4/12/2024 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep garnet color. Nose of black cherry, spice, band aid, some tar. Palate of deep black cherry, some tart cherry, minerals and spice. Nice tannins and overall structure. Lovely wine. Very Burgundian. Quite possibly the best California Pinot I have ever tasted.

1/20/2024 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Golden yellow color. Nose of peach, pear, some lychee, some honey. Similar on the palate with some vanilla and beeswax. Lots going on here. Nice acidity and long finish. I wondered what I was going to drink this with so I just enjoyed it alone!

1/6/2024 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep ruby color without signs of age. Classic nose of briary fruits, pencil shavings, minerals. Palate of blackberries, some cassis, pencil, stones, hint of spice. Good fruit and a lasting finish. Still quite tannic, but enough fruit to continue aging. Good for drinking now, though, if you still like a little tannic structure.

12/14/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. Young looking. Nose of blackberries, black cherry. Spice, mineral. Similar on the palate with good depth of fruit, slight pleasant stewed character with a nice tannic background. Drinking nicely if you like some power and youth to your wine.

11/28/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Yellow color with tinges of orange. Nose of citrus, honey spice. Palate of spiced marmalade. Decent body but overall was a little lacking in balance. Drink now.

11/9/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark garnet color. Nose of dark cherry, spice, some stones. Palate similar but less rounded. Slight tartness which was off putting. Still some tannins. Nice dark dried cherry finish. Good but slightly off balance.

11/9/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Opaque purple. Dense nose of dark fruits, spice, licorice, similar palate. Big but nicely balanced fruit and tannin. Nice wine. Ate with pasta.

11/5/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Cork came apart and had to filter wine into decanter. Dark ruby to purple. Still looks fresh. Nice nose of plum black cherry, some blackberry and raisin. Some spice and pepper. Palate with similar fruit but more muted and raisiny. Some meat and pepper and still some tannin. I acquired this from an estate clearance and they were going to throw away the wine. I took 1.5 cases of random Ridge zins from 2001-2005. This showed more life and promise than I would have imagined. Enjoyed the adventure and look forward to trying more of them.

10/1/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Drank on release. Absurdly early. Will reserve judgment when they have some more age.

10/21/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Purple opaque. Nice fruity nose with black and red raspberry, some stone and licorice, some spice. Similar on the palate. Nice structure with good tannins. Great wine with a chicken chorizo paella.

8/20/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Opened young on purpose. Decanted and drunk over an hour. Beautiful nose of blackberries and cassis with hint of herbs. Palate with loads of fruit, tannin, some spice. Great structure for aging but remarkably delicious and approachable now. Loved it and age will only make it better.

8/20/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Still dark purple with slight bricking at the edge. Dense nose of dark fruit blackberry and black raspberry leather, spice, some meat. Similar on the palate with soft tannins and a long finish. Spectacular wine. Drink now.

7/9/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep crimson color with beginning bricking. Nose of blackberries, cassis, pencil shavings and minerals. Similar on palate, fruit almost jammy. Nice tannic structure even after 23 years. Has lots of life left especially if you like your Bordeaux older.

6/26/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color without signs of bricking yet. Typical nose of briary fruits and stone with subtle pencil shavings. Similar on the palate with fruit, some spice, minerals. Sweet tannins. Lovely wine. Not incredibly complex but well rounded and delicious.

6/17/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. Nose of black cherry and spice. Palate of fruity black cherry, spice, some tar and gentle tannins. Nice drinking window. Nice wine.

4/1/2023 - cgrimes Does not like this wine:

Syrupy with an overripe nose. Flabby palate of dark fruits. Very little tannic structure. May have been better if drunk on release but not built to age.

1/8/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Decanted 3-4 hours. Very tight out of the bottle. Needs air. Dark garnet to purple. Nose of blackberry and dense dark cherry. Some spices and minerals. Dark and brooding but opened up considerably with air. Similar palate with wonderful fruit and complex herbs, spices, minerals, tar. Still decently tannic but more gentle. I’d say that after 20 years this is at its peak but it certainly still has more years of life. Terrific wine. Served with dried mushroom risotto. Great pairing.

