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We allocate a significant amount of our best (aged) bottles for family and friends. This year, because we can't socialize with family & friends, we are drinking many of these bottles ourselves. Tonight, with a takeout from Sur in Carmel (delicious chicken piccata), we drank an 09 Littorai "Hirsch." ...

Nice note Brian! I was a big fan of that wine. I too partook of one of Wells' old Copains last night with a really pretty, red fruited '15 En Haut. Thanks Mike, I’m going to miss drinking his wines. Any intel on what he’s up to these days? Brian, aside from a Tweet Wells made some months back, that...

Nice note Brian! I was a big fan of that wine.

I too partook of one of Wells' old Copains last night with a really pretty, red fruited '15 En Haut.

Jordan, Dehlinger

I could listen to Dave and Carole all day long!

I’m trying really hard to save some of my Geezers to let them age, but it doesn’t go over well. I have to put them in the offsite wine storage so my wife won’t open them. I really look forward to trying some of the secondary characteristics as they develop. Interesting there still is a liveliness i...

2010 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County (7/7/2020) 14.3% abv. Medium ruby, very expressive aromatics. On the palate, ripe plum, raspberry, blue fruit, sage and a lifting floral note on the finish. Plus depth and length. In a superb place that combines youthful vibrancy with emerging...

Later this evening, a '10 Geyserville. Cork popped and it smells luscious.

I'd go MacDonald or Ridge Monte Bello.

Scherrer '18 OMV and Once & Future '17 Franks Block. Both (as expected) excellent!

TomHill wrote: ↑
July 3rd, 2020, 5:18 pm
Well, Brent...not Mike... but my gut feeling (based on absolutely no data points) is this wine will put on weight and become much more interesting in a few yrs of age.
Tom

Tom's advice, as usual, is impeccable. My advice to myself is to buy more next vintage!

2018 Arnot-Roberts Old Vine White Heinstein Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (7/3/2020) From a dry farmed, old-vine, mixed-white vineyard located about a mile from the Sonoma town plaza. Varieties include Sylvaner, Riesling, Green Hungarian, and Gewurtztraminer. 12.8% abv. P...

Have not had this, but every Horseshoe Chardonnay I've had has been outstanding to great. No surprise. Much as I also like Alpine, I prefer Horseshoe... and not just for Chardonnay! Prices are now a little steep, but not compared to any other world-class Chardonnay. Dan Kravitz Dan, I've developed ...

I tasted and reported on the '15 yesterday Dan - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=171340 and yes, it is fabulous. I'm of a mind that SCM (Rhys, Mount Eden, Ridge) make some of, if not the best Chardonnay - anywhere.

2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (6/28/2020) 12.8% abv. Medium burgundy red, expressive aromas. Raspberry, cinnamon and baking spices on the palate. Very poised and well behaved, this wine has exceptional focus, depth, balance and leng...

2015 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (6/28/2020) 12.9% abv. Golden straw, expressive aromas. Citrus, pear, green apple, and a strong mineral element. Great depth and length. Intense on the palate with terrific focus, poise and balance. R...

Chris Seiber wrote: ↑
June 26th, 2020, 9:16 am
I could have guessed the thread author just from seeing the two wines. Glad you had a great experience and thanks for sharing.

As could I. And I always enjoy the vicarious thrill from reading these!

2011 Arnot-Roberts "Fellom Ranch" Cabernet Sauvignon, SCM. A vineyard very proximate to Monte Bello. Really nice.

A quick addendum. This wine consistently improved through day 3. Fantastic wine.

Brian G r a f s t r o m wrote: ↑
June 23rd, 2020, 10:39 am
Welllll, hell. I was going to keep holding this one, but now you've made it sound criminal to not enjoy one now. Thanks for the note!

Brian, it tasted young and vibrant, even though beautifully balanced. This was my last Alpine '12, but I bet it will be even better in 4-5 years.

I love Mike and Jay along with the wines at Carlisle. My wife does like them at all anymore. We’ve shifted the zin dollars to Scherrer and Hartford Family. I still buy the SC Carlisle at retail now for when she is at book club. Damn, totally forgot about Hartford for some reason - GREAT call! Their...

2011 Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (6/21/2020) The last of my '11 Pisoni's, I only wish I had more. 14.3 abv. Medium burgundy, very expressive aromas. Flavors of boysenberry, raspberry with a healthy dollop of mint. A deep, sensuous wine with great...

2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (6/21/2020) 13.3% abv. Medium straw, expressive aromas. On the palate, apple, pear, cinnamon, and a citrus note on the back palate. Absolutely superb balance, depth, length with poise and personality to ...

A couple of goodies to go with roast chicken:

2012 Rhys "Alpine" Chardonnay
2011 Pisoni "Estate" Pinot Noir

2018 Desire Lines Carignan Evangelho - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County (6/19/2020) 14% abv. Dark ruby, nicely expressive aromas. 90% Carignan. Black cherry, cherry, strawberry, hints of floral and mint. Excellent depth and length, great mouthfeel and intensity. Surprising co...

