Ringer Reef

Piedrasassi

PS Santa Barbara County Syrah 2021

John Howard
9.5

So insane! Killer value. Dead ringer for a high end northern Rhone. — 18 days ago

Shay, Jonathan and 10 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Yes, these are really good.

The Ringer

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Really enjoyed this. One of the few times could actually taste the things in the tasting notes (lots of cherry here). Very fruit forward, but not sweet, decanted for an hour plus — 7 months ago

Bodega Chacra

Cincuenta y Cinco Pinot Noir 2018

Dead ringer for Willamette Pinot... if not even more reductive and old world. So much has been said about this producer. I get it. Young at 2018 but I get it. This is built for short and mid term drinking. Pop this bottle and make friends. — 4 years ago

Ira, Daniel P. and 1 other liked this

Quartz Reef

Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017

A little sweetness. Good balance — 4 years ago

Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay 2013

J Choi
9.6

Wow. Layers. Burgundy ringer — a month ago

Bouchard Père et Fils

Les Clous Meursault Chardonnay

Выпито 28.07.24 в Oyster Puesto bar с командой Blue Reef в день рождения Савваса. — 3 months ago

Horsepower Vineyards

The Tribe Vineyard Syrah 2012

Shay A
9.5

Again, these are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. This was part of a blind lineup for “Rhône style wines”. These wines are a bit difficult not to identify in a blind lineup due to their distinctive aromatics.

My note here is pretty similar to the 2011 I opened a year and a half ago. In true to Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. At 10yrs, the palate is almost a dead ringer for high end northern Rhône Syrah. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue but there is great acid followed by stems, herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I found the 2011 to have a lighter/more floral profile, but this one certainly has more stuffing and aging potential. This seems to just now be entering a peak drinking window.

Also in the lineup was a 2014 Hors Categorie (also from Christophe Baron), and I found the 2012 HP to taste younger, while the 2014 HC had a bit more heft in the mid-palate. Love both.
— 2 years ago

Raul, Ira and 29 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

2011 vintage. Decanted with some sed and tasted after 1 hour. Bigg structure with plenty of tobacco, underbrush and dark fruit. A complex kid. Lots of moving parts but really unified currently and moving towards a common goal. Total BDX ringer in a pricey blind. This has miles to go. 8.2.24. — 2 months ago

Jan, jesus and 19 others liked this

Quartz Reef

Méthode Traditionelle Bendigo Estate Sparkling Blend

NV | Sparkling Wine, Méthode Traditionnelle
(61% Pinot Noir & 39% Chardonnay)
Quartz Reef; Brut (Biodynamic)
Central Otago, New Zealand
(91-92)
— a year ago

David, Ted and 18 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

Central Otago, not Tasmania. I was there and missed on the opportunity to try sparkling from there. All the wine I had from there had amazingly, beautiful acidity. I did have a few from Tasmania. 👍🙃
Severn Goodwin

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It's delicious, especially after the first of the spring lawn care regimen, 6H later, I'm beat.
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I know that feeling all too well. Enjoy! 🍾

McKinlay

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018

Amazing qpr and a dead ringer for a village wine — 4 years ago

Paul, Sean and 1 other liked this