1/8/2023 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Purple color. Nose of dense dark fruits mostly blackberry and dark cherry with some herbs and tar. Similar on the palate. Nice tannic structure. Lovely wine with pasta.

10/8/2022 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nice garnet color. Nose of cherries minerals mild spice. Similar on the palate. Lovely integration of flavors and structure. Gentle tannins. Lots of life left but drinking well now. Great with salmon.

9/27/2022 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark red to purple almost opaque. Nose of dark briary fruits, licorice, minerals. Palate of blackberry, dark cherry, licorice, minerals with dense but not unpleasant tannins. Drank from 375ml with no decant. Very nice with a pasta dish.

9/16/2022 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. Not yet showing signs of age. Nose of nice dark cherry, spice, some minerality but overall fruit shines through. Palate of dark cherry, oak, spice. Nice tannins. Very balanced, delicious wine overall still with lots of life but drinking well now.

9/2/2022 - cgrimes wrote:

Ruby color. Nose of black cherry, spice, some alcohol. Palate of black cherry, spice, hint of licorice. Nice tannin structure. Voluptuous. Delicious.

3/11/2022 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Purple with some bricking at the edges. Nose of briary fruits, meat, iron, spice. Still has good fruit on the palate with meat, licorice, and spice. Tannins now on the soft side. Lovely wine with plenty of life. Has gained complexity as it has aged.

2/12/2022 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nice garnet color. Nose of red cherry, minerals. Palate showed good tart cherry, some back cherry, minerals,some spice. Still with some tannins but well balanced and really delicious.

11/24/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby to purple color. No signs of age yet. Briary fruits some pencil shaving, smoke, minerals. Similar palate. Well balanced, simple, hearty. Good fruit with persistent tannins. Overall very nice and has plenty of life yet.

11/12/2021 - cgrimes Does not like this wine:

Dark ruby color. Nose of briary fruits, some pencil, some brett. Flat palate lacking fruit. Not flawed just flat with mineral, some smoke, cigar box. Fairly aggressive tannins. Not balanced. Disappointed.

11/11/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Garnet color with nose of Tart cherries, some spice. Nice fruit of red, some black cherry, spice,minerals with a finish of gentle tannins. Not really complex but lovely nonetheless.

9/27/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Decanted and opened up considerably throughout the night. Purple color with nose of blackberry, black cherry, plum. Similar fruit on the palate with some spice and licorice. Smooth but present tannins. All around spectacular wine.

9/13/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nose of blackberry, some plum, some black cherry with garrique and iron. Similar on the palate. Tannins still firm but overall in a good drinking range. A little wilder than the 2006 Beaucastel but also a little more interesting.

9/13/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep purple color with little signs of age. Nose of fruits, spice, iron. Great dark fruit on the palate with herbs, some minerality including iron and gentle tannins. Delicious wine which paired well with a skirt steak. Glad I have one more of these. Will let it age another 5 years.

4/23/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Beautiful garnet color with nice bricking. Soft nose of blackberry, cassis, some pencil, some leather. Palate had wonderful fruit, spice, mineral with a touch of soft tannins. This wine was elegant with everything you would want in a 20+ yo Bordeaux. Perfect balance. Thanks to Marc and Heidi for bringing this gem over.

3/27/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Yellow color with slight oxidation showing its age. Nose and palate of white fruits and citrus with some minerals and honeycomb. A slight nuttiness. Great body and character and overall a terrific wine. Went well with shawarma chicken and salad.

3/13/2021 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Ruby color without much bricking yet. Nose of blackberry, cassis, pencil. Similar on the palate with medium tannins. I stand by my note from 2009 that the wine is slightly lacking in body but otherwise is enjoyable and great with food. In a good place and not sure that it will improve with further ageing.

