Wine Tasting Archive #2
Wine Reviews <-
Welcome to the Sipped Reviews wine blog. The reviews you see here are partly appearing because we love to taste, tear apart and review wines — and partly because of the Level 3 WSET course I’m taking currently.
Why ratings? I like to see a rating on a wine simply because it means someone else has taken the time to share their view, and also, I’m not blindly purchasing a wine. Now, I might not agree with the rating after I taste it, but at least I have some data to go on to give me some idea of the quality of the wine I’m thinking of purchasing. So, take it or leave it. Our ratings tend to be more conservative than others and, ALL of the wines rated here were purchased by us. None of these wines were gifts given to elicit a better rating. FYI.
ARCHIVE #1: The archive for the Wine Blog is here with reviews from November 1, 2023, to February 23, 2024. The archive contains 172 ratings.
ARCHIVE #2: The archive for the Wine Blog is here with reviews from February 23, 2024 to July 23, 2024
Vintner: Quilceda Creek
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2002
Varietal: Red Bend
Notes: This was my last bottle of the red blend from Quilly. It’s too bad. It was well cellared and in great condition. The cork was 22 years old and still as firm as the day it was put in the bottle.
If I remember right Al Golitzen gave me this at some point when we went up to visit. Nice gift. Thanks, Al. The wine was really lovely. 70% Cab, 20% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc. The Mertlot really shines in this blend with red fruit that erupts from the glass before you can get your nose in. The Cab Sauv provides a great big layer of satisfying anise/licorice, cassis, black berry black cherry, spicy earth and some cedar from the oak.
We had this after the Bordeaux mentioned several wines below. It was excellent with the lamb and a nice follow-on from the Bordeaux.
It didn’t taste in the least old, had good, soft tannins, full body and plenty of concentrated flavors.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 7/16/2024
Vintner: McIlroy
Description: Three Vineyard Blend, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: I believe this was $21.99 at Costco. When I was there two days ago there were 3 bottles left. Maybe they put out more.
Anyway, this is great Pinot. Lush, pronounced, concentrated layers of raspberry, cranberry, strawberry and red cherry. There was a touch of rhubarb as well giving is a tartness to balance the sweet berry scents.
Very classis RRV pinot with a full body and concentrated flavors. It could hold its own against many of the RRV wineries we’ve visited this last year. Good stuff.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 7/16/2024
Vintner: Omen
Description: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Cracked this open ahead of the Bordeaux just below. I needed something to sip while dinner was preparing. This was a gift from my wife’s client and it was really nice.
We got blackberry, raspberry, cherry and licorice (oddly), but none of these flavors were dark like a Cab. It was pinot through and through. It also had clove notes, spice and earthiness.
The bottle mentions that this wine is vegan friendly. I’m not vegan anymore, but I appreciate the effort by these guys to be inclusive. Pretty cool.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 7/16/2024
Vintner: Chateau Duhart-Milon
Description: Pauillac AC, Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite), Grand Cru Classe’ (4th growth)
Vintage: 2000
Varietal: Bordeaux (Left Bank)
Notes: Our friend brought this over last night. He used to be a Bordeaux collector back in the day. We were chuffed to get to taste it. We made lamb chops, garlic potatoes and a capresse salad. The wine went splendidly with the food, complementing everything we made.
The flavors were classic, dark Bordeaux with blackberry, cassis, black currant, sour, black cherry, licorice, leather, earth and spice.
There was almost no sediment and the cork had stood up very well. It was almost unnecessary to decant it. It was ready to drink.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 7/16/2024
Vintner: Kirkland
Description: Suscol Vineyard Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Smokey at first, but that mellows out. Blackberry, smoke, leather, tobacco, cassis, bitter herbs.
The body is med+, full acid, high tannin, high alcohol and a med finish.
It seems to lack an element that balances out the bone-dry tannins. And the mild smoke leads toward a slight, harsh rubberiness. But all in all, it’s an interesting wine to try.
Price: $17.99.
Rating: 86
Date Tasted: 7/15/2024
Vintner: Markham
Description: The Altruist Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Right Bank Red Blend
Notes: Lovely notes of raspberry, blackberry, cherry and plum mixed with earth, leather, cocoa, cassis and bramble.
The palate is med tannin, high acid, long finish, full body and pronounced character.
We found this at Costco in Fairfield, Ca. When we were at the winery a few weeks ago, we did not see this one the menu, so maybe Costco bought out what they had left. It’s a nice evening sipping wine. Great value for $22.99.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 7/15/2024
Vintner: Aviatrix
Description: Santa Ynez
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Grenache
Notes: Blackberry, raspberry, cherry, buttermilk, cheese cake, white pepper, phreesia.
The palate holds a lovely, ripe tannins, firm acidity, full body and concentrated flavors.
My friend and I visited La Sirena today. David, our host, was one of the best hosts we’ve ever had. He understood that we were industry and just treated us like pals. He gave us a ton of history on Bo, Heidi and Chelsea Barrett. Aviatrix is a hat-tip to Heidi’s ability to fly aircraft.
The wine is thick, lovely, nuanced, spicy and worth every bit of the $40 bucks at which it is priced.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 7/11/2024
Vintner: Holly’s Hill
Description: Patriarche, El Dorado
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Blackberry, licorice, tobacco, leather, meat, baking spice, cocoa
Full body, med+ tannins, high acid, concentrated, high alcohol, lovely ageable wine.
What a Southern Rhone blend should be like! This is a 77% Mourvedre, 16% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 1% Counoise. The wine is dense with rich fruit. The new 2022 will be out soon. This vintage is sold out.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 7/10/2024
Vintner: Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Description: Hidden Block, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, game, leather, toasty oak, menthol, cocoa, baking spice, tobacco
It has med+ tannins, high acid, full body, long finish, concentrated flavors.
This is a great Diamond Mountain cab with classic Cabernet flavors and nose.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 7/10/2024
Vintner: Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Description: Midnight, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: On this one, we did not have time for notes. From memory, the wine was a tiny bit light, but still had lovely flavors and a pronounced nose. It had plenty of red fruit, gentle tannins, nice acid and a med+ body.
This is one of those remainder wines. It is everything but the kitchen sink, whatever was left over from bottling. As I recall it is mainly Malbec, but also contains some Merlot, Cabernet Sauv, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petite Sirah. And there might have been another varietal in there as well.
The wine is priced at $40 bucks. Materra is located in Oak Knoll and their prices are excellent compared to many Napa wineries. Their excellent Diamond Mountain Cab is only $70 bucks and as good as a lot of $150 dollar Napa and Sonoma Cabs we’ve tried. It’s worth checking out!
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 7/08/2024
Vintner: Covale Cellars
Description: Quintessence Vineyard Red Mountain
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This is interesting. I worked with Marvin Crum at Quilceda Creek years ago. When he found out we were going to be in the Everett, Wa area last week, he found a way to get me a bottle of his wine. I had no idea he was making wine. I thought he was still working at Quilly. So, this was COOL!