‘17 Oakville Farmhouse. Delicious and distinctive.

Very interesting video. For those interested, Lucia releases next Tuesday (Gary’s and Soberanes).

I just tasted a fantastic Soberanes Syrah made by Sandlands that peaked my interest.

Easy. An obscenely corked 1982 Margaux.

Fascinating tasting Frankie, thank you for the notes! The '17 Shoe is a winner!

Wow, nice turnaround. Great when this happens!

Tried these two new ATP Ridges last Sunday at Pig+Fig: 1. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloVnyd/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 15.3%; 13 brls; bttld: May'19; Drk: 3/19-3/34: EB) 2017 : Very dark color; slight milk of magnesia/vanilla/Am.oak rather intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/chocolaty complex beautifu...

2013 Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (6/13/2020) From vines planted in 1980 above the coastal town of Aptos. 12.5% abv. Pale straw color, very expressive aromas. Lime, apricot, apple and pear combined with bright saline minera...

The Ceritas ones are all good, but the Ceritas Zephyr vineyard is the best one out of all them, in my opinion. I'm partial to the Peter Martin Ray and Trout Gulch (both local SCM sites near my house) but I need to try the Zephyr. Let's talk QPR for a second because I love Ceritas and Rhys but not i...

I forgot to mention a couple of other goodies ... Rivers Marie and Dehlinger.

The Chardonnays I drink are Rhys, Arnot-Roberts, Mount Eden, Hartford Court, Williams Selyem and Radio Coteau.

For me, U.S. Chardonnay is now the best available, anywhere.

Michael Feldman wrote: ↑
June 11th, 2020, 5:03 am
Dry Creek Fume Blanc and Chenin Blanc $16 ( but can get for lower through numerous sales throughout the year) never disappoints.

These are really good. So is Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc (available at your local grocery for about $12).

Sounds delish Brian!

Wow...some score! I drink everything Turley...LOVE them...but I don't think I've ever had the Ueb? Day 2 - the wine is still soaring. Turley has access to fruit from some of the greatest historic vineyards in California, all across the state. For me, none packs more magic than Ueberroth. Brian, emb...

Note: Absolutely wrong label photo from Cellartracker. Not sure I've ever seen a whiff like this.

The wine is 2010 Ueberroth.

2010 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (6/8/2020) 15.8% abv. Medium-dark ruby, extremely aromatic. Black raspberry, blue fruit, cherry highlights, mint and floral. Tremendous depth and length. Power and intensity, but light on its feet. No hint of alc...

Mike, I used to really like these wines but I can't process the booze at nearly 16%. I simply don't like how that makes me feel after a glass. What I do like is the passion you have penned above, how the wine went with that food. That is cool to read. Frankie, as with most Saxum's (and other well m...

Sometimes you stumble upon the perfect match for a wine. In this case it was a takeout from a local joint called Rio Grill - a house smoked chicken with chili butter, artichokes and roasted potatoes. The house speciality. Really to die for. Alone the Broken Stones was a solid 96. With this dish - a ...

Cole Ranch is a great source for Riesling fruit. I've loved the versions from Desire Lines and Bedrock. Have to try the LL.

Can we all just pause for a minute to recognize the improbability of Alfert praising a domestic syrah? I was almost sure his fellow twig and dirt cult would be along shortly to scold this indiscretion! Robert enjoys Rhys Syrah, Bedrock Zins and Ridge (even if he whines about American Oak). Robert h...

2015 Saxum Broken Stones - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (6/6/2020) 48% Syrah, 21% Mataro, 20% Grenache, 10% Petite and 1% Roussanne. 15.6% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. Cherry, black raspberry, some hints of blue fruit and black pepper. Exceptional concentration, intensity, depth an...

I'm not disappointed they took them out. The 2008 Skyline Pinot Noir I had last month was glorious to drink--this is the kind of grace and depth that Skyline can do. They still have Horseshoe if you want Rhys Syrah. I know this was a tough call for the Rhys team, but Horseshoe Syrah is excellent, a...

Add Hartford Court, RRV "Hartford Vineyard" to the winner's circle. Absolutely delicious! Hartford has been absolutley killing it for the last decade. Their zins have slowly crept up into my upper echelon sitting next to the likes of Bedrock, Carlisle, and Ridge. Just delicious zin that walks the l...

Add Hartford Court, RRV "Hartford Vineyard" to the winner's circle. Absolutely delicious!

2018 Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (6/4/2020) 14.5% abv. lemon yellow, expressive aromas. Citrus, pear, saline mineral, stone ... Excellent body and length. This is an excellent chardonnay and an exceptional value. Really nice. (93 pts.)...

2014 Turley Petite Syrah Library Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/2/2020) From one of California's most winning vineyards, behind the St. Helena public library. 14.5% abv. Medium dark ruby, good aromatics. Ripe plum, white pepper, cinnamon and white flowers on the palate. Exce...

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