Eagle Bay

Domaine Eden

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This is a wonderful expression of Santa Cruz Mountain Cab, caught in a state of absolute grace. I might be lucky with the specific bottle but it's really shining through like a mini superstar. Small red and black fruits are still preserved in a dusty state, in harmony with the emerging leather, pipe tobacco, and graphite, strikingat great balance between freshness and complexity. The nose is giving a preview of the palate, where the canines show completely evolved, silkyyet substantial. Again, lucky me, because it's in a state of grace. — 15 days ago

Tom, Dave and 7 others liked this

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

Paired with 17 Shoe PN. Preferred the latter which is rare. Usually like the chard. Both great. — 5 days ago

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — a month ago

Juan, Jeroen and 11 others liked this

Oyster Bay

Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023

Wild Culture Yala. — 2 months ago

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2030

Good wine, nice depth to the fruit with long finish — 4 months ago

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Carignane 2024

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2024 CCC 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 attractive, fresh notes of crunchy blackberries, black plum, lavender pastilles, Kiwi fruit, black pepper, crushed rock and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. So fresh and easy to love. Drink now through 2034. — 5 months ago

"Odedi", Tom and 7 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Love those old CCC vines!
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Tom Casagrande same brother, same.

Rhys Vineyards

Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay 2013

This one had signs of seepage on it so I opened it planning on throwing it out. What an amazing wine and so fresh! Maybe another bottle seeped on to this one? — 7 months ago

Ridge Vineyards

Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021

John Howard
9.4

Not as good as expected. A little tired. Nice tho. Day 3, so good! Time and air made this insane. Love, — 9 days ago

Ray, Dave and 11 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

A little young for being tired? May be bottle variation?
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas two days later, much much better! this one is really changed my mind on wines that need to be aged or need air or time, etc. rating is gonna go up a lot. So good!
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas oh and I thought it might have been a storage problem… nope!

Cloudy Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Lovely with Pat’s grilled salmon. Last of the bottles purchased from Amazon Fresh before closing. — 9 days ago

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Zach D
9.1

Pours a purple hue with some fading at the rim; aromas of black and red fruit; raspberry, blackberry, some dark cherry, and cassis; palate with good acidity, congruent with the nose; there is a bit of vanilla clove baking spice oak on the palate. Alcohol is moderate at 13.5; I like the wine, and I don’t drink a whole lot of American wines. The oak influence should be more delicate in my opinion, as the fruit is pretty elegant. It overwhelms a bit, and holds it back. I have doubts that this aspect will improve with bottle age, but I have another couple bottles and will leave in the cellar as an experiment. — 2 months ago

Dave, Joel and 5 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Zach D Cautiously optimistic that overt oak will completely fade into the background in 7-8 years and the wine will truly blossom.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir 2022

High acidity and light bodied with bright red fruit flavors — 3 months ago

Joel, Ira and 1 other liked this

Mount Eden Vineyards

Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2018

Golden color. Green apple and vanilla (light oak) on the palate. Age worthy. April 2026. — 5 months ago

Cline Cellars

Ancient Vines Contra Costa County Mourvèdre 2022

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 6 months ago

Dave, Tom and 1 other liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Seriously, has there ever been a disappointing red wine from Contra Costa? Every red vine there is over 100 years old on ungrafted roots in 20 feet of pure sand. What kind of jerk can fuck that up?

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 7 months ago

Paul, Tom and 6 others liked this

Screaming Eagle

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

In an evening of pleasant surprises, this may have been the biggest of them all. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been, but looking at the lineup of legends, can one blame me? Screaming Eagle is one of those wines you read about but rarely see, let alone get an opportunity to drink. An expensive, cult Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville? Hardly original these days (though it could be argued that Screaming Eagle was the OG for the “category”). But, this was not some anonymous OTT Napa Cab. This was a brilliant, impeccably balanced, varietally correct expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville and perhaps, one of the best I’ve ever had.

The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) and utterly brilliant with perfectly wisened black currants, brambles, dried leaf, tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, salmiakki, a lovely mix of cool and warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, silky and punctuated with pleasant minerals. Looking at the label and seeing 13.8% ABV brings a smile to my face. This wine has remarkable confidence. To say I’m impressed would be a gross understatement. I’m smitten. Drink now with some air and enjoy through 2047+.
— a month ago

Joel, Tom and 17 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

👏 👏 👏
jesus g

jesus g Influencer Badge

shoota

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

From 375, along with 2017 Horseshoe Chard — 14 days ago

Oyster Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025

This is always a solid Sauvignon Blanc, drank last night with Matt — 2 months ago

Rivers-Marie

Silver Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir

Great vineyard for this wine. Better than others I have had. Soft, round, and fruity. Random Tuesday watching Brewers put Cuba back into second place. — 4 months ago

Edward Nelson

Edward Nelson

Ratings not loading. Good. Better than some variants of this wine.
Edward Nelson

Edward Nelson

Great. Better than other variants.

Screaming Eagle

Second Flight Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

1.5 hour decant(little fine sediment). A striking dark magenta color. On the nose: Inviting notes of dark berries, sandalwood, herbaceous, smoked meat, potting soil. Taste: silky, layered, balanced wine with dark plum/cherry, dried herbs, spice, and a cedar/mocha java lingering long finish. YUM!! — 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Jan and 11 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Wow! Nice pizza wine!
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

@Dave prefer it with chicken wings(see my post 2 years ago). Cheers!

Domaine Eden

Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2021

Medium ruby color. Aromas of curry, cardamom, cherry and strawberry. Strawberry flavors, toasted oak, raspberry and black tea. Very interesting Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. Bottle #32187

🏅94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
— 7 months ago

Doug, Pinotman and 11 others liked this