Jan de Weerd

9.0

And from France…. right to Idaho! A Chardonnay from the oldest Chardonnay vineyard in Idaho. Planted in the late nineteeneighties facing the Snake River from 2,700 feet elevation. An American style Chardonnay, if that exists, aged in new American oak. Slightly creamy, hints of sweet vanilla oak flavors well integrated with a high acidic, well structured wine with lifted minerals on the finish. — 5 months ago

with Chris, RoAnne and 1 other

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

A blend from several vineyards, including Middle Reach, Green Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and the Laguna Ridge area. Bright Ruby color, purple edges, with aromas of ripe fruits, floral and complex spice. On the palate concentrated flavors of raspberry, cherry and currants with pepper, tea, herbs, vanilla and oak, aged on French oak, soft tannins on well balanced structure. Full body, rich long finish, ending with spice, ripe fruit and oaky tones. Very Nice! — 2 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Amazing nose of raspberry, bing cherry, cooked strawberry, cinnamon, and oak. Fruit forward with cherry, strawberry, fig, cinnamon, sage, baked apples, vanilla, and allspice. High alcohol, light plus tannins, and high acid. — 5 years ago

with Susan and James

Tom Casagrande

9.4

This is, to my taste, at its peak. Gorgeous nose shows pure Zinny blackberry fruit, rich gravelly loam, a whiff of pine forest, a little eucalyptus, and a bit of American oak. Super-elegant texture. Round, mouthfilling, good integrated balancing acids provide a tangy echo, barely perceptible tannin. Intense flavors finish long and pure. RRV is usually not my first choice for Zin, but this kicks ass. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Pascual Toso – Malbec Limited Edition 2014
Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

Overview:
A rare Limited Edition Malbec from Pascual Toso, one of Mendoza’s oldest and most respected wineries (founded in 1890). The vines grow in the heart of a natural canyon carved by an ancient river stream, fed by snowmelt from the Andes Mountains. This unique terroir adds intensity, freshness, and a striking mineral backbone to the wine.

Aromas & Flavors:
The bouquet opens with deep layers of ripe blackberries, plums, and black cherries, woven with cocoa, violets, and subtle tobacco leaf. On the palate, the fruit is concentrated yet refined, laced with graphite, vanilla, and a faint savory spice.

Mouthfeel:
Silky and waxy in texture, yet powerfully structured. Tannins are polished and integrated, giving a sense of elegance within its robust frame. The finish is long, lingering with dark fruit, earth, and a whisper of Andes minerality.

Winemaking Notes:
Only made in exceptional vintages, this Malbec undergoes extended maceration and aging in new French oak barrels, amplifying its depth and age-worthiness. At nearly a decade in bottle, the 2014 vintage is showing a beautiful balance between fruit richness and tertiary development.

Food Pairing:
An outstanding match for grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or lamb chops with rosemary. Also excellent with aged cheeses or earthy mushroom dishes.

Verdict:
A powerful yet elegant Mendoza Malbec, shaped by the drama of its canyon terroir. The silky, waxy texture stands out, making it not just bold but also sophisticated. Truly a wine for collectors and connoisseurs—drink now or cellar further to enjoy its evolution.

Personal Pick Highlight:
For me, this 2014 Limited Edition stood out as one of the most memorable Mendoza Malbecs I’ve had in recent years. The combination of silkiness and power felt like a perfect snapshot of the region’s soul. A bottle I’d happily revisit again and again. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Absolutely delicious. The 27% Zin makes itself noticed on the nose, which has the telltale brambly blackberry competing with the deep red berries of the Carignane. And there’s a bit of the signature Ridge American oak adding a vanilla/smoky note on top of a little gravel. Texturally soft and mouthfilling, it’s ripe but in beautiful balance. Tangy acids from the Carignane. A bit of tannin, but it’s very soft. I don’t see this as a long ager, but really nice now. The finish is a little short, but that’s common in my view with Carignane, which tend to give a significant initial whack of flavor and then dissipates quickly. — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.0

Bought for $40.00, normally $125.00 and still $125.00 winery direct. They’ve gone the way of a paper label & shorter cork. But for 1/3 the price I’ll take the miner changes. Medium body compared to older vintages. If I paid release I would be disappointed but for $40.00 its definitely worthwhile K&L notes, Beau Vigne's heralded, rising star winemaker Julien Fayard, originally from France, has worked in esteemed cellars such as Lafite-Rothschild and Smith-Haut-Lafitte on his way to becoming Philippe Melka's Director of Winemaking for many iconic wineries across Napa Valley. The 2018 "Cult" Cab is Beau Vigne's estate fruit from a high elevation vineyard 1,400 feet up on Atlas Peak and another closer to the Silverado Trail.

Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cult is a blend of both of the estate vineyards: Stags Ridge and Soda Canyon, with 15% blended from Rutherford and Oakville. It was aged in 100% new oak. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars — Windsor Ridge Chardonnay 2021 — Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. United States 🇺🇸

Overview:
A milestone vintage marking Amici Cellars’ 30th harvest, this estate Chardonnay sourced from the eastern ridges of the Russian River Valley showcases craftsmanship, energy, and precision. Crafted entirely from Chardonnay, the wine is barrel-fermented with native yeast, undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation, and is aged 14 months in French oak — a technical regimen that builds layered texture while preserving freshness and site expression.

Aromas & Flavors:
Crisp green apple, lemon oil, vanilla bean, grilled pineapple, roasted hazelnut, white florals, and subtle mineral lift.

Mouthfeel:
Textured and layered with vibrant acidity, polished oak integration, and excellent structural clarity. The palate flows seamlessly into a long, mineral-driven finish that feels energetic, focused, and refined rather than heavy.

Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, roast chicken with herbs, seared scallops, creamy risotto, grilled vegetables, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Personal Pick:
Having worked with the Amici team during a special summer program, this wine holds extra meaning for me — the precision and care behind this Chardonnay truly show in the glass. It’s a beautiful example of how technical discipline can translate directly into elegance and drinkability.

Verdict:
A sophisticated, site-driven Russian River Chardonnay delivering depth, finesse, and age-worthy structure. A benchmark expression of modern California craftsmanship.

🍷 Did You Know?:
Native-yeast barrel fermentation combined with full malolactic fermentation enhances texture, aromatic complexity, and mouthfeel while allowing vineyard character to remain clearly expressed when handled with restraint. — a year ago

Seth Masterson

8.9

I tried this last year and it was a bit tight. Now drinking really well in late '23, even better after some breathing time.
New French oak gives it a nice spice balance to the fruit- rather persimmon like actually. Fair texture. Deliciously long finish accompanied by a nice acid kick that carries the spice. Maybe a little bit hot for my taste. — 3 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, vanilla, currant, licorice and oak. Light-bodied and soft tannins. — 5 years ago