Freddy R. Troya

8.9

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. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

You already know what it is. There’s not much to even say about it because you already know it’s delicious. Quite delicious. Romance in a bottle? Absolutely. Pale copper with salmon accents and energetic effervescence. The nose features sumptuous cranberries and raspberries, as well as baked apple tarts. Some wild strawberry notes to go with the brioche aromas.

This is no hidden gem of a wine, you’ve all tasted it before and you know how good and reliable it is. A benchmark and always impressive. Pleasing, not racy, acidity and that hard to describe essence of quality. 40/30/30 CH/PN/PM and those red grapes truly shine here. The palate references the nose with more sparkling red berries and autolytic notes. Impressively long finish of pure elegance. Flabbergastingly lovely. — 4 years ago

Kyle Zeman

9.5

Dali vintage. Still super alive and young, what fun wine to drink alongside Dali’s Wines of Gala book. Most of the fruit is gone, lots of terroir shining through — grape seeds and clay. Some sage / menthol. Literally no oxidative notes — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

M. Chiarlo’s Moscato d’Asti is also available in a 375ml which is a nice size to pop open after a nice meal. A slight effervescence wine with a light golden color. Aromas of sweet fresh stone fruits and citrus layered with a bit of floral spice. On the palate flavors of peaches and apricots with a grape-like character. Medium finish ending with citrus, sweet spice and honey notes. A favorite, great value! Grab a 750ml for a larger crowd! — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Made from the other White Burgundy grape, Aligote. Made by probably the most famous name in Burgundy, Aubert de Villaine and his American born wife, Pamela. Aubert is the wine director and proprietor of the Domaine de la Romanee Conti. This is his own personal project. The wine itself:- Mid lemon in colour. Herbs, citrus and a touch of aniseed on the nose. The palate is very citric and mineral with a noticeable saline note. More palate weight than it had a few years ago. Medium minus Acid. Drinking well now and no need to cellar any further. Great winemaking at an affordable price. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, extended lees aging. On the palate flavors of apple and lemon, nutty notes, nice mouthfeel. Medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Made with the local grape Carricante, pale to medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruit, citrus and honey floral notes. On the palate flavors of ripe apple and pear with slight citrus and nutty notes. Good acidity, balance and structure, medium+ finish ending with salty mineral nutty character. Very Nice! — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.3% Petit Verdot & 0.3% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new, Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry and currants with notes of herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — a year ago

Thomas Lengyel

9.1

$45 Big nose. Notes of blackberry, black cherry, rose petals and spice on the nose. Light in color. Full bodied. Bone dry. High acid. Medium-plus alcohol. High tannins with a strong chewy aftertaste. Notes of black cherry, cranberry, wet leaves, mushrooms, smoke, sweet tobacco and cola on the palate. This is a bone dry, DELICIOUS barabaresco. It verges on savory with its notes of wet forest floor while maintaining some beautiful fruit forward tones. I was told that this is a great example of a classic barbaresco nebbiolo, and if this is the case I am excited to drink more of this complex grape. — 4 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Such a great value (and Calatayud generally is a wildly underrated region for Grenache). Nose has concentrated essence of framboise ooze, along with a bit of spice and crushed rock dust. On the palate, it’s got dense flavor concentration, very pure fruit, nice acids (especially for a Grenache), and a bit of dusty tannins. So good. Should have gotten a case. — 4 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

2018 vintage. Roasted red plum, cranberry, stewed cherries, graphite, leather, muted spice, dried herb. Good structure. Less Nebbiolo-like than other examples of the grape, incorporating a little more ripeness and baked quality to the fruit. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from a family with farming and winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across, almost looks like a Cab). Rich berry flavors with cedar, spice and vanilla. Lingering ending with sweet oak notes. Consistent quality Nice! A Fav! — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.3

Ruby red with a purple tinge. Floral and dusty in nose. Tastes of table grape pulp with dilute cherry initially. Others online mention strawberry and intense cherry flavors but give it time to open, at least 30 minutes. Cedar, cinnamon and orange peel also mentioned and accurate. Balanced structure too. Worth seeking future vintages of this one. Layered flavors are impressive here. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of my favourite Italian whites - this is made from the Falanghina grape which is the main grape of Campania. Harvested at full ripeness. Fermentation takes place as 70% in stainless steel and 30% in Barrique. See previous note here in April 2025. Not designed for long cellaring. Previous notes still apply. An ideal winter white wine. White flowers, herbal notes with unctuous ripe fruits on the palate. Impossible not to enjoy this. Sadly my last bottle. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A new tasting experience on several levels. Had never heard of or tasted this grape varietal, Schioppettino. I was looking for a lighter red off the menu at Settimo, Guy Grossi’s new Brisbane venture. Chosen purely because of its location in Friuli ie. cooler climate. The Somm was in the dark but the wine ended up being a revelation. Red cherry and cranberry - intense white pepper on nose and palate. Dried red florals. Love this style. Will be on the lookout for this Cuvée in the future. — 3 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow with delicate aromas of stone & citrus fruits. Palate, with extended lees aging shows rich apple & lemon flavors, nutty notes, good mouthfeel. Crisper than ‘17, medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 5 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.3

Aria Di Caiarossa Toscana Rosso IGT 2012: Elegant structure. Tremendous balance & harmony. Great flavor characteristics of red fruits, dark fruits, rose hip, spice & eucalyptus. This is a Tuscan red blend of exceptional quality (& value) featuring Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Alicante, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot. Moreover, each grape varietal shines thru producing an unforgettable final blend with a smooth & addictive finish. Glad I still have one more bottle! Cheers🍷 — 6 years ago

Cole Schnitzer

9.0

Lighter bodied with lots of raspberry and cherry fruit. — 6 years ago