Wine Tasting Archive #5
Wine
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. We taste a huge variety of wines from all over the place. We don’t really focus. If a great wine comes our way, we review it. So, what you see will seem completely random, these reviews come from an eagerness to continue exploring wine, viticulture, oenology, geology and climate. Every glass is an education.
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.
Past Archives:
ARCHIVE #2: Reviews from February 23, 2024 to July 23, 2024
ARCHIVE #3: Reviews from July 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025
ARCHIVE #4: Reviews from May 24, 2025 to 12/11/20225
Vintner: Dehlinger Winery — Garbro Ranch
Description: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Firm notes of raspberry juice, red cherry, strawberry, wet soil, phreesia, perfume and cocoa.
The palate shows firm tannins, long berry finish, high acid balanced with concentrated flavors. The intensity is bordering on high.
We stopped and picked up a bottle at Dehlinger on Friday. The 2023 last year blew us away. And this new vintage is equally good, but higher in tannic body. And that plus the high acid and firm concentration of fruit should give it even more ability to age gracefully.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 4/19/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Walla Walla Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Bright black raspberry, blackberry, toasted meringue, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, lilac, leather and cinnamon.
The palate is ripe with silky tannins, cocoa, cinnamon and raspberry all in a long finish that goes on and on. The fruit concentration and intensity are over the top. The high acidity balances the fruit nicely. This is the Washington version of the best Hermitage from the Rhone.
Run, don’t walk and get some of this limited wine. Let it breath three hours at least to open up. But get a few bottles and try one again in 5 years, and another 10. Kudos to the wine making team!
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Rating: 98
Date Tasted: 4/18/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Blackberry, nori, toasted meringue, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, lilac, game.
High acid, long umami finish, full body, dark fruited, leathery intensity and concentration. The tannins are silky but high. It has just incredible, plush, dark fruit with such concentration that this stands out from so many other Washington wines.
Strongly recommend decanting or open and leave for two to three hours let it fully open up. Larry is making some lovely, massive wines that would go great with steak or any grilled meats. We enjoyed this wine with garlic and lemon zest sauteed chard, BBQ salmon, spanakopita and tzatziki.
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/18/2026
Vintner: Joseph Jewell Wines
Description: Various
Vintage: Various
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Yesterday we went to Joseph Jewell’s tasting room in Forestville, Ca. The lady running the tasting room was Regan, originally from Sidney, Australia. And did she ever know her stuff. She gave us a great series of pinots.
2023 Eel River Valley Humboldt County Pinot Noir – 95pts
2023 Phelps Vineyard, Humboldt County Pinot Noir – 93pts
2023 Alderton Vineyards Humboldt County Pinot Noir – 95pts
2023 Hallberg Vineyard, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – 95pts
2022 Russian River Valley Emerald Pinot Noir – 96pts
2022 Rubies Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – 98pts
2021 Old Girls Martini Clone Russian River Valley – 96pts
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Rating: See above
Date Tasted: 4/17/2026
Vintner: Tongue Dancer Wines
Description: Various
Vintage: Various
Varietal: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Notes: We had a great tasting at the winery yesterday led by the knowledgeable Kerry MacPhail. She knows the area and the clones like the back of her hand. We had a great tasting with her geeking-out on the wines and the fine details of each year and their very interestin past.
2025 Rose of Pinot, Sonoma Coast — 94 pts
2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay — 93 pts
(Bacigalupi, Pratt Irwin Lane, Vine Hill Vineyard)
2024 Russian River Valley Chardonnay — 94 pts
(Pratt Vineyard, Irwin Lane)
2021 Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley Chardonnay — 95 pts
2024 Vineyard 11, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — 94 pts
2024 Pinot De Ville, West Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — 94 pts
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Rating: See above
Date Tasted: 4/17/2026
Vintner: Zeitlos
Description: Sealift Vineyard, West Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We were at the Tongue Dancer custom crush facility yesterday. And after our tasting a really cool guy named Randal Johnson came is with this bottle to share with the staff. It’s Sealift Vineyard and very good wine. I do not remember any details except I noted the rating. Pretty nice stuff.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 4/18/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Horse Heaven Hills
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Classic blackerry, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, dried black cherry, graphite, nectarine pit, cassis, spearmint, toasty oak and raspberry. All of these notes are very dark and rich.
