Society Blends

Ridge Vineyards

Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and dried mixed brambles, Luxardo cherries, red and purple flowers, black pepper, vanilla and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is one of the more approachable young Geyserville’s I’ve had in a long time and remains on of my favorite Zinfandel-based blends from Ridge. Drink now through 2048. — 4 days ago

Daniel, Scott@Mister and 10 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

For me, one of their top three blends. Maybe, two.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Somm David T yep. Lytton maybe just behind.

Chappellet

Mountain Cuvée Proprietor's Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends.
— 10 months ago

Ted and Andrew liked this

Buena Vista Winery

Vinicultural Society North Coast Pinot Noir 2018

Super versatile Pinot! Nice acidity, very balanced. Great table wine — 6 years ago

Bedrock Wine Co.

Dolinsek Ranch Heritage Red Blend 2017

Blueberry jam and lavender flowers for ages with a top note of cedar. Mouthwatering acidity and subtle tannins that pick up heft and dryness with time. The first 30min is golden and beautiful, then it starts toughening up. @Morgan Twain-Peterson has done another great job. This is still my favorite of the Bedrock Heritage blends - maybe the coolest Zinfandel site they work with? and a north facing slope — 8 years ago

Mike, Shawn and 13 others liked this

Tenuta San Leonardo

San Leonardo Red Blend 2007

Beautiful nose...dried red fruits, cedar, leather, spice cake. Some well integrated oak on the palate with blackberry and cassis. Italian Bordeaux blends usually not the first thing I reach for but this was excellent — 8 years ago

Trixie, Neil and 5 others liked this
Jae Cho

Jae Cho Influencer Badge

Interesting estate

Buena Vista Winery

Vinicultural Society Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

2010 vintage opened on 10/31/2017 LOTS of currant on the end, earthy, rich well rounded. Worth the wait — 9 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend

Ridge Three Valleys 2023
Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A classic Sonoma field blend composed of 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Crafted in Ridge’s signature transparent style, this vintage leans toward a riper and more fruit-driven expression than many of the winery’s other bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry preserves, ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry compote dominate, supported by touches of black pepper and baking spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins and a broad, generous texture. The fruit lingers across the palate with a warm, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
A natural companion for barbecue, smoked meats, burgers, and hearty pizza.

Verdict
While impeccably made, this is one of the few Ridge wines that didn’t quite resonate with my palate. It leans a bit too jammy and overripe for my preference, though lovers of rich, fruit-forward California reds will likely find plenty to enjoy.

Did You Know?
Ridge has long been one of California’s pioneers of ingredient transparency, listing the exact grape composition directly on the label.

🍷 Personal Pick
I truly love Ridge wines, but I’d still reach for Lytton Springs or Geyserville before this bottling. If bold, juicy Zinfandel blends are your style, however, this one could easily become a favorite.
— 20 days ago

Ted, ESF and 1 other liked this

The Bootleg Society

Speakeasy Red

Speak easy, drink easy! What a great BBQ wine — 3 years ago

Roederer Estate

Anderson Valley Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay Blend

Nice holiday bubbly!! Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate adds oak-aged reserve wines to all their blends to create complex, dry and harmonious sparkling wines. First Brut California sparkling produced by Champagne Louis Roederer. Pale lemon straw, nice mousse and bubbles for this 60% Chardonnay & 40% Pinot Noir blend. Flavors of crisp Apples with creamy mineral tones, nice balance with acidity. Long finish ending with oak, lemon and nutty characteristics. Consistent. Very nice! — 5 years ago

Juan, Tom and 3 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Opus One master class with Lisa Perrotti Brown [editor, wine advocate] and Michael Silacci(winemaker Opus One). At the Matter of Taste (Wine Advocate) in Napa...Wines:

2005 Opus One
2007 Opus One
2010 Opus One
2018 Opus blend 18
2018 Opus blend 3
2018 Opus blend 5
2017 Opus wolf
2017 Opus dog
2017 Opus squirrel