So here is the review: The nose is dark fruited with blackberry, burnt brown sugar, cocoa, anise, tabacco, leather, all spice, cedar box, toasted oak and black cherry.
The palate is full bodied, long finishing, full acid, med+ tannins and concentrated flavors.
This is a monster wine with firm, black fruit. There isn’t an off note in the bottle. It reminds us of black berry coffee cake with a hint of baked peach on the palate. It has so many baking spices.
We let is breathe, and it changed, getting more pronounced, more concentrated, thicker. It went from a 93 pointer to a 95-96. Wow.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 7/08/2024
Vintner: Patricia Green Cellars
Description: Multiple Wines
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Multiple
Notes:
2021 Estate Vineyard Wadensvil Block Pinot Noir – 92 pts
2021 Freedom Hill Vineyard Wadensvil Clone Pinot Noir – 93 pts
2021 Estate Vineyard Etzel Block Pinot Noir – 93 pts
2021 Freedom Hill Vineyard Pommard Clone Pinot Noir – 91 pts
2021 Estate Vineyard Coury Clone Pinot Noir – 94 pts
2021 Freedom Hill Vineyard Coury Clone Pinot Noir – 93 pts
2021 Mysterious Pinot Noir – 97 pts
2021 Notorious Pinot Noir – 94 pts
Rating: ** — See above
Date Tasted: 7/07/2024
Vintner: Mark Ryan Winery
Description: Multiple Wines
Vintage: Multiple
Varietal: Multiple
Notes:
2021 Lu and Olly Untethered Columbia Valley Bubbles – 89 pts
2023 Quintessence Red Mountain Sauvignon Blanc – 90 pts
2023 Olsen Red Willow Viognier – 88 pts
2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 90 pts
2022 Wild Eyed Quintessence Angela’s Red Mountain Syrah – 91 pts
2021 Red Mountain Crazy Mary Mourvedre – 90 pts
2020 Quintessence Red Willow Red Mountain Little Sister Merlot – 94 pts
2021 Long Haul Columbia Valley – 93 pts
2021 Water Witch – Quintessence Red Mountain – 93 pts
2022 The Dissident Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauv – 92 pts
2021 Old Vines Quintessence Red Willow Ciel de Cheval Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauv – 94 pts
2021 Dead Horse Red Mountain Cabernet Sauv – 94 pts
2021 Lonely Heart Quintessence Red Mountain Cabernet Sauv – 93 pts
Rating: ** — See above
Date Tasted: 7/07/2024
Vintner: Big Table Farm
Description: Multiple Wines
Vintage: 2021 and
Varietal: Multiple
Notes:
2022 The Wild Bee Chardonnay – 94 pts
2022 The Elusive Queen Chardonnay – 95 pts
2023 Laughing Pig Rose’ of Pinot Noir – 97 pts
2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 94 pts
2022 Earth Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 96 pts
2022 Pelos Sandberg Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 94 pts
2021 Sunnyside Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – 93 pts
Rating: ** — See above
Date Tasted: 7/07/2024
Vintner: Flowers
Description: Seaview Ridge
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Meunier
Notes: You don’t see too much Meunier as a stand-alone, still wine. It is usually blended in the Champaigne region to make Champaigne. It is widely grown in that region. So, when we saw this on the menu at Flowers tasting room, we had to get one. And by one, I mean, there was less than a case left, and those bottles were for club members. Because I am industry, they not only sold me one, but shipped it home free in an insulated box with ice packs. Pretty damn efficient. Yah, I have one and I wish I had more. This is a treat.
It starts out a little heavier on the nose than a standard Pinot Noir. Almost more Syrah-like. But keep in mind that Pinot Noir and Meunier are genetically identical vines with slight mutations. They should be very similar in nose and taste.
You get strawberry, cherry, coffee, wet stone minerals.
The acid is high, tannins soft, body thick and full and the finish plush.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 6/26/2024
Vintner: Todd Taylor
Description: Lone Oak Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Mr. Taylor has really hit a homer here with this wine. The previous years’ Pinots from the same vineyard have been very good, but this is great stuff.
Lovely cocoa, raspberry, strawberry, red cherry, typical forest floor and hints of mushroom.
Lovely body, finish, balanced acid and gentle tannins. All the elements create an almost chewy wine with beautiful fruit on the palate.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/26/2024
Vintner: Todd Taylor
Description: Clone 337, Hagen Heights, Coombsville, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: You want a Cab that is amazing and yet does not follow the general Cab conventions? Try Todd Taylor’s Clone 337 Hagen Heights Cab. The nose on this thing is amazingly different and pronounced. You get the usual blueberry, black currant, anise, leather, vanilla, plum, cherry and coffee. But it does not stop there. You also get notes of sweet blueberry/apricot brioche or scone. There is also a note of candied peanut and nougat. And all these notes meld so beautifully together. So much sweetness on the nose.
The body is full, the acid high, the finish full, the concentration high, the tannins full and ripe. Yah, yah, yah.
It starts pretty closed, but just needed a half hour to breathe. And then it exploded. This is a gem of a wine that keep expanding as it breathes.
Todd Taylor is great place to visit as well. You can find the wine at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, Ca. Todd’s wines are all very reasonably priced and he rarely raises his prices. He produces, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 6/25/2024
Vintner: Atlas Peak
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The nose is black . . . blackberry, black cherry, black plum, kirsch, pepper, licorice, anise, dried black currant, leather, lilac and dried herbs. (Update: after breathing the nose gets a baked blackberry biscuit cobbler note).
The tannins are ripe, thick and redolent with black fruit. The acidity is balanced with the fruit — high. The body, finish, concentration are full. All its lacking is a tightening up of its pronounced nature and integration. It tends to be a little rough around the edges and the fruit a little too black without brighter fruit to balance this up. But as it is, for the cost, we love it. Let it breathe for an hour. Sip is here and there until the wine really opens up.
For $44 bucks this is a hit. Buy some. Wine.com has it, as does the Oxbow Wine Merchant in Napa.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/23/2024
Vintner: Ronchi – Azienda Agricola
Description: Barbaresco DOCG
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Notes: The nose is plush with sour cherry, raspberry, sweet spice, coffee, nutmeg, dried flowers and herbs.
Take a sip and you get concentrated flavors, long finish, medium tannins, high acid and good intensity.
This was one of my Oxbow Wine Merchant club wines. The guy who runs the club seems to always present us with really good finds. This wine gets better with oxygen. Its concentration just increases, filling in any of the body gaps that appeared when the bottle was first opened. Two hours later, it’s really nice.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/20/2024
Vintner: Christelle Betton
Description: Caprice, Crozes Hermitage
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Notes of red fruit, sour cherry, cream cheese, cranberry, black pepper, cocoa and gentle blackberries.