High tannins, acid and body give this a firm mouthfeel. Pretty much everything is firm with this wine including the concentration and intensity. The finish is delicious. Yah, this is a monster of a cab.
But do not think about opening this and trying to drink it right away. This puppy needs a good three hours. We let half the bottle sit overnight and tried it again. Those tannins needed that long to loosen up. So, this review is on the second day tasting. And the wine has lost nothing. It just got better.
This wine is so like a Napa cab with all the same notes as Rutherford or Oakville. Horse Heaven Hills is growing some mighty cabs. We can’t wait to try this in 5 and then 10 years. This is a wine with a solid aging potential.
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/18/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: GSM (50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and Mourvedre)
Notes: Tobacco, cocoa, leather, coffee, dry dill, cola, burnt brown sugar, blackberry, kirsch cherry, red currant, clay minerality.
Super intense dark fruit on the palate, warm, long cocoa ganache finish that goes on and on. The Body, concentration and acid are full leaving this wine to be the full package. All the flavors are very dark and rich. It is like the Cabernet lover’s version of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It has all the elements of a good Rhone wine, but the darkness of Columbia valley fruit.
This is lovely wine that will adore a steak, meaty ragu on pasta, wild game and duck confit.
This wine needs an hour to open up. However, you can drink it immediately. But just wait on it. It starts very dark and then has brighter fruit after a good hour.
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Rating: 98
Date Tasted: 4/16/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Red Mountain
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Grenache
Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, kirsch cherry, cherry Pez, black pepper, coffee and powdery baker’s cocoa.
The palate is medium + body, high acid, powdery tannins, long cocoa ganache finish with ample berry notes. Intensity and concentration of flavors is impressive.
Upon opening, the flavors were muted. But even a half hour later, it was firing on all cylinders and our patience was rewarded. We tried this with spicy Mexican chicken quesadillas loaded with extra sharp Tillamook cheddar and Hatch enchilada sauce. The sharp cheddar absolutely brought out the dried cocoa ganache notes. What a treat!
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/13/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2025
Varietal: Grenache Rose’
Notes: Lemon drop, pear, stonefruit pit, watermelon, minerality and yeast.
The palate is dry with great fruit that teases that it might be sweet, but it is very dry with really nice acid that balances with the fruit.
Enjoy with creamy pasta, fish tacos, seafood, Thai satay with peanut sauce or simple buttered popcorn.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/13/2026
Vintner: Rush Lattin Cellars
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah
Notes: Black cherry, blackberry, flourless chocolate cake, cranberry, fennel root, white pepper, blueberry, toast, clove, red plum, brown sugar, dill
A long, tart berry finish, semi-soft tannins and high acid feel bright and aggressive along with nicely concentrated, balanced fruit.
Give this wine a half hour to open up. It starts tight with all the flavors edgy. But oh boy! Everything smooths out, the wine wakes up! And OH does this wine ache for food — maybe rack of lamb, spicy tandoor chicken, BBQ sauce.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/11/2026
Vintner: Fiddler’s Bluff
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: On the nose notes of Coffee, sweet blackberry pie, blueberry, nori, grape sucker, cinnamon, cream cheese frosting.
Beautiful fruit balanced with high acid. The tannins are firm but edging on silky with dusty blackberry fruit. It has a medium body, good concentration and intensity.
This wine has such playful finesse, firm edges, big bones, acidity and intensity that will allow this wine to age 10-20 years with grace. But so much fruit that you’ll want to drink it now.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 4/11/2026
Vintner: Fiddler’s Bluff
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Syrah (15% Grenache)
Notes: Red cherry, black raspberry, pepper, strawberry jam,
black plum conserve, wheat bread.
Super plush palate with soft fruit, medium tannins and
high acidity. The finish is extensive, body medium +, and all with soft, fruity concentration that gets thicker and juicier after the wine opens.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 4/10/2026
Vintner: Fiddler’s Bluff
Description: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, rich black plum, black cherry, black raspberry jam, baking spice, cocoa, coffee and toast.