Got to taste 3 of the final blends for 2018..they went with blend 5. The 2017 were tests fermented with different wild yeast
— 7 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Shay and 3 others liked this

Flora Springs

Trilogy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014

The great thing about blends is they are Now not tomorrow not today not to yesterday but to Now! Trilogy ready willing and able. Dark, jammy, deliciously gripping — 8 years ago

David, Sharon and 23 others liked this
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

@Shay A yup Shay all of my Napa trips hit Flora
Joe Lucca

Joe Lucca Influencer Badge

@Jody Scharf I have been on hiatus because I’ve been so frustrated with the app. Hangs when I try to comment, doesn’t post my posts for almost 24 hrs. You know the deal. Just a mess. Frustrating to say the least. But giving it another shot to hang with fine fine folks like yourself.
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

Thanks Joe@Joe Lucca appreciate your kind words and yes feel your pain

Peter Michael Winery

Estate Vineyards Les Pavots Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008

08’ Peter Michael Les Pavots. Very few wines that have elegance & power. Silky textures that caress the palate. No holes or slack in this. Drinking very close to a pop & pour . Don’t think you can go wrong with anything they have made in the last 15 years. Pure enjoyment! It’s a coin flip between the 2008 & 2009 at this particular point. I’m so surprised this wine isn’t year after year a top 💯 wine. Drinking now. Edit - 2009 - One of the best California blends from that vintage! — 9 years ago

David, Shawn and 57 others liked this
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Scott Rose Enjoy the chards with some age on them. Had the 06’ recently of L’ esprit de Pavots... wasn’t a fan.
Rob Sternthal

Rob Sternthal

Agree with Scott. Once you’ve had this it’s hard to drink L’esprit.
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I’m not so much disagreeing. The entire collection is good.

Col Solare

Collector's Society Red Mountain Malbec 2021

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Strong fruity nose and full bodied, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black plums, cooked cherries, sweet blackberries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn, tobacco leaf and black tea.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Malbec from Red Mountain in Washington State. Extracted and fruit forward.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Elegant and spicy.

A good sipping wine. Rich and in your face kind of wine.

A blend of 96% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in (60% New) French Oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of only 2,800 bottles.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$85.
— 7 months ago

ESF, Andrew and 8 others liked this

Kermit Lynch Blends

Vin de Pays de Vaucluse White Rhone Blend

Have bought and enjoyed many times — 10 months ago

SLO Down Wines

Sexual Chocolate California Red Blend 2017

Wow. This has to be one of the best blends I have had. Intense, rich, and beautiful color! — 6 years ago

Favia

La Magdalena Napa Valley Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

11’ Favia La Magdalena . One of my favorite 2011’s from Napa. Pop & let it sit in the glass for 10/15 minutes. Magician when it comes to CF blends. — 7 years ago

David, Susan and 48 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Cab franc! 👌🏼
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

So good
David L

David L Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Gents- This wine always delivers .

Luminary

Estate Vineyards American Red Blend

Blends. Go! — 8 years ago

Rob, Trixie and 17 others liked this

Pinot Society

The Tumult Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015

Digging it. The nose draws you in with breakfast country ham and cherry syrup. Honestly, feels like I’m driving up to a Denny’s. However, “old world” notes of forest floor - pine tree bark, dry leaves, and wood chips - develop. Acidity stays relevant, but doesn’t kick your ass. This is why I love Willamette; good fruit, but not boring and extracted. — 8 years ago

Dana Dungan
with Dana
Shawn, Eric and 7 others liked this

Long Shadows Vintners

Chester-Kidder Columbia Valley Red Blend 2014

Cab / Syrah. These Long Shadows blends don’t miss for the price. — 9 years ago

Greg, Shay and 15 others liked this
Michael Meyer

Michael Meyer Premium Badge

Some whenever I see these wines I think of Barnabas Collins 👻🦇
TheSkip

TheSkip

I need to try them out! Have heard lots of good things.