The body is full, the acid high, the finish med +, the flavor pronounced, firm tannins, and the texture concentrated.
Hey, this is a nice wine. A little tightening up and a little less sourness would have made this a fantastic wine. As it is, the wine is pretty good. It has concentration, great flavors and interesting rough edges. It is worth seeking out as a good example of a great Crozes.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 6/19/2024
Vintner: Once & Future
Description: Teldeschi Vineyard, Frank’s Block, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: This is textbook Zin. The textbook says that it should smell and taste like blackberry, cherry, black pepper, licorice and raisin. And dang me if it doesn’t taste just like that.
And it is full bodied, concentrated, long finished with high acid. That’s all I’m going to say. It’s lovely. Note the well-loved label.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 6/18/2024
Vintner: Round Pond
Description: Gravel Series, Secret Garden, Oakville, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: We almost don’t know what to say. This wine was opened for us at a house-warming party. We tried a few other things first, and then we got around to the Round Pond. And then I poured it and smelled it. The nose itself was ripe, full, pronounced . . . just special.
Then I tasted it. Wow. I can only say that it took me to another place. I just remember that the texture/acidity/body/finish — were just full. Maybe more than full. It was thick with ripe tannins that sizzled. It had a body like cocoa. But the flavors were cocoa, blackberry, kirsch cherry, leather, pepper, menthol and deep licorice.
All I can say is, this wine has ruined me for Cabernet Sauv for the foreseeable future. It was that good. It wasn’t 100pt wine, but it didn’t need to be. Its little flaws made it more interesting. Good luck trying to get it.
Rating: 97
Date Tasted: 6/15/2024
Vintner: Domaine de la Charbonniere
Description: Cuvee’ Les Haut Brusquieres Speciale
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Chateauneuf du Pape
Notes: Oh, my, this wine is so lovely. It is classic CNdP. You get layers of sweet, dusty cocoa powder, blackberry, sweet black cherry, leather, licorice, meat, game, smoke and violets.
The acidity is high, the tannins ripe and firm, the body full, the concentration outstanding, and the flavors just plush.
From the moment you open the bottle the wine is outstanding — and then it just get better over an hour that it breathes. The balance between the acidity, cocoa, fruit, tannins and florals is amazing. We loved this wine.
We purchased this at BottleBarn in Santa Rosa for $47 bucks. Way more expensive at Wine.come.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 6/12/2024
Vintner: Turnbull
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This is the basic, storefront level Turnbull. You get lovely blackberry, licorice, black cherry, rhubarb, eucalyptus, black pepper, leather, tobacco, a mild alcohol burn, kirsch, blueberry and a little oak.
The tannins are ripe, coat your teeth and feel almost sweet. The acidity is high, the mouthfeel complex, full bodied and with a long, lush finish.
We really gave this wine a good two hours to breathe. We also shook it to work some oxygen into it. And it rewarded us nicely. Very pretty wine, but it needs to breathe.
It’s not quite as lovely as the 2020 that we rated about 7 months ago. But with oxygen it gets there. And for the ~$50 price, you’re going to get a wine that is great, and far less expensive than the next level at Turnbull. Their wines are excellent and quite expensive. But even their entry level is amazing. And it has the structure, balance and complexity to age another 5-10 years if not longer in a good cellar.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/11/2024
Vintner: Flowers
Description: Seaview Ridge, Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Bright cherry, strawberry Jello, minerality, forest floor, raspberry, light oak and cinnamon. But the nose is not pronounced and forces the taster to really hunt for it.
The body is med+, full acidity, pale color, med+ finish and med tannins.
This wine is fairly thin to begin with. It is not pronounced or concentrated, but it really wants to be. We let it breathe out for an hour. It perked up a bit, but for the price ~$100 bucks, there are better choices. The rating below is after breathing for an hour. The concentration on the palate came up a bit.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 6/11/2024
Vintner: Buena Vista
Description: Private Reserve, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Upon opening one is greeted with a touch of volatile acidity (VA), but it fades with breathing. Under that one gets blackberry, licorice, anise, black currant, kirsch, black cherry, clove and cedar.
The palate holds a long finish, full body, concentrated flavors, high acid and med+ tannins.
The wine seems slightly unbalanced at first with the VA in place. The cedar and clove are a little too pronounced and the acidity a little overpowering. Rather than all the elements being at the same volume, one gets most of the elements at half volume — but then the acid and clove turned up to 11.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 6/10/2024
Vintner: Fort Ross
Description: Fort Ross Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: There is strawberry, raspberry, cherry, river water minerals, mushroom and forest floor.
The tannins are fairly high, high acid, med finish, and medium concentration. The wine lacks a pronounced quality that would put it over the top, but what it does have still leaves it at a 90 point wine. The price was in the $47 dollar range, and it was purchased at Nugget Market in Vacaville, Ca.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 6/10/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: This is the last wine in our series of Rush Lattin wines. See the rest just below. These are really lovely, well-crafted wines and we hope they get some traction. The price points are really reasonable. Link to the site here.
Licorice, blackberry, black pepper, black cherry, kirsch, leather, meat, game and lilac perfume.
Full bodied, high tannin, high acid, concentrated fruit, long finish of leather, licorice and kirsch.
Gosh, this is wine is a pure Syrah bomb. It is a match for Cote Rotie, Hermitage and Cornas profiles. It might even be more powerful. Give it a little time to breathe out. The tannins are a little bitter but soften as the wine opens up. Be chill, give it time. But that lilac perfume mixed with the dark, black fruit matched with the firm acidity are so well balanced.
You can put this wine up against any Northern Rhone, Syrah based wine and it will shine.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/09/2024
Vintner: Stoller
Description: Winemaker Series, Whole Cluster, Dundee hills, Willamette Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This wine says it is whole cluster on the label, and it tastes like it too! The wine has just fruity ripeness on the nose with all the cherry and strawberry you can handle. The obvious hallmarks of a lovely wine made with carbonic fermentation. It is one to get your hands on. Really pleasant drinking with full concentrated, bright flavors.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/07/2024
Vintner: Bacigalupi
Description: Bloom Ranch, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We tried this Friday night at my birthday party and it was a massive hit with everyone — the favorite of all 15 bottles we had open. The problem is all I remember is the plush, deep, concentrated, wells balanced flavors. But it really doesn’t matter because I drove up there yesterday and they are all out! Damn it.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 6/07/2024
Vintner: Clos La Coutale
Description: Cahors
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Malbec
Notes: When I studied WSET 3, we learned about classic Cahors Malbec. It said that this Malbec is dark fruited, high tannin, high acid, deeply colored. And man, is this definition what we are drinking. The nose has blackberry, black currant, black cherry, black plum and some burnt sugar.