Intense fruit on the palate with a lengthy, firm berry
tannin finish that last over a minute. Great body, high acid and silky
intensity.
All I can say is this wine is so young. 5 years from now
with proper aging all the rough edges will smooth into an astonishing wine (if you can wait that long).
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 4/10/2026
Vintner: Big Table Farm
Description: Yamhill, Carlton, Oregon
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: The nose is delightfully ripe, acidic and minerally all at once. There is lovely strawberry jam, cherry Jello, baked biscuit, mushroom, cranberry and tart lime leaf. It is thick and tart at the same time.
The tannins are firm, medium plus. The body is medium, intensity and concentration are the same. Acidity is high. It comes across as wonderfully rustic. It isn’t perfect like SLH pinot. Instead, this is sort of wild, fruity and acidic. It causes you to stop and think about what you’re smelling and tasting. We love interesting wines, and this is one of those.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/30/2026
Vintner: Walt Wines
Description: La Brisa, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: A rich 2023 pinot with jammy raspberry and red cherry. There is perfume, cocoa and floral notes abound. It is more cooked fruit than fresh.
Nice zesty tannins mix with med acid, concentrated fruit and full body. The finish just goes on and on.
La Brisa is a lovely low-end Walt Pinot Noir blend that makes this wine a stunning bargain. Yet another 2023 that is going to be turning heads.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/25/2026
Vintner: Tablas Creek Vineyard
Description: Esprit de Tablas, Adelaida District of Paso Robles
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Bright raspberry, cherry, lime leaf notes. This is a real charmer of a wine on the nose. If you were familiar with Cotes du Rhone Villages wines and you tried this blind, you’d think that was from the Rhone valley. It is beautiful.
The palate is crisp with acidity, firm in tannins, concentrated and intense in fruitiness. The body is medium, as it the finish.
What is lovely taste this was. This is right up there with other Rhone blends like Holly’s Hill and Sans Liege. It is great that there are so many California wineries that are creating Rhone styles that are so close to the original.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/23/2026
Vintner: Rutherford Hill
Description: Club Cuvee, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2013
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Not that this is readily available, but my fried David who works for Rutherford Hill brought this over tonight. Oh my, talk about a Merlot based wine that is just ripe and full of balanced bottle age. It is a gentle giant, plush and soft with tertiary notes. A lovely wine to sip for an evening.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 3/23/2026
Vintner: Rutherford Hill
Description: Cask Reserve, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2013
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: The nose is rich with tertiary notes, ripe berries spice. Do not walk, run to find some of this wine. For a lamb BBQ, roast chicken or even salmon, this wine is perfect. It really wants food, but can be easily imbibed alone — as I am now.
The palate does not disappoint. The concentrated fruit, bottle aged flavors, lovely, firm tannins and long finish set this above. This is 13 years old and the tannins, acidity and fruit are still going strong. It has another 5-10 years of beauty. This is a lovely wine.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 3/23/2026
Vintner: Wrath Wines
Description: Tondre’ Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This is absolutely beautiful wine. The nose is plush, concentrated, with tons of jammy, berry fruit. It has enough acidity to just balance the heck out of this wine.
The palate is nearly perfect, hence the 98 pt score. Someone else already gave this a 97. Totally agree here, but the perfection of this wine pushes it higher for us.
I’m gonna get more of this one. Wrath has knocked it out of the park with this one. It has scent and palate textures that are reminiscent of Pisoni, Rosellas and Sierra Mar – among others. Get some before I buy it all!
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Rating: 98
Date Tasted: 3/23/2026
Vintner: Wrath Wines
Description: Boekenoogen Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, cocoa and cherry tobacco. Toasted oak is prevalent, as are anise, cola, nutmeg, cardamom and dried herbs. What a combo of Pinot notes!
The palate is almost perfect with just a hint more acidity than it needs. But this wine is young. The concentration and intensity are great. The body and tannins are medium and the finish is long.
Wrath is so soulful. And they are knocking it out of the park with these 2023s. They are all so different and none of them are boring at all. They all have such interesting edges. (I keep vacillating between 95 and 96 on this one. It shows me different sides of itself. I tried it inside and outside in the cool of the night). The empty glass is ripe with strawberry jam. This wine is really cool!!!
