9/24/2019 - dransford Likes this wine:

Awesome, sweet but not overly so. Such good blue fruits. In a good spot.

8/20/2019 - dransford Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good 8 years in! Monsieur Tama has a deft touch.

6/3/2018 - dransford Likes this wine:

Awesome wine. Great nose, classic understated style, I was happy drinking the first glass w/o food. Needs to be paired with mild food because doesn’t have the umph to hold up with game-y or richer foods. I’d pair more like a burgundy.

10/10/2017 - dransford Likes this wine:

Locked out of the house but was able to get into the garage. Luckily, I found a glass and the one bottle in my wine fridge with a screw top to help me pass the time. Still going strong. Drank well on day two as well.

6/25/2017 - dransford Likes this wine:

I was worried it would be over the hill but the bottle was in a good place - really nice.

6/3/2016 - dransford Likes this wine:

Very solid. Subtle, refined wine. Need a good amount of air time and/or a few more years in bottle to be at its best in my view.

5/19/2016 - dransford Likes this wine:

Very solid and in a good place. Need a little air but not tonnes. good blend of old world/new world. Not as earthy or a peppery as a Northern Rhone but has those elements. Fruit is there but not a bomb. Tannins soft. Its all there and all subtle. Some acidity to keep the finish.

3/27/2016 - dransford wrote:

Better now than 2 years ago.

3/22/2016 - dransford wrote:

Interesting as a study on a grape I've never had by itself. I found it enjoyable overall but will be helpful in identifying petit verdot in blends.

9/2/2015 - dransford wrote:

Took some time to open up. I'd suggest at least a 30min decant. great wine. plenty of life ahead.

4/21/2015 - dransford wrote:

Loved it. Not nuanced but true to the variety and region. Still drinking well.

3/11/2015 - dransford wrote:

Still hangin in there but time to drink up.

3/3/2015 - dransford wrote:

Agree with recent postings - too sweet. Will it improve???

2/19/2015 - dransford wrote:

I had low expectations but this wine exceeded them. Really nice merlot. Plumy but not over done. Chocolatey. Euro-ish with nice acidity and good tannin structure and only 13%-ish ABV. I had a poor experience at the Sinskey winery so I almost hoped that I wouldn't like this wine, but alas, it was good. Best domestic Merlot in some time and much better than the same bottle I had a few years back.

1/31/2015 - dransford wrote:

Really nice. Not overly complex. Drinking very well. I don't see it getting better. Doesn't seem to have the stuffing to last long term - I'd drink within the next 2-3 years.

1/19/2015 - dransford wrote:

Really good. Lacks that something interesting to make it great but littorai' style is right up my alley

1/19/2015 - dransford wrote:

Awesome

1/16/2015 - dransford wrote:

Wasn't working for me. Great vineyard. Great year. Had this wine a few years ago and thought it was good (not great). I think it's on its downhill slide. Doesn't have the stuffing for aging.

12/15/2014 - dransford wrote:

Excellent. Needs a few hour decant at this point and best days are ahead, but plenty good now. I wish the nose had more on offer but the palate and finish were fantastic with tannins still unresolved but very present.

11/28/2014 - dransford wrote:

Awesome.

11/24/2014 - dransford wrote:

A nice elegant drink with a little cherry and some zip on the end but lacks any nose and comes across a little watery on the palate. Enjoyable and easy drinking, nothing special, but also probably good QPR for Burgundy.

11/9/2014 - dransford wrote:

Awesome, but if memory serves me is wasn't cheap, probably better value for money out there but could also do worse.

10/16/2014 - dransford wrote:

Was worried this may be getting over the hill but has matured nicely, albeit now less like what my mind tells me Beaujolais should taste like. Weighter, fuller, a bit more new world pinot-like, but really enjoyable and no signs of deterioration.

10/13/2014 - dransford wrote:

Extracted but enjoyable, even if not my preferred style.

10/11/2014 - dransford wrote:

JS95 may be a stretch but really nice and good value. Classic chianti profile in a classy way.

10/11/2014 - dransford wrote:

Nice. Entering good drinking phase.

8/28/2014 - dransford wrote:

Ahh... rioja... classic flavors. Not going to shock you with how great it is but a solid wine and good bang for the buck. I'd agree that the acidity does make it a better food wine. But the dill, the tart cherry, the medium body, the hint of a burgeoning funk, the integrated tannins... Nothing like rioja.

8/20/2014 - dransford wrote:

Good but not great. Followed another wine that was awesome and older so I didn't have the most objective view on this wine. Seemed it would benefit from more age or a decant (which I didn't do).

8/20/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

Bought recently from winery as part of a vertical. I thought it was awesome - none of the issues others had. Good acidity that I wasn't expecting. nice maturation of fruit and tannins. really in a nice spot and a steal at $35 for such an aged wine.

8/18/2014 - dransford wrote:

Really nice

7/19/2014 - dransford wrote:

meh. Good but not great

7/1/2014 - dransford wrote:

Que bueno! Traditional. a little oaky but seems like it will age for the medium term. I love it but I do have a thing for traditional Spanish wines.

5/27/2014 - dransford Does not like this wine:

meh... not bad but too sweet.

5/21/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

Really nice!

5/21/2014 - dransford Does not like this wine:

Not my style. Best for Sangria.

5/21/2014 - dransford wrote:

Brilliant!

4/22/2014 - dransford wrote:

Balanced; nice; simple. Nothing special but good price for a good wine.

4/17/2014 - dransford wrote:

Ridge always seems to deliver good wines - this one the fruit is fading a bit and the oak is showing through perhaps stronger than some may like, nice sweetness without being too much , but nothing overpowering or disjointed. I think these are ready to drink.

4/15/2014 - dransford wrote:

Really good. Better than many napa wines 2x the price. Full-bodied, classic cab dominant blend profile, firm tannins but very approachable. It'll last but it is great now.

4/15/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

I've had mixed results with Calera but this was fantastic for the price point. In a good spot right now.

4/7/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

In it's prime. Really nice, understated, in balance.

3/31/2014 - dransford wrote:

Really ticks the boxes for me - a nice refreshing rose for a warm afternoon.

3/30/2014 - dransford wrote:

Better than 6 months ago - not sure if it was the wine, the bottle, my mood, or my expectations. Ready to drink.

3/8/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

Still rather simple but good acidity and nice sour cherry. Better than I: remember my last bottle being. A pleasurable drink with sweet peppers, sausage and burrata.

3/3/2014 - dransford wrote:

Nice but still feels early in its drinking window. Better over time. Big and powerful at first but mellowed over time.

3/3/2014 - dransford wrote:

Just OK for me. Better over time so maybe it needs to cellar for a year or two.

2/16/2014 - dransford wrote:

Really good. Showed restraint and complexity lacking in so many zins. Some good spiciness. I'm a fan.

2/3/2014 - dransford wrote:

16.4% alcohol!! but after a short decant it didn't come across as hot. A big, powerful wine but not overly sweet and somehow maintained good balance. Enjoyable.

2/3/2014 - dransford wrote:

Meh, better than I was expecting (I'm not a fan of this style) but still not great.

1/27/2014 - dransford Likes this wine:

I'm not a Riesling aficionado but I enjoyed it.