The tannins are huge and the acid high. The finish is long and the body full of deep, black fruit. There is a dustiness of tannin on the palate almost like microscopic sediment.
Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 6/08/2024
Vintner: Flowers
Description: Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Picked this up at Total Wine for around $45. A very good price for the Flowers Pinots. Most of them on their website go for $100, but this is a regional blend.
And it’s a really good regional blend as well. Very Russian River at that. You get all the lovely classic fruits like cherry, strawberry, raspberry and a touch of cranberry. There is forest floor and a little minerally cabbage leaf. But all very well integrated.
The palate gives you a full bodied wine with good concentration, good acid and very pronounced flavors — long finish too.
We are headed to Flowers tomorrow and hope to see if we can get more of this little gem. Great to have around for a pinot party when you don’t want to break out the 3-digit bottles.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/06/2024
Vintner: Courtney Benham
Description: Terroir Expression Series, Rutherford, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Picked this up at Total Wine. It was in the $40 dollar price range. Someone gave it a 94, so I thought I’d try it out. I see a lot of CB’s stuff at Total. The prices are all over the map as are the ratings. And when I contacted Martin Ray Cellars, they told me the wines wines are sold exclusively at Total. So, no tasting room to try these guys unless you buy them.
This one is pretty good Cab with all the classic notes you’d expect: Cassis, bramble, blackberry, leather, oak, smoke, black cherry and black currant.
The palate is med+ tannin, med+ acid, pronounced semi-long finish and a concentration that is a little on the light side.
The wine is open from the start, but fades, disappointingly in the glass as it breathes. Drink it fast. The body is on the medium side and a bit thin. But there are no notes that detract at all.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 6/06/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Red Mountain
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Grenache
Notes: Kirsch cherry, strawberry, raspberry, warm spice, minerality and slight cocoa. It is very pronounced and jumps out of the glass at you. The winemaker has captured a lovely intensity. It calls to memory summer jam making we observed as children.
The palate shows a complex, intense, warm wine. It is almost textbook Grenache: low acid, low tannin, full body and high alcohol. This wine matches the definition. A mouthful of the wine is an intense experience. The alcohol burns a bit, and the body is very full. We can’t imagine what these grapes must have tasted like during the crush. What were the brix at? Because this is a massive wine.
What does it need? It needs to breathe for a couple hours because it comes out of the bottle like a bronco.
As a single varietal Grenache, you get a textbook experience to learn from. This big personality wine would love to be paired with a good carbonara with a creamy, bacon and cheese sauce. Or buttery shrimp over pasta. It could also be a great introduction to someone that is new to wine, showing them what a great wine with a powerful nose and body is capable of.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 6/05/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Old Faithful Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah
Notes: blackberry, flint, black cherry, black currant, anise, licorice, leather and earth.
The acidity is high, the tannins are firm and flinty, the finish long, the flavors so concentrated and pronounced.
66% Cab / 34% Syrah
We let this wine breathe for two hours and the tannins remain firm with a steely flintiness that is prevalent in some Wa Cabs. This wine wants food and/or it wants a few years of ageing. Our plan is to age a half case for five to ten years. Because, guys, when it softens up (with the amazing, concentrated base of gorgeous flavors) this wine is going ROCK!
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/05/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Fiddler’s Bluff, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: blackberry, leather, cocoa, cola, red plum, black cherry, wet stones, anise, toast, bell pepper, vanilla, black tea.
Ripe teeth-coating tannins, full body, nice acidity, long finishing wine with deep concentration of flavors and not an off-note in sight. It pulls you in wanting more.
We had it with Greek food and hummus, and it went perfectly. Falafel, chicken gyros and tzatziki sauce fell right into pace with this wine. Can’t say enough about the thickness of fruity mouthfeel.
Looking at wines from other boutique Washington wineries in the 55-75-dollar range such as CVR from Quilceda Creek, we rated them only a few points differently; this is the better value. (see our review on this page). This is high-end, classy wine with interesting edges.
Recommend decanting for 20-30 minutes for best enjoyment.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 6/04/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Fiddler’s Bluff, Columbia Valley Syrah
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: This wine is 90% Syrah, 10% Grenache.
Notes of blackberry, black currant, bramble, green pepper, licorice, leather, tobacco, burnt wood, meaty savoriness, cocoa.
Let’s get through the palate quick. The body is full, the finish med+, the flavors concentrated and the acidity high.
Gosh, after spending the last 6 months drinking lots of Rhone wines, this wine took us back to the Cornas, Cote Rotie and Hermitage wines we have tried. Rush Lattin cellars have nailed the textbook Northern Rhone varietal characteristics. We might have been fooled into thinking we were drinking a Rhone wine had we tasted it blind. A touch of higher-than-normal toasted barrel notes are the only thing that catches us as a bit overpowering.
Pair this with thanksgiving flavors. It craves savory foods. But don’t be afraid to just bring it to a high-end wine party where the other guests are bringing their boutique, monochromatic big red wines.
Decant this or just let it breathe for 45 minutes uncorked and it will reward you.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 6/03/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Fiddler’s Bluff, Columbia Valley Red
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Blackberry, blueberry, caramelized brown sugar, toasted barrel, vanilla, licorice, baked crumble, cocoa and leather notes.
The mouth feel has high acid, full tannins, full body, pronounced flavors and a long finish.
What really starts jumping out of this wine after it has breathed a bit is a baked blackberry crumble where the sugar has caramelized a bit. It has baked good written all over it, and it is really pretty wine.
This wine would be great with any kind of barbequed meats. And it has the acidity to be paired with a caprese salad with crusty bread and olive oil. However, it would be a lovely wine for a party sipped on its own talking to friends.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 6/03/2024
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Ma Shelmo, Columbia Valley Grenache Rose’
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Rose’ of Grenache
Notes: The wine has a lovely lemon/lime peel tartness that compliments the great stone fruit notes of peach and apricot. Everything balances so well.
And then you taste this wine . . . wow. The body is full, the concentration pronounced, the acidity high. It has a rich mouthfeel like whole milk. Lovely flavors that are plush and rounded with an amazing structure. Every aspect of this is in the right place.
We had the wine with spicy pizza, and it complimented every bite, the acidity cutting right through the heavy sauce and providing the perfect balance for the food.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 6/03/2024
Vintner: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Description: Artemis Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: On the nose you get ample blackberry, black cherry, black plum, vanilla, toast, cream, leather, ripe grape stems, cassis and lovely cocoa on the palate.
The palate is fully covered with full body and a long finish. The acidity is high, and the tannins are full and ripe. Flavors are concentrated. The wine is a mouthful. This should be a wine ready to age. It has all the structural characteristics for it. But honestly, don’t wait. The wine is perfectly ripe now and the fruit is fresh and lovely.