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 3/22/2026
Vintner: Wrath Wines
Description: KW Ranch, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We get raspberry, red cherry, kaffir lime, rose, turmeric, biscuit, jam and a hint of mint. It feels like it needs time to breathe.
The palate shows high acidity freshness. The concentration and tannins stick to the teeth like jam. But the finish seems to fade quickly. The high acid and intense jam are a nice contrast. The only thing holding this wine back is more cohesiveness.
But keep in mind this thing is YOUNG. Might be worth getting a half case and sitting on it for 3 years and then try it again.
Update: 95 now after being open.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 3/22/2026
Vintner: Wrath Wines
Description: San Saba Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: The nose is similar the McIntyre below. This one is lovely with notes of raspberry, strawberry and more of a Rainier Cherry. This wine has a touch of forest floor already, cedar spice and cheese danish. It is really pleasing.
The tannins are a bit firm, body full, finish long, long, long. The flavors are a bit unbalanced but only in that they are all very unique and don’t quite fit altogether as a coherent whole. But don’t let that throw you off. The fruit is so intense and the acidity cutting. The only thing is that you get a slight bitterness on the back of the tongue.
2023 again. Lovely stuff. A buff wine with muscles. Concentration all over the place.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 3/21/2026
Vintner: Wrath Wines
Description: McIntyre Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Pale in color, rich on the nose. If there is a Santa Lucia Highlands fingerprint, this has it. The nose is floral, raspberry, strawberry jam, red cherry, baking spices and cranberry.
It has a serious palate with high acid balanced with rich, concentrated, intense fruit. The body and finish are amazing.
This wine is so young. It needs a few years to come to terms with itself. The fruit is massively intesnse and perfectly balanced. But, oh, if you like young Pinot, this is one of the best. And here again, we get a 2023 wine that is stellar.
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 3/21/2026
Vintner: Vinos Ce Acatl
Description: Valle de Parras, Coahuila, Mexico
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Well, when my friend told me he was bringing this over last night I was apprehensive. But I’m always willing to give a Pinot a chance. And it did not disappoint. Imagine classic raspberry, cherry and cranberry notes. Then add rose, passion fruit and sweet paprika. It is quite unique.
The palate is fairly intense with sweet paprika flavor. The acidity is not high and leaves this a tad flabby, but it has a lot to offer. Plus, I’m told that this is $22 bucks at Back Room Wines in Napa.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/20/2026
Vintner: Wrath
Description: Clone 115/667
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, Rainier cherry, cedar, cinnamon.
The nose is good, but the flavors are incredible. The palate is full body, intense, concentrated flavors with high acid and medium tannins. And this finish goes on and on.
You can’t get a better pinot for $39 with this kind of concentration. This is the ultimate 2023 everyday drinking wine. It is stellar.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 3/20/2026
Vintner: Covale Cellars
Description: Quintessence Vineyard, Red Mountain
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: The nose on this is just plush. It is packed with blackberry, blueberry, baked brioche, concentrated violets, green pepper, cotton candy, cedar, cocoa and toasted oak.
The palate is mature with concentrated, intense flavors, full body, long finish, silky tannins and balanced acidity. This is an experience, a merlot to grapple with. And as it opens, it just gets better. There are just loads of cocoa notes, berries and raised donuts. It’s delicious.
If you don’t know this winery, you need to check them out. Winemaker, Marv Crum, learned his trade from Al Golitzen (founder of Quilceda Creek). And Al learned the trade from his uncle Andre Tchelistcheff (the Maestro of Napa Valley — the guy that put Napa Valley on the damn map!) Marv learned from the best. And this wine shows it. Covale Cellars
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Rating: 97
Date Tasted: 3/19/2026
Vintner: Viticcio
Description: Riserva Chianti Classico
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Chianti Classico
Notes: Black cherry, black plum, raspberry, dried herbs, dusty earth and dried flowers.
