eden Reserve Old Vine d.1992) with those Margaux subtleties on dry-farmed slopes? Uhh duh. Sign my ass(ets) up posthaste.

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 4 months ago

Colene Clemens Vineyards

Margo Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2022

2022 vintage. The curious case of the pinot noir where the mid-palate remarkably remained as if on command. Bright as a bell. Would not transition to the finish. Just stood there, in the middle of the tongue, blocking the traffic. Curious enough to buy two cases at $35 a bottle. 3.11.26. — 5 months ago

Ted, "Odedi" and 12 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 5 months ago

Paul, Tom and 6 others liked this

Arnot-Roberts

Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011

Some poopy bret blew off in 30 mins and revealed a sheer dress of leafy brown spice. Likely peaked at 15 years. — 6 months ago

Shay, Ira and 10 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a purple rim.

Beautiful nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and light green vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This iconic Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Santa Cruz Mountains in California is still very young, but already delicious, even by itself.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 30 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that paired beautifully with my Lamb chops.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in American oak barrels for 20 months.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$300.
— a month ago

Jay, Tom and 11 others liked this

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

2019 vintage. Oak attack if served above 65 degrees. Def essential to get that temp down to the 55-64 range so as to conduct pleasant conversation. Otherwise, it’s just screaming/noise. Previous vintage exhibited the same tendency whereas 2017 and before generally didn’t (to this extreme). Hoping it’s not trending that direction but suspect it is. Some splendid complexities once past the rapids. Medium-heavy body. 4.22.26. — 3 months ago

Douglas, Tom and 7 others liked this

Colene Clemens Vineyards

Estate Dopp Creek Pinot Noir 2019

Located in the western end of Dopp Road where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits and enticing spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry and wild cherry with pepper, toasty spice and earthy notes. Young with fine integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish ending with oaky notes. Nice value, will age well! — 4 months ago

Paul liked this

Château Montus

Madiran Tannat Blend 2017

Ted
9.1

It’s been a minute since I have had this. Wet tobacco. Juicy fruit. Awesome aromatics. — 5 months ago

Jeni
with Jeni
Tom, Neil and 7 others liked this

Domaine Eden

Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2021

Medium ruby color. Aromas of curry, cardamom, cherry and strawberry. Strawberry flavors, toasted oak, raspberry and black tea. Very interesting Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. Bottle #32187

🏅94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
— 5 months ago

Doug, Pinotman and 11 others liked this

Rhys Vineyards

Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Complex on the nose, and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and soft.

Showing cherries, plums, currants, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, black pepper, chocolates, light vegetables, Indian spices, licorice and black tea.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 13 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountains in California. Drinking beautifully now, elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft. Complex with a nice mouthfeel.

This Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, from the great 2013 vintage, is drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too. Loved the low alcohol level too.

12.8% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80.
— 6 months ago

Jose, Shay and 17 others liked this