We received this wine as a gift from a friend. It is a really nice treat and much appreciated. The wine does not need any decanting. It is ready to drink out of the bottle. Everything about it is balanced, pronounced and concentrated. It’s the full package. It received several 93 point scores and we agree.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 5/28/2024
Vintner: Etude
Description: Yamhela Vineyard, Oregon
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Nose: Strawberry, cherry, grape sucker, barnyard, forest floor, baking spice, toast.
This pronounced wine has lovely concentrated, flavors, medium(-) tannins, full body, high alcohol and high acid. There is a little bitterness on the palate balanced out with the Kirsch cherry flavors and brisk acidity. We really lovely the sumptuousness complexity of this wine and the opulent feel and flavors. It is plush wine with really generous components. When you take a mouthful, the wine explodes with flavor and fades slowly as the long finish rolls on and on.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 5/19/2024
Vintner: MacRostie
Description: Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Sour cherry, strawberry, raspberry, kirsch, forest floor, oak spice, pungent blackberry leaf.
High alcohol, pronounced flavors, med+ acid, low tannins, pale color.
Hey, at $29.99 at Trader joes, this thing is top level regional wine that has lovely acidity balanced out with the almost sweet kirsch notes on the nose and palate. We compare this to $50 and $60 bucks Sonoma wines we’ve had this year. It’s really a great evening sipping wine or take it to a party and don’t break the bank. People will love it. It tastes far more expensive.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 5/17/2024
Vintner: Siduri
Description: Barbieri Vineyard Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Black Cherry, Black Raspberry, kirsch, wet stone, forest floor, fresh oak,
The acidity is high, alcohol is high, the body is med+, the tannins are low, the concentration is pronounced. The Finish is long.
It was a little on the thin side. The intensity is lacking compared to the last 6 Siduri releases.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 5/15/2024
Vintner: Le Beau Vigne Collection
Description: CULT, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The wine has a pronounced intensity on the nose. It has aromas of Blackberry, black cherry, kirsch, black berry leaf, cedar, raisin, cassis, licorice.
The wine is dry but plush. The wine has med acid, med, plush tannins that wrap your teeth in ripe fruit. The wine has full body, high alcohol, a long finish and pronounced intensity. It is still developing.
This is outstanding wine and has the bones to age for 5-10 years, but it is so ready to drink now with its lovely kirsch nose that who would want to wait?! We picked this up at Costco for about 30 bucks. But at our Costco, we bought the last two bottles.
As it breathes, the wine just blossoms into thickness and coats your teeth. It has layers upon layers of pleasurable flavors.
Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 5/7/2024
Vintner: Le Cruste
Description: Puglia IGP, Italy
Vintage: 2017
Varietal: Uva di Troia
Notes: The wine has med+ intensity on the nose with aromas of Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, black cherry, black plum, dried herbs, dried flowers.
The wine is dry with high acid, med+ tannins, long finish, full body, pronounced intensity and medium alcohol.
Someone brought this to a party we threw on Saturday. Just opened it tonight. Very cool wine. We have never tried this interesting varietal before. And for being a wide-ranging Puglia IGP wine, it really has a nice nose and palate. There is a perception that IGP wines are lower value, but this one is bucking that trend. It is pretty rich and has a long finish. It is very herbal, dark berried and lots of dried floral notes.
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 5/6/2024
Vintner: Duckhorn Decoy
Description: Decoy
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The wine has a pronounced nose with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, black plum, cassis, licorice, vanilla, toast and clove.
The wine is dry with high acid, high tannins, medium alcohol, full body, good intensity and long finish.
There is a lovely sweetness on the nose that reminds us of BadaBing cherries in syrup. The being the supermarket level wine by Decoy, this wine has a lot to offer. The nose is lovely, and on the palate, you find much to appreciate. 91 pts.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 5/6/2024
Vintner: Beringer
Description: KVR Knights Valley Reserve
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The wine has a pronounced intensity with aromas of Blackberry, raspberry, cassis, licorice, bramble, chocolate, kirsch, raisin, dates, leather, earth, black pepper
The wine is fully developed.
The wine is dry with full tannin, high alcohol, high acid, full body, long finish and a pronounced flavor intensity.
This 8 year old wine is starting to show raisining, cooked flavors and lovely kirsch. But we do not think the wine is done yet. It can still age. Still, we would like to have tried the younger version. Wine.com has this for $44.99. Check it out. It got stellar ratings from others. As it breathed it just both heavier, thicker, deeper and leathery with tobacco, sweet cooked cherry and black, black, black fruit. It is worth checking out.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 5/3/2024
Vintner: Holly’s Hill
Description: Estate El Dorado
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Rhone Red Blend
Notes: Raspberry, red cherry, pink grapefruit, cocoa, bramble, kirsch
High acid, full tannins, full body, long finish, concentrated flavors, pronounced.
Mouth-filling flavors of dark cherry and thick berries. But lots of red fruit too along with the fresh acidity makes the wine feel very well balanced.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 5/2/2024
Vintner: Chateau Mourges du Gres
Description: Galets Rouges, Costieres de Nimes, Rhone Valley Vineyards, Francois Collard, Sine Sole Nihil
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Red Blend
Notes: Raspberry, red cherry, bramble, kirsch, clove, cocoa, grape, rhubarb, pepper
Full body, high tannin, high acidity and high alcohol. The flavor is pronounced and the finish Med +
60% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache, 5% Marselan. If you were curious like me, Marselan is a crossing between Cabernet Sauv and Grenache. How about that? Pretty cool.
When you open the bottle you get an odd rhubarb sourness, but it goes away pretty quick with breathing. The wine got great ratings on Wine.com. We feel it deserves a good rating with the mouthfeel being bright, fruity, teeth-coating with ripe tannins and kirsch. For $15.99 this is a real treat.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 5/2/2024
Vintner: Beringer
Description: Knights Valley Estates Selection
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, black plum, vanilla, cassis
Long finishing wine, will full body, silky, full tannins, Med+ acidity, concentrated, pronounced flavors.
Just lovely wine. The tannins coat your teeth with ripe, lovely black cherry fruit. The wine is thick with body. But the balance is incredible between the acidity and the full bodied fruit. As it develops with oxygen, it just gets thicker and more plush. Cannot say enough good about this wine. 95 easily. Got this at Costco.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 4/30/2024
Vintner: Kirkland
Description: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvee de Terroir Des Papes
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Beautiful red cherry, raspberry, kirsch, wet stone, red plum, black currant and baked bread. The nose is concentrated and balanced. There is cocoa and gentle licorice as well.
The body is full, the tannins Med+ and the acidity full. The palate is concentrated, pronounced and mouth filling.
70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault. It is lovely wine with fresh flavors of acidic fruit balanced with richness of sweet kirsch notes and baking flavors.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 4/30/2024
Vintner: Hubert Lignier
Description: Bourgogne, Grand Chaliot
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Full ripe tannins, full body, Med+ Acidity, with a long pronounced, concentrated finish.