The palate has high tannins, medium body, concentration, acidity and finish. This wine was purchased at Costco a few days back. It received really good ratings. But this comes across as rather tight even after being open for two hours. It is rough and a bit ragged.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 3/09/2026
Vintner: Beringer
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Notes of spicy wood, blackest blackberry, black cherry, very dry herbs and cocoa.
Wow, this wine packs a tannic punch. It hits you in the back teeth and tongue. The concentration of fruit is high, the body full, the finish forever, acid high.
This wine is dark in flavors that it repels light! Just kidding. But it is dark. The tannins are robust, but the dark fruit on the palate is intense and black. On the back of the tongue you get a burnt blackberry sugar. All in all, this is really great intense, concentrated wine if not for the huge tannins.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 3/07/2026
Vintner: Margerum
Description: Santa Barbara County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Having drunk plenty of Rhone wines and blends, this really comes across as a proper southern Rhone blend. The nose is redolent with raspberry, strawberry, wet soil, sweet pea flower, dried herbs, cedar and Phressia scent.
The palate is very plush, rich concentration of flavors, high intensity, medium tannins, high acid, full body and long finish. The finish has trouble stopping, that’s how long it is.
This wine is lovely and gets better as it breathes. Drink it slowly. Don’t drink it with food. It is lovely by itself. I mean, do what you want, but just sayin’. This thing is stunning.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 3/06/2026
Vintner: Hollys Hill
Description: Fenaughty Vineyard, El Dorado County
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: This is a nice wine with a great price-point (under $30). It has amazing fruit, far fruiter than many high-end Syrahs. There is much to be said for the floral notes mixed with blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, raspberry, soil, yellow cake and mocha notes.
The acid is high, body full, finish long, concentration, tannins and intensity are all medium.
If you have not tried Holly’s Hill wines, you really must. They do such a great job with their Rhone varietals. They tend toward the fruitier end, but are never cloying.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 3/05/2026
Vintner: Roar Wines
Description: Appellation Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Oh my. The nose has two different kinds of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, peach, brown sugar, brioche, dianthus and cedar.
The tannins are nice and firm, body full, the intensity and concentration are high. The acid it perfect with this huge flavor.
Not sure what Gary and the team have done here, but for an appellation blend, this is staggeringly good. We haven’t even tried the Gary’s or Sierra Mar yet. I want cases of this!! Haha!
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 2/27/2026
Vintner: Beringer
Description: Knight’s Valley Reserve
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: We saw this on Wine Spies. This is a normally $70 bottle and they had it for under $30.
This wine is just scrumptious with blackberry notes, blueberry jam, brioche, coffee, cocoa and figs.
This wine is nearly perfect. The body, finish, concentration, intensity, acidity, tannins are all in nearly perfect balance. It is lush on the palate. If you find it, buy it. It will not disappoint.
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Rating: 97
Date Tasted: 2/27/2026
Vintner: Ciccone Vineyards & Winery
Description: Estate Wines – Leelanau Penninsula
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, raised cinnamon roll, black plum, black currant and toasted oak.
Silky, firm tannins, high acid, long finish, good concentration and bright fruit. This wine is well rounded, fruity and bright. The wine is made in Michigan. This is really impressive, very different than California cabs but really refreshing to try.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 2/24/2026
Vintner: Emeritus Vineyards
Description: Pinot Hill East Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Kirsch cherry, strawberry, raspberry, mushroom soil, sweet jam and tart cranberry.
This wine is showing some bottle age now since we tried it a year ago. The nose is still glorious, but the palate is starting to flag a little. It has high acid, med+ tannins, concentration and intensity. The finish is long.
It still has a nice tart cranberry on the palate and lots of fruit. Opens up over a good hour. The nose is amazing.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 2/21/2026
Vintner: Convene
Description: Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Raspberry jam, kirsch cherry, mushroomy forest floor, dried flowers, unripe stonefruit, baking spice and biscuit.
This wine has developed a slight edge of bottle age on the palate, not so much on the nose. The finish is really long, the body and concentration are full. Acidity, however, it medium and can’t really keep up with the fruit. Still, it comes across as very pretty, rich and complex. Great wine making — and on a regional blend as well.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 2/19/2026
Vintner: Cuvaison
Description: Micro lot, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Ample strawberry, chocolate cherry, grape sucker, brown sugar, bitter herbs, cremini mushrooms.
