San Benito County, Central Coast

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara County Grenache 2024

Ted
9.1

Herbs, cinnamon and hints of incense. Light color. Pretty damn good. — 3 days ago

Jeni
with Jeni
Shay, Scott@Mister and 10 others liked this

A Tribute to Grace Wines

Santa Barbara Highlands Rosé of Grenache 2024

Santa Barbara highlands radiance in a glass! Yo, I'll pretend I'm rolling through da Wine Ghetto! — 2 months ago

Paul, Dave and 1 other liked this
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

2022 Albert Mann Pinot Gris "Furstentum Vieilles Vignes" Grand Cru Alsace
Bought a couple of these to try out along with s couple more of the other ones
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Albert Mann a reputable producer. He's on my wishlist for the future. Post your thoughts on those after.
Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

Flat Iron has some bottles

Meiomi

Monterey County Pinot Noir

Kristian brought to dinner — 4 days ago

Tensley

Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2023

Tensley – Syrah – 2023
Colson Canyon Vineyard – Santa Barbara County – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation Colson Canyon Vineyard, a benchmark site that consistently delivers powerful yet balanced fruit. This vintage shows tension between ripeness, structure, and freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cracked pepper, violet, licorice, and a subtle smoky undertone. Dark, spicy, and focused.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with sleek acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Concentrated but not heavy, with a long, peppery finish that lingers.

Food Pairings
Grilled lamb, beef skewers, duck confit, pepper-crusted steak, or roasted mushrooms.

Verdict
A balanced, expressive Syrah with depth, spice, and length – a great example of why Santa Barbara continues to challenge the top Rhône-style regions.

Did You Know?
Colson Canyon sits at nearly 1,500 ft elevation, producing small berries with thick skins, a key reason these Syrahs show intense color, aromatics, and age-worthy structure.
— 2 months ago

Tom, Ted and 1 other liked this

Hirsch Vineyards

San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2021

Very cherry driven almost over the top. Raspberry and a touch of crushed marble. Definitely a wine which will please. But it lacks the earthiness of the 2016. Super juicy. Low %. Overall this is a nice example of a CA Pinot - which just wants to please unfortunately to much ….and perhaps trying to be a burgh in the process - but this vintage ain’t it. — a month ago

Daniel, Rick and 12 others liked this

Au Bon Climat

Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2023

Yummy light pinot noir. Taste of dark, ripe berries — 2 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Benito Dusi Ranch Paso Robles Zinfandel 2023

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category.
— 3 months ago

Dave, Bob and 10 others liked this
Douglas Braun

Douglas Braun Influencer Badge

Amazing Vineyard an family which were Paso Robles before Paso Robles
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice write-up. Always one of my favorites of the Ridge stable.