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Three Ghost Vine

Three Wine Company

Spinelli Vineyard Mataro 2015

Doug Powers
9.2

128-year-old Mataro vines from the Spinelli Vineyard in Contra Costa County, the dark black fruit aromas and flavors seem unmistakably Californian, quite ripe, still shows lots of structure and old vine intensity, long, lingering finish, last bottle but this is another outstanding wine from Matt Cline!! — 2 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Vin and 6 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I used to order these wines through Wine Access years ago. I enjoyed them initially but then over time grew a bit weary of them because none of them weighed in at less than 15%. The fruit was impeccable. I love those old CC vineyards. But I prefer it when people like Ridge, Bedrock, and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sandlands, bring in and vinify those gorgeous old vine grapes at a slightly lower level of ripeness.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said, I wish these 3 Wines were more 14% than 15%, but I’ve way worse from some “name” southern Rhône wines (my favorite region in the wine world) — I guess it’s “climate change”??
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

If other wineries can source the fruit from the same CC old vineyards and come in under 15, that suggests that the difference is a conscious choice. But in the Southern Rhone, I think your point is more applicable. They’re primarily working with Grenache there, and, particularly in CDP and Lirac, it’s a real challenge to get phenolic ripeness without sugar levels that take you to 15 and beyond. I feel for those folks. Climate change is an existential challenge for them.

Three Wine Company

Old Vine Mataro 2015

Doug Powers
9.0

Nice red and black fruits, good weight and depth, solid old vine Mataro!! — 2 years ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Severn, Andrew and 4 others liked this

Gray Ghost Winery

Victorian White Chardonnay

Roger Custer
9.2

Excellent Virginia white from one of our favorite wineries. Fruity, smoky, and woody all at the same time but not too much of any of those three. — 4 years ago

Three Finger Jack

Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel

Abi Bryony
9.5

Dry yet juicy — 15 days ago

Klinker Brick

Old Ghost Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2020

ace
9.1

Very hardy Zin. Would definitely recommend to all. Dark cherry and spice on the nose and great finish. — 2 years ago

Three Wine Company

Old Vines Field Blend 2019

Doug Powers
8.9

Big, rich, maybe just a little too ripe (as @Tom Casagrande pointed out in a note about an earlier vintage), but still a nice, solid, old vine field blend, Contra Costa County history!! — 2 years ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Severn, Bob and 1 other liked this

Nine North Wine Company

Rock & Vine Three Ranches North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Paola Bailey
9.4

Loved it. Lush, bold flavors soft finish. — 4 years ago

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Somm David T
9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 2 years ago

Shay, Ceccherini and 12 others liked this

M. Chapoutier

De l'Orée Ermitage Blanc Marsanne 1999

Jay Kline
9.3

100% old-vine Marsanne from the Les Murets lieu dit which is predominantly east facing on the hill. This was the most powerful of the three Hermitage Blancs tonight. The nose was redolent of marmalade, honey, butter cream frosting, and slate. Luxurious texture with a long finish. Lovely with monkfish, sweet potato, leek, and winter truffle. Drink now through 2034+. — 2 years ago

Josh, Jeroen and 7 others liked this

Robert Mondavi Winery

Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Shay A
9.4

This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.

My goal was to compare this 2003 next to the 2003 Pichon Baron. I’ve had the 2002 Mondavi VHR a few times and have been floored how good they’ve been. Read a review from WA and it said the 2002 was a spitting image of the 2002 Pichon Baron, so I figured I’d see if the 2003 was worthy of the same comparison.

Decanted an hour. Whoa! Much more Bordeaux like than the ‘02, and a touch lighter. Mushroom, pipe tobacco and fig, with mineral/graphite note on the nose too. Mocha dusted red and black berries, currant, herbs and saddle leather. At the end of the lunch, this eventually turned to a more resolved (and deeper core of fruit) with the tannins integrating beautifully. Really enjoyable. Pop and enjoy. — 2 years ago

Ira, Somm and 22 others liked this