Almost sweet on the palate, full bodied, long finish, med+ intensity, complexity. The tannins are light. This is a wine to drink now. The sweetness on the palate slightly overpowers the acidity. The cocoa lingers more than anything else on finish.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 2/18/2026
Vintner: J. Bucher
Description: Bucher Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Cherry, raspberry, cranberry, garden soil, dried herbs and corn flower.
The palate has high acid, medium body, concentration, finish and tannins. The wine is also pretty intense.
We love these J Bucker wines. And this one is Bang for the buck. A very approachable wine that is really easy to drink. It would be great with roasted chicken, grilled salmon or a creamy pasta dish.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 2/17/2026
Vintner: Rutherford Hill
Description: Winemaker’s Blend Napa Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: This wine is wound up very tight. We had to let it breathe for a good hour, and then we corked it and gave it a good shake for 30 seconds. Then it came alive. We get fragrant wood, blackberry, cocoa, anise, green herbs, sweet citrus that lends a hint of pineapple.
The acid it high, the rest of the palate is medium in intensity. It comes across as a little disjointed at first, but after the air it comes together. It has a good concentration and lovely cocoa/berry flavors. Keep in mind, this wine is a BABY! Give this a year or two.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 2/16/2026
Vintner: Black Diamond
Description: Apres Cuvee’, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Red Mountain, Washington
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: My friend grabbed a bottle of this and brought it over to a tasting at Mangels Vineyards. The wine is a project of Gary Andrus and produced at Pine Ridge Vineyards.
The blend is a purely Washington wine with notes of coffee, cocoa, black plum, blackberry, black currant, floral and red licorice.
It has nice tartness, long finish, full body and great concentration. The fruit on the palate is very black, dusky and lovely with grippy tannins.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 2/15/2026
Vintner: Le Mistral
Description: Joseph’s Blend, Monterey County
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: We had this at a super bowl party yesterday. I was allowed to breathe for an hour. It is a Genache/Syrah blend. And after the rest this wine was incredible. It runs $50 at most online stores. And it offers candied berries, pastry and layers of fruit. A very pleasant wine to sip.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 2/8/2026
Vintner: Testarossa
Description: Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Peach, lime zest, raspberry jam, cranberry, dried wood, sour red cherry, toasted bread and a touch of red watermelon. This is a weird wine! And we kinda like it.
High acid, medium body, finish, concentration. The intensity is med+ and the tannins are soft. This wine has a nice, crisp acidity with great minerality. It is slightly more tart than fruity, but it just seems to work nicely.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 2/7/2026
Vintner: Testarossa
Description: Rincon Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley, San Luis Obispo County
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Strawberry, red cherry, cedar, raspberry, wet garden soil, mustard green and cranberry. The nose is nice and rich. All the notes are bright and very noticeable.
High acid, nice minerality, med+ body and finish. The palate is intense and concentrated to a point that it is delightful. It has great tartness that balanced the fruit. The tannins stick to the teeth with a lovely cherry flavor.
This is a real keeper. Very stellar wine.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 2/5/2026
Vintner: Thor
Description: Solano County, Green Valley
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: You get blackberry, cassis, black plum, cocoa, black pepper, hints of red licorice and black cherry notes on the nose. A very rich, intense scent.
The palate has firm tannins, medium acidity, med+ finish, concentration and intensity. Great plum flavors.
This little winery is located on Rockville road in Green Valley, Ca. This is just east of Napa Valley, one hill over. The winery is tiny and has a limited production. Most of the wine is purchased by club members a few release parties each year. This is a hidden treat.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 2/3/2026
Vintner: Frank Family Vineyards
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021/23
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Today I went to a memorial service for a coworker at Frank Family. Very nice event. And while there, the Frank Familly folks had a few wines for us to sip on. This was not a proper tasting event. So, these notes are short. Both of these wines were refreshingly nice. Their basic cab, being a 2023, was really nice. The Rutherford was even better with a silky palate and lovely dark notes on the nose.