11/25/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep ruby to purple with no signs of age. Nose of blackberry, some cassis, some pencil and mineral. Similar on the palate with good intensity of fruit. Great balance and structure. Still tannic out of the bottle, it opened up with decanting. I really like this wine and feel it still has many years of life.

11/19/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Purple opaque color. Brooding nose of dark fruits, cigar box. Palate of blackberry, some cassis, some black cherry, cigar box, tar, pepper. Nice structure with fruit forward, cigar/tar/pepper second, then strong tannins on the finish. This wine has a long life ahead of it and I would expect the components to mellow with time. Lovely wine. Decanted 10 hours before drinking. May even be better tomorrow,

11/19/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Light ruby color. Nose of blackberry, some black cherry, some pepper, some acetone. Palate initially very fruity with blackberry, black cherry followed by a wall of licorice and tar. Thick mouthfeel and much less tannic compared to the Gigondas. Overall there were some really nice elements to this but the wine lacked some cohesiveness. Honestly, I'm really not sure if this will smooth out with age.

11/14/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark garnet color. No visible signs of age. Nose of blackberry, dark cherry, minerals, hint of licorice. Similar on the palate with good strength of fruit and complex midpalate. Still tannic and has a good amount of life left. Long finish. Very enjoyable wine.

10/11/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby with some bricking at the edges. Complex nose of briary fruits, meat, minerals, spice. Similar on the palate. Still some tannic structure which softened with decanting. This wine had all the makings of a great bottle. Great fruit, complexity, structure. I loved it.

10/10/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Deep garnet color. Nose of black cherry, spice. Palate of black cherry, spice, some minerality with velvety tannins which definitely softened with decanting. Lovely wine with all the right balance.

5/10/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nice ruby color. Nose of black cherry, stones, some spice. Similar palate with good fruit. Soft bu present tannins. Well-rounded, lovely wine.

4/19/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark fruits, pencil, some minerality and earth. Still powerful on the palate with good structure and tannins. Still very young but really nice.

4/7/2020 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nice garnet color. No bricking yet. Elegant dark fruits, stones, pencil. Smooth palate of blackberries and cassis, minerals. Tannins are starting to smooth out. Maturing but still has the nice structure of a younger wine. Really terrific. Plenty of life left.

10/18/2019 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Still dark garnet but starting to show some bricking on the edge. Beautiful nose of dark fruit and pencil shavings, some stone. Similar on the palate with great structure and balance. Still plenty of life in this one.

4/20/2019 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Still purple but not opaque. Nose of briary fruit, spices, tar, iron. Similar on the palate with good fruit and balance. Nice wine with grilled pork tenderloin.

4/14/2019 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Garnet color. Nose of cherry, minerals, some spices. Palate similar with predominant red cherry. Nice fruit and overall structure. Surprisingly beautiful wine drinking well right now.

1/7/2018 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Nice garnet color. Nose of cherry, stones, some spice. Palate of tart red cherry, some earth and minerals. Still tannic and has yet to develop significant secondary characteristics. Nice, simple red Burg.

12/15/2017 - cgrimes wrote:

Deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry, some cassis, pencil shavings, wet stones. Similar palate. Still robust but smoothing out a bit. In a good window for drinking. Nice wine from a great vintage.

12/21/2017 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. No appreciable bricking. Nose of blackberry, cassis, some pencil shavings. Slight Brett. Similar on the palate with good depth of fruit, some wet stone and a medium tannic finish. Drinking well now but will continue to develop. Nice wine.

1/31/2017 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Garnet to purple hue. Nose of blackberry, some cassis and pencil. Not much in the way of secondary characteristics yet. Similar on the palate with great structure and balance. Tannins starting to soften. Lovely wine.

1/29/2017 - cgrimes Likes this wine:

Ruby color. Nose of red cherry, raspberry, mineral. Similar palate. Nice balance and finish. Great baby Barolo for early drinking.