Pungent herbs, black cherry, red plum, strawberry, grape candy, red currant and toast.
We picked this up at Compline in Napa. Delightful Pinot.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 4/29/2024
Vintner: Domaine la Roubine
Description: Vacqueyras
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, garrigue, vanilla, spicy oak, perfume, lavendar.
Full body, long finish, med+ acid and tannins.
Great southern Rhone wine acquired at Compline in Napa. Super ripe, fruity wine with a lovely balance.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 4/28/2024
Vintner: Domane de Piaugier
Description: Gigondas
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Raspberry, blackberry, red cherry, cream, bitter herbs, grapey, Lilac, perfume, smokey game.
Full acidity, med+ tannins, concentrated, full body, long finish.
Purchased at Compline in Napa.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 4/26/2024
Vintner: Chappellet
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Bright red fruit, raspberries, red cherries, a hint of blackberry too. The vanilla, oak spice, cocoa, spicy herbs and baked sweet bread are really pronounced.
The tannins are grippy and full, full acidity, long finish, concentrated flavors and full body.
The fruit is so bright you’d think you were drinking a Merlot and there might be some in here. The label does not say. But what you get is a real flavor packer of a wine. However, for a Cab it needs more darkness. It does not feel like Napa, more like Alexander Valley perhaps. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a really nice wine.
Check out Wine.com for this one.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/21/2024
Vintner: Titus
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blueberry, cassis, anise, cocoa, mocha, blackberry, black cherry, baking powder biscuit.
Hi acid, silky tannins, full body, long finish, concentrated.
Check out Wine.com for this one.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 4/20/2024
Vintner: Titus
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Notes: Dusty Blackberry, blueberry, rhubarb, calcium seashell, lilac, vanilla, oak spice.
Hi acid, med tannins, concentrated, long finish
Breathes nicely and really opens up to a solid 93 pointer.
Check out Wine.com for this one.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 4/19/2024
Vintner: Decoy
Description: Alexander Valley Limited
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, Badabing cherry, cocoa, anise, cassis, bramble, toasty oak and vanilla.
Hi acid, med+ silky tannins, full body and concentrated flavors.
Check out Wine.com for this one.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/18/2024
Vintner: Suisun Creek
Description: Suisun Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: Stone fruit, grapefruit, cashew, caramel, dandelion bitterness, minerality, lemon peel
Full body, high acid, long finish, concentrated flavors.
The Suisun Creek winery has had a several year streak of lovely Chardonnays. This one has amazing, concentrated flavors and a pronounced nose of scents that leaves you wanting more. The whole package of fruity, nutty, citrus flavors, give this wine a real balanced feel. The slight sweet on the palate is balanced nicely with the full acid in the wine.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 4/17/2024
Vintner: Duckhorn
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: Cooked blackberries, raspberries, stewed black plum, baking spice, toasty oak, biscuit
Med- tannins, full acidity, full body, long finish, concentrated.
Starts off with baked blackberry and stewed plums in a warm, sweet package on the nose. It reminded us of the scent of a great blackberry cobbler. But the wine is completely dry and nicely balanced with silky tannins. This wine is just starting to develop some great tertiary notes on the nose and palate. It appears to have the bones to just keep ageing.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 4/16/2024
Vintner: Trader Joe’s
Description: Grand Reserve Carneros Lot# 23
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Strawberry, kirsch, raspberry, Mushroom, forest floor, coconut, vanilla, hint of ester-y banana and soap.
Full body, light tannins, full acidity, concentrated flavor and long finish.
It’s a fruity wine, heavy for a Pinot. The wine is a touch sweet. It comes across like a big Beaujolais with the banana and (oddly) coconut. The lack of tannins, the sweetness and full body leave the wine a bit unbalanced and flabby.
Nevertheless, if you like a thick Pinot that defies the usual light bodied, bright strawberry mineral Carneros Pinots, this might be the wine for you. It has plenty of concentrated flavor and its nose is ripe with an array of scents.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 4/15/2024
Vintner: Melville
Description: Donna’s Block, Santa Rita Hills
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Blackberry, lots of black pepper, licorice, black cherry, gamey, spice, kirsch, green olive.
Med+ tannins, full acid, pronounced flavors with great concentration, full body with a long finish.
We did a Melville tasting and had two Donna’s Block syrahs. Both were similar but had different aspects. They were both brilliantly flavored and blew us away with their intensity.
Rating: 97
Date Tasted: 4/12/2024
Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/12/2024
Vintner: Melville
Description: Donna’s Block, Santa Rita Hills
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Blackberry, lots of black pepper, rhubarb, short cake, cocoa, bay leaf and balsamic.
Med+ acid, med- tannins, full body, long finish and concentration.
We did a Melville tasting and had two Donna’s Block syrahs. Both were similar but had different aspects. They were both brilliantly flavored and blew us away with their intensity.
Vintner: Hall
Description: Terra Secca, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, cassis, anise, black currant and strawberry of all things. Secondary notes of cloves and toasty oaky cedar. And there is a lovely note of baked biscuit and cocoa as well. The nose if massively pronounced and gorgeous.
Grippy, ripe tannins, full acidity, long finish, concentrated fruit and full body.
We did a tasting at Hall a few days back. We tried a full range of wines from $70 bucks to over $200. And this was the the $70 dollar gem, better than the rest except for th 1873, that took the cake. This is a gem and a steal! Super concentrated fruit, baked goods and wood. It starts off with spice and fruit, but as it breathes it develops cocoa and spice. Such a lovely progression.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 4/9/2024
Vintner: Pestoni Family
Description: Howell Mountain Three Tears Vineyard, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: Baked Blackberry, raspberry, cranberry, bramble, clove, baking spice, black plum. Later cassis comes out from under the fruit.
High acidity, med+ tannins, full bodied, med+ finish. At first the flavors are not necessarily concentrated, but after a half hour breathing the concentration increased and it became a mouthful. Let it breathe!
It ends up being a silky tannin, mouth filling wine. It is only the finish that holds it back in the end.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/9/2024
Vintner: Pestoni Family
Description: Riserva di Famiglia, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2017
Varietal: Super Tuscan
Notes: The nose is powerful with cedar, baking spice, black plum, black cherry, raspberry, hints of cassis and licorice.
This wine finishes really long, concentrated and lovely. The body is full, tannins light, acid med+.
We visited Pestoni yesterday. We were the only ones in there. The wines were overall great. So many Italian varietals, not at all what you’re expecting from Napa. This wine was a mouthful of fruit (that coats your teeth) balanced off with lovely oak influences. Very concentrated, leaving no empty pockets where you’d be wishing there was a little more flavor – nope! This is the full package. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended together and very pleasing. Definitely the highlight of the tasting.
Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/8/2024
Vintner: Domaine Coteaux des Margots
Description: Maconnais Bourgogne
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Black cherry, kirsch, black currant, mushroom, cinnamon, clove, currant leaf
High tannins, med acid, full body, full finish. The flavors are not fully concentrated and there is a tannic astringency to the wine. But the flavors are nice and the nose is enticing. Once in a while you get a lovely whiff of fruity Beaujolais, but it comes and goes. A very pleasant evening sipping wine. $28 bucks.
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 4/2/2024
Vintner: Williams Selyem
Description: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: No notes on this one. Just the rating. This wine is a regional blend and it is really lovely. It has the best part of a berry/cherry jello flavor that really makes the flavor pop.
There are so many Williams Selyem Pinots available, but these less expensive offerings are really lovely without paying 1-2 hundred dollars.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/31/2024
Vintner: Rocky Pond Estate Winery
Description: Double D Vineyard, 11 Dams, Rocky Beach
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Intense blueberry, raspberry, black cherry, black tea, vanilla, spice, coconut.
Dry tannins, nearly full acidity, long finish, really concentrated flavors.
Malbec really jumps out on the palate with a mighty intensity of berries. The alcohol is high and really pushes the nose out of the glass. It really has a mass of blue fruit and cherry that hit you before your nose even gets close to the glass.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 3/30/2024
Vintner: Hall Wines
Description: Craigs Napa Valley
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The story is that the wine making staff at Hall was given a challenge to make a spectacular Cabernet sauv for $50 bucks. In our opinion, they succeeded. Not only is the wine marked at $50 bucks but it is outstanding. It has the bone to let it age, but it takes no decanting. Just open it up and drink it. However, the cassis/licorice/spicy notes just explode with oxygen. Let it sit open while you sip on it over an hour or two. It will reward you.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/29/2024
Vintner: Le Clos de Caillou
Description: Vieilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone, Cuvee Unique
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Cooked strawberry, cherry, baking spices, phreesia, clove, smoke, pie crust, forest floor earthiness.
Lovely acidity matched with full body med+ finish, med+ tannins.
A lovely strawberry pie of a wine with lots of smooth acid, body and tannin to show for it. The concentration for fruit on the palate is lovely. For the price (~$24 bucks), it is well worth the buy. I got mine at the Oxbow Wine Merchant. Well worth trying.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/28/2024
Vintner: DV8 Cellars
Description: White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
Vintage: 2017
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Well, look what we have here! This is our last bottle of DV8. They closed their tasting room when the pandemic started. And we keep hoping maybe they’ll come back. They used to be down in Santa Barbara in the FUNK ZONE. It was a great place to stop, taste through the Rhone varietals and blends. They still have a website, but not sure if they have any stock left.
Anyway, this ’17 Syrah is holding up nicely. It still has nice medium tannins, good acidity and full body — strength enough to last a few more years. The nose is pure black fruit, pepper and licorice.
I sent a note to Marc, the owner. I will update the page if I hear back with any news. Sad to see our last bottle go — stoked that it was still lovely wine!
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/25/2024
Vintner: Domaine Jean Royer
Description: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvee’ Prestige
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: The wine has full tannin, acid, body, pronounced, concentrated flavors and a massive finish. The tannins are taking a bit of time to settle down. At first the tannins were so firm they coated the teeth and skin around the inner mouth. But as it breathed, it became gentler, balancing out with the ample acid. The flavors and nose are coming around as well.
The blackberry and the bramble are dominant on the nose. But you get cocoa, sweet date, black cherry, leather, tobacco, cedar.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/23/2024
Vintner: Roger Sabon
Description: Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, Kirsch, blueberry, cocoa, black pepper, baking spice, licorice, almond and dates.
The acidity is full, the tannins medium, the body and mouthfeel are full, the finish is massive. It has the same mouthfeel as drinking thick cocoa. The flavors are pronounced and concentrated.
We have let this thing breathe while we watched Blown Away on Netflix, drinking little half pours every 20 minutes or so. And the wine just keeps getting thicker and more like desert even though there is no residual sugar here. It just feel sweet because the mouthfeel is so thick. This is right up there with some of the less expensive Chateauneufs that we’ve tried in the last months. This got good ratings and is $55.99 on Wine.com.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/22/2024
Vintner: Wrath
Description: Clone Pommard 4/667 Monterey
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Black raspberry, strawberry, black cherry, mushroom and forest floor, minerality and baking spice.
Lovely full acid, med+ tannins, long finish, concentrated, pronounced flavors with a lovely full body.
Let’s compare this to the wine below. This wine is still a lovely catch. But it has more finesse, lighter fruit — not as deep dark. It walks that line between the wine below and a Pinot from Sonoma in the Petaluma Gap. It is refreshing with the high acid balanced with tart cherry and mouth filling fruit. We saw this on Wine.com for $29 bucks. Can’t beat that!
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/15/2024
Vintner: Wrath
Description: Clone Pommard 4/667 Monterey
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This wine is stellar. The meat of the nose is all black fruit and intense BadaBing cherry sweetness. It never lets you down. It just kept delivering even after being open for hours as we sipped and savored our way through it. It got thicker and more dreamy with the oxygen.
The palate shows a huge finish, lovely, thick body, med acid and tannins, with a concentrated, profound flavor. And it’s dry. It’s just the nose that makes you think it’s gonna be sweet-ish.
Not sure if the 2018 is still available, but if you can find it and you don’t like medium body, red cherry/strawberry Pinots — and prefer your Pinots with guts and glory, seek this out.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/14/2024
Vintner: Tensley
Description: Colson Canyon Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Blackberry, raspberry, red cherry, red plum, red licorice, black pepper, creme brulee.
This wine is full everything: full body, hi acid, hi tannins, long finish. The fruit on the palate is massive and explodes like a firework. There is a slight sprizzle at first and then fades as it breathes. It is a lovely wine with concentrated bright fruit and a backbone of great acid and tannin to back it up.
This wine got some stellar ratings from other reviewers. It has a 98 and a 96. And we thought we might agree with that when the wine was first opened, but it sort of faded away as we worked through it over the evening.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/11/2024
Vintner: Grgich Hills Estate
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: First, this wine was forgotten on our shelves and was not cellared at all. It sat on a wine rack for years at room temp. With that said . . . the wine is concentrated and golden in color. But it has lost nothing! The nose has stone fruit, lemon drop, other citrus, biscuit, mild butter and toasted sugar.
The acidity is great, body full and finish long. We could not believe how this wine hung on. And it could have hung on much longer. That’s a hat-tip to the winemaker.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/11/2024
Vintner: Stags’ Leap
Description: The Leap, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Concentrated nose of Blackberry, black plum, black cherry, cassis, anise, cinnamon, bramble, toasty oak, chocolate.
There is full acid, med+ ripe tannins, concentrated flavor, pronounced with long finish.