2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 92pts
2021 Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 94pts
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Rating: See above
Date Tasted: 2/3/2026
Vintner: Silenus
Description: Reserve Napa Valley
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: These guys have gone out of biz. And some friends went over last year and bought these bottles for pennies. They gave me two. This one is just lovely. Took an hour to open up. Then ended up scoring 93pts. Unfortunately, don’t remember anything about it other than the rating.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 2/2/2026
Vintner: Todd Taylor
Description: Clone 337 Hagen Heights, Coombsville
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, tart Cranberry, brioche, kirsch cherry, dried fig and date, cardamom, coffee, cocoa and pomegranate molasses.
A rich wine with concentrated, silky tannins that gently coat the teeth. The finish and acidity are high and balanced. It only has a touch of thinness on the nose. The wine really opens up after an hour.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 1/29/2026
Vintner: Stags’ Leap Winery
Description: Twelve Falls, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: I had the opportunity to visit this absolutely lovely property today. It is one of the prettiest places in Napa Valley. And this was the best of the wines I tried today.
The nose is missing a little concentration, but other than that, it really has some nice blackberry, black plum, raspberry, cocoa and brioche notes.
The palate is firm with rough tannins, long finish, high acid, good concentration and full body.
This wine is young and needs more years! But you can tell with bottle age it is going to age well. It is a monster. Retails at $100.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 1/28/2026
Vintner: Clos du Val
Description: Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Notes: Well, this was a bottle a friend brought over to watch football today. And it was stellar. I had a nose like rich, berry, coffee, cassis, cocoa and black cherry. The palate was rich with all those flavors, med+ acidity, firm but silky tannins, full body, rich finish, great concentration and intensity. It had one of those bodies that is almost viscous.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 1/25/2026
Vintner: Domaine de Vaquiere
Description: Rastau Thibaut Chamfort Vigneron Eleveur – Valle Du Rhone
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: GSM
Notes: A wine firmly grounded in earthy garigue scents, strawberry, cherry and raspberry. It has a pronounced acidic palate with a medium body, long finish, medium tannins, intensity and complexity. It is a bit closed down even after breathing for a couple hours. But is has those nice Rhone valley notes that take one away to the hills on the banks of the Rhone river.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 1/25/2026
Vintner: Holly’s Hill
Description: Estate El Dorado
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Mourvedre
Notes: Strawberry, red cherry, cooked plum and raspberry, blueberry scone, violet and wet stone.
The acid is high, the body, concentration and intensity are Med+. Tannins are medium.
As this wine breathes it opens up nicely. At first it seemed two dimensional, but after a half hour it really launched ahead. But let’s be honest here — this is not a Rhone style Mourvedre. This wine is bright, rich and fruity, rather than the dense, earthiness of Rhone Mourvedre. But who cares. It is just another expression of this amazing varietal.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 1/17/2026
Vintner: Holly’s Hill
Description: El Dorado
Vintage: 2025
Varietal: Viognier
Notes: Keep in mind, this wine was made last October and bottled last week. So, we will probably re-review this in 6 months. But for now — this wine comes out bright, rich and complex. It has huge notes of peach, apricot, ambrosia melon, lychee and flowers.
The palate shows high acid, full body, richness in concentration and a long finish. This wine has so much promise, but it’s just a baby! It wins on rich flavors and textured mouthfeel. It has so much texture that it feels like it has seen some neutral oak. Definitely a wine to check out.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 1/17/2026
Vintner: Holly’s Hill
Description: East Slope El Dorado
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Bright red cherry, cranberry, dry soil, raspberry, dried herbs, kiwi and dark chocolate.
This wine has high acid, medium body and finish, med+ concentration, intensity and tannins.
A very light, easy drinking, smooth, complex wine with a great price. Holly’s Hill is amazing with these Rhone varietals.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 1/17/2026
Vintner: Todd Taylor
Description: Reserve Blue House Shenandoah Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Primitivo
Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, bay leaf, fig, vanilla, hazelnut and lavender. The wine has a great concentration, firm tannins, long finish, high acid and full body. A very nice wine with good balance. Todd Taylor is a great place to visit. He makes Coombsville Cabs as well that are great and nowhere near the Napa prices.
