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2018 DuPuis Syrah Baker Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (2/21/2021) 13% abv. Dark ruby, very expressive aromas. On the palate, ripe plum, black pepper, leather and black olive. Excellent depth, length, balance and complexity. Terrific now and will continue to improve for years...

Tasted a '13 Swan Terrace last night and it was also superb. Rhys richly rewards aging in my experience.

A very nice Martinelli bargain is the dry, old vine Jackass Hill Muscat at $28. Excellent and distinctive.

2013 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (2/18/2021) 12.2% abv. Medium burgundy red, ++ aromatics. On the palate, raspberry, cinnamon, spearmint and baking spice. Excellent depth, length and balance. Grippy and complex, this wine is delicious now ...

The first great California Pinot I tasted was Chalone (these remain among the best wines I've ever tasted, period). Another early eyeopener was Dehlinger.

‘16 Carlisle Vineyard. Exceptional!

I have a buddy who died about a month ago. It was unexpected and sudden. What he died of was basically undetectable in normal life, and he was 55, lean, and in very good health otherwise. I had a case of wine that I set aside for tastings with him, which I am sad that he didn't get to experience. A...

I've been drinking the Zins for years and I really enjoy them - very distinctive, the essence of RRV. The style is still exuberant, but scaled back a bit over the past decade. My wife, with her "RRV palate," absolutely adores Martinelli.

2012 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (2/11/2021) 14.5% abv. Medium ruby, very expressive aromatics. Ripe plum, lots of delicious white pepper, pomegranate and blue fruit. Excellent depth and length. This is really in a great place - vibrant, comp...

2017 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (2/9/2021) 12.5% abv. Light straw, very expressive aromas. On the palate, lemon curd, melon, pear and a touch of white pepper. Great complexity. Very deep on the mid palate and with exceptional length...

I am a big fan!

2017 Sandlands Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (2/2/2021) 12.9% abv. Medium-dark ruby, wonderful aromatics. I taste ripe plum, some mint and eucalyptus, sage and blue fruit. Excellent depth and length, with surprising complexity. This is excellent now and will probably get nothin...

In terms of soils, geology and climate, Sonoma County alone may be more diverse than all of France. Winemaking styles are equally diverse.

Bedrock "Carlisle Vineyard" is really good.

This took me by surprise. But ... with the processes they have in place, the vineyards they control and Dave Gates tending the vines - Ridge will continue to be Ridge.

David, I’m surprised. My bottle was absolutely open and generous.

2016 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/23/2021) 12.9% abv. Burgundy red, very expressive aromas. On the palate, fresh strawberry, raspberry compote, cinnamon, mint and asian spice. Delicate, yet penetrating, concentrated and focused flavor...

Very interesting news. WS is a great property, quintessentially Californian and this marriage with the French could make it even better.

I love Lucia Gary's wines too. Reliably delicious, and quite underrated, I think. One of the great SLH vineyards, without doubt.

There is no reason why Sonoma County cannot produce more wines like this I've wondered about this myself. For some reason, great wine in Sonoma County seems mostly limited to Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Chardonnay. Dehlinger has been producing great Sonoma County cabs for a few decades at least. Anot...

Todd F r e n c h wrote: ↑January 8th, 2021, 5:11 pm omg I'm so jealous - love the note. Amazing for such a relatively weak vintage, too.

Todd, I had an '07 "Estate" Dehlinger Cab recently and it was very good, but not nearly this good. I just wish I had another case or more of the "East Ridge!'

2007 Dehlinger Cabernet Sauvignon East Ridge - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (1/8/2021) Quite spectacular. 14.6% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. On the palate, ripe plums, graphite, leather, mint and a hint of cedar. Wonderfully integrated, power, complexity and finesse. Very ...

2007 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/6/2021) 15.5% abv. Very dark ruby, extremely expressive aromas. On the palate, ripe plum, white pepper, raspberry preserve, anise, a touch of leather and herbs. Layer after layer of complex and exotic flavors. Extreme...

Bed ... what?

Use ah-so opener more often.

Zinfandel. Clearly my cellar's core strength is taste and class!

Happy Birthday Legendary Tom, I'm sure you'll celebrate well!

Many dismiss Petite. They need to taste a well stored Turley Hayne with a little age! 2009 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (12/27/2020) 14.5% abv. Very dark purple, expressive aromas. On the palate, ripe plum, black pepper, a hint of white flowers and mi...