While these flavors are concentrated, they lack in intensity. Yah, 92 pts. There are little pockets of flavor that we wished had more punch. This wine reminded us of a spicy chocolate. It has cocoa, cinnamon, but it is missing the only the cayenne. This was a pretty pleasant sip.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/10/2024
Vintner: Pali Wine Co
Description: Summit, Santa Rita Hills
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, black cherry, mushroom, forest floor. Full acid, long finish, pronounced flavors. But this wine lacks a cohesiveness between the flavors.
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 3/10/2024
Vintner: Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils
Description: Various, see below
Vintage: 2017-2020
Varietal: Pinot Noir/Chardonnay
Notes: I went to this tasting at the Napa Valley Wine Academy on March 5, 2024. I knew we would be trying Burgundian Chard and Pinot Noir, but I had no idea that quality that I’d be experiencing. This was phenomenal wine. And there is a price per bottle that matches it. See ratings below:
Pinot Noir
2020 Beaune du Chateau Rouge, Prem Cru – 93 pts
2017 Clos de la Mousse, Beaune Prem Cru – 94 pts
2017 Volnay Les Caillerets, Prem Cru – 95 pts
2017 Le Corton, Grand Cru – 97 pts
2018 Beaune Greves Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus, Prem Cru – 93 pts
Chardonnay
2018 Meursault Les Clous – 95 pts
2017 Close Saint-Landry, Beaune Prem Cru – 94 pts
2018 Meursault Genevrieres, Prem Cru – 94 pts
2018 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru – 96 pts
Rating: See above
Date Tasted: 3/5/2024
Vintner: Sobon Estate
Description: Fiddletown, Amador County
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: Blackberry, raspberry, black pepper, oak, plum, cranberry, baked spice
High acidity, med+ tannins, full body, concentrated fruit, and a long finish. The tannins coat the teeth with lovely berry flavor. Who cares if your teeth are purple with that flavor.
Sobon has been a favorite of ours for 15 years. And you can find their zins all over the country at any Total Wine. They are consistently good (~90 pts or better), inexpensive and have become our go-to wine when we need to get a half case when traveling in any state. Check out their Cougar Hill and Rocky Top zinfandels.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/6/2024
Vintner: Holly’s Hill Vineyards
Description: El Dorado County
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: Blueberry, blackberry, mushroom, black pepper, cinnamon, thyme, kirsch, granite minerals, vanilla, anise, raisin.
This wine has high acidity, med tannins, full body, concentration and long finish. The fruit on the nose and on the palate are really intensely ripe — dare I say, almost too fruity.
Well, this wine reminds us of a heavier Grand Cru Moulin-a-Vent or Morgon Beaujolais. It has all the hallmarks of carbonic or partial carbonic maceration, keeping the fruitiness high. Thankfully, the fruit is almost entirely dark. There is no bubblegum or banana. The black fruit, pepper, minerality and cinnamon are all really well balanced. And the concentration of sweet kirsch flavors is really lovely. But this is a Zin of a different color. This is thinking outside the textbook.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 3/5/2024
Vintner: Flowers
Description: Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: Apple, pear, tropical fruit, stone fruit, baked caramel, oak, cream.
Full body, full acidity, long finish, lovely concentration. This is a great regional wine, easy drinking with lots of character and flavor.
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/4/2024
Vintner: Wrath
Description: Lemoravo Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We did not take notes on this because we had family in town and were drinking this in a social situation. But we were quite impressed with the wine. It was fanstastic. It has a deep color, medium tannins, good acidity and a huge finish. The fruit was typical of Wrath, very dark and well balanced.
We recalled that we had had a Lemoravo Vineyard before from Siduri and we felt this was actually better. From what we heard up at the Siduri tasting room, they had lost the fruit contract from Lemoravo, so we’re glad to see this vineyard’s fruit being used by Wrath. We have not tried a bad Wrath release yet. All their wines are deep, dark and full bodied.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 3/3/2024
Vintner: Beaulieu Vineyard
Description: Tapestry Reserve Red Wine
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Dang! On the nose you get a treat of sweet red cherry, thick raspberry, cranberry and vanilla. Then you find the blackberries, cassis, cedar, clove, cocoa, herbaceous berry leaves, sweet tobacco, brioche and English clotted cream. And that is a lot! When you breathe this wine in it is like a tunnel of gorgeous berries flowing down your sinuses. Wow, that sounds kind of weird. But it is true.
The palate provides a lovely display of full tannins, high acid, concentrated flavors that equate to a long finish. The body is full, and the expression of flavors are complete, mouth-filling.
The components of this wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Classic Bordeaux Left Bank formulation.
This wine is available anywhere from 45.99 to 72.00 depending on where you look. But it is really worth seeking out. We tried the BV Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and I like this better by a smidge. Five stars!
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 2/28/2024
Vintner: Marengo
Description: Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG, Italy
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Notes: Black currant, black cherry, kirsch, soft oak, cocoa, violet, forest floor, violot and dried herbs.
Lovely berry tannins coat the teeth, followed by full acidity, long finish and full body. The flavors are pronounced and concentrated. This wine could use some bottle ageing as it is pretty young. The tannins will soften quite a bit and let out a lot more of the fruit. But as it is, the wine did not need long to breathe tonight at all.
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 2/27/2024
Vintner: Schiavenza Serralunga d`Alba
Description: Cerretta Barolo DOCG, Italy
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Notes: Bright dark cherry, pencil shavings, black licorice, kirsch, dried dates, black currant, chocolate, cedar
This wine is very classic Nebbiolo with full body, tannins, acid, length, concentration. It is all full. The tannins are pretty firm, and the mouthfeel is thick with dark fruit. It really needs some food with it to challenge these tannins. But all in all, the wine is a pleasure to drink.
Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 2/27/2024
Vintner: Castello di Neive
Description: Barbaresco DOCG, Italy
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Notes: Pronounced nose, red cherry, green herbs, brioche, raspberry, spice, anise, pomegranate,
Full tannins, body and acid. The palate is pronounced and concentrated with a long finish. Though it is very concentrated, it struggles to be polished at all — with plenty of rough edges, tartness and firm tannins. We let it breathe for 2 hours in a decanter. Just not getting the same results as many of the reviewers. Still, we would give it a 91 for all of its positive attributes.
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 2/26/2024
Vintner: Beaulieu Vineyard
Description: Reserve, Rutherford, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Black kirsch cherry, raspberry, cocoa, anise, vanilla, light oakiness.
The tannins coat the teeth leaving a sweet, cherry note. The acid is high, the finish long and the body full. The concentration of soft fruit is really amazing.
The nose is elusive at first. It needs time to breathe. But from the start the flavors are open, concentrated and really plush. There is velvet here. It runs from 60-72 bucks depending on where you look.
Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 2/23/2024