2012 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Burt Williams' Morning Dew Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/25/2020) 14.1% abv. Medium burgundy red, very aromatic. On the palate, expressive red raspberry, cloves, and X-Mas spice. Superior depth, concentration and length, great focus, very ...

2011 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (12/25/2020) 14.5% abv. Medium straw color, very aromatic. Concentrated flavors of lemon curd, anise, wild flowers and mint. Very intensely flavored, but harmonious. Superb mouthfeel...

2014 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (12/24/2020) Such an interesting wine. Grapes grown on Montebello Ridge, but aged in French, not American oak. 100% Cab, unlike the Ridge blend. Like Ridge, vines are mature (35-40 years ol...

Brian, you know what this Aeris Rosso wine would go really well with ... (drumroll) ... Rosso pizza!

Coincidence?

Evangehlo Vineyard, Contra Costa County, CA.

I've had many a Zin-based, mixed black blend before, but nothing quite like this. 50% Nebbiolo, 20% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Carignan, 10% Babara and 10% Primitivo (like Zinfandel, a clone of a Croatian grape called Crljenak). With the high dose of Nebbiolo, I can't help but think this somewhat tannic...

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (12/19/2020) 13% abv. Medium burgundy red, very aromatic. On the palate, raspberry, pomegranate, dried flowers and Christmas spices. Excellent depth and length. Beautifully evolved and integrated, still vib...

Jeff_M. wrote: ↑December 18th, 2020, 8:51 am This would be a nice one to do a side by side tasting with Carlisle, Bedrock and any other Pagani Ranch zins.

There was a HVS Zoom tasting of Ridge, Bedrock, Seghesio and Biale Zins last night. Discussed all aspects of the site, winemaking, the vintage, etc. I'll try and get a link for this.

There is an exuberant suppleness to this wine combined with lively acid which bodes very well for the future.

D@vid Bu3ker wrote: ↑December 17th, 2020, 4:24 pm
M. Dildine wrote: ↑December 17th, 2020, 4:17 pm
Brian Tuite wrote: ↑December 17th, 2020, 4:16 pm

I recently opened the ‘14 vintage if 1910 and was floored by how good it was. Well worth the tariff.
I think the '18 will be a stunner!
Did the name change for the 2018?

No, new label and I believe a new winemaker. The name is still 1910.

2015 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Block 1910 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/17/2020) High flavor, high octane, high enjoyment. I am really glad I have tomorrow off, because I am going to consume a lot of this. It’s surprisingly bright and red fruited, where I expected somethi...

2018 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (12/17/2020) 14.9% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. On the palate, sweet blue fruit, raspberry, pomegranate and mint. Very precocious and, in fact, primary at this early stage, but it is already delicious. (93 pt...

2018 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (12/17/2020) 14.9% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. On the palate, sweet blue fruit, raspberry, pomegranate and mint. Very precocious and, in fact, primary at this early stage, but it is already delicious. (93 pt...

Stephen Chen wrote: ↑December 15th, 2020, 5:22 pm Great note, thanks! Have a lone bottle in the cellar from Lopa and have been slightly worried by the mixed reviews on CT, but now this has gotten me excited to try it. Any tips on decanting?

Stephen, I opened the bottle about six hours before tasting.

2012 Littorai Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/15/2020) 13% abv. Medium burgundy red, flamboyant aromatics. On the palate, raspberry, cinnamon, mint and lavender. Medium depth, excellent length. Energetic, tense and light as a feather. Maybe the best Pin...

I just looked and I have some Zinfandel to drink. Kudos to Brian (and Fred Scherrer) for this virtual tasting! A very good cause.

Yes, Brian, you are!

So many great 18s. Tasted an A. Rafanelli tonight. Best young A Raf I think I've ever tasted. Pure Dry Creek goodness.

Another one not to be missed - Biale "Black Chicken!"

I think they planted Cab on their longstanding estate property in Napa. These are very nice indeed, prime Cab territory, very traditionally styled. Price, as I recall, is very reasonable.

Outstanding piece here: https://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2020/12/mourvedre-sidelined-by-phylloxera-no-more.html A brief glimpse: One of the silver linings of the last nine months unable to travel has been the chance to spend time virtually with some of California winemakers whose work I find i...

Bill, the wine was opened about seven hours prior to pouring. No extensive decant, it was running on 12 cylinders from the get-go.

Nice note David, thanks!

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