Short note: Todd Taylor once saved my life. His tasting room is located in the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg. In 2008 I was riding my motorcycle down through the delta. I did not realize that a cold front was coming through. The temp dropped about 20 degrees and I started to shiver. So, I pulled into the Sugar Mill to warm up. It was a Friday. And Todd Taylor was one of the only tasting rooms open. They had heat lamps up. I tasted a couple very short pours and soaked in the heat for a half hour. And then went back home, sans hypothermia. If I have not stopped the situation might have gotten dangerous. I joined his club that day and have been a club member since.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 1/15/2026
Vintner: B Cellars Winery
Description: Sugarloaf Vineyard Napa Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: Blackberry, raspberry, black plum, warm spice, a touch of anise, cassis, cream coffee and peach pit.
The body is full, the acid high, the finish long, tannins are medium, concentration and intensity are high.
Here is a 2023 (supposed to be the perfect year!) and it is really pleasant drinking. It has a nice tartness that balances with the fruit well. Keep your eyes open for 2023s.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 1/8/2026
/*4.0Vintner: B Cellars Winery
Vintage: Various
Notes: I went to B Cellars today. Notes below:
2024 Stagecoach Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley Sangiovese – 91 pts
2024 Albarino – 92 pts
2022 Star Vineyard Chardonnay – 93 pts
2023 Nightwing Pinot Noir – 94 pts
2022 Blend 24 – 94 pts
2022 Hudson Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 pts
2021 Bridgeline Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 pts
2022 Blend 27 – 95 pts
2022 Sugarloaf Vineyard Cabernet Franc – 94 pts
2022 Star Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 pts
2022 Beckstoffer George III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 97 pts
2021 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 pts
2022 Seque – 97 Pts
2022 Kennifick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 pts
2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 94 pts
2022 Blend 26 – 95 pts
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Rating: see above
Date Tasted: 1/8/2026
Vintner: Elderton
Description: Barossa, Australia
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This wine is sort of textbook Barossa Valley wine. It has a eucalyptus, mint, pine, blackberry, cherry, tootsie roll chocolate, coffee and dried herbs.
The wine has firm tannins, round flavors, very dry fruit, high acid, medium intensity, body and finish.
In taking wine classes on world wine, this wine is exactly as the textbook said it should smell. It has rough edges, tartness that slightly overpowers the fruit. But is had nice concentration and very pretty nose. So worth trying.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 1/4/2026
Vintner: Mason Road
Description: Paarl, South Africa
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: Blackberry, black plum, pencil shavings, coffee, violets, raspberry.
High acidity balances well with the dry fruit flavors. The concentration, finish, body are all med+. The tannins are firm but not grippy.
This is a real find. We have never had a SA syrah. So, this is cool experience. And to start here with this syrah that has so much great scents and flavors is a treat.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 1/4/2026
Vintner: Giacomo Fenocchio
Description: Langhe DOC
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Notes: Very floral, dried herbs, cherry and red plum notes. Medium+ tannins, high acid, med+ concentration, intensity and finish.
Another great wine selected by the Oxbow Wine Merchant in Napa. A very nice Nebbiolo from a region that is not Barolo, nor the Barolo prices. A really nice wine to try if you want to experience Nebbiolo. Very nice for just sipping and watching football!
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 1/3/2026
Vintner: Chateau Cambon
Description: Brouilly Beaujolais
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Gamay
Notes: Very cherry, strawberry, floral wine with medium body, long finish, medium intensity, high acid and light tannins.
Got this at the Napa Valley Wine Merchant just before they shut down and moved back to the Ferry Terminal in SF. It ran $37 bucks. It is a nice Brouilly AOC example. Very light, easy drinking wine.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 1/3/2026
Vintner: St Clement Vineyards
Description: Johanna Knights Valley
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: We found this at the Treasury company store. It appears this is an alternate label for Beringer, and the fruit is very similar to the Beringer Knights Valley Cab.
The nose is really rich with dried plum, blackberry, soil, cocoa and coffee.
The palate his firm tannins (and this is almost 7 years old), high acid, full body, fair intensity, finish and concentration.
This is a nice bottle to get a hold of if you can find it.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 12/24/2025
Vintner: Ryan Darrall
Description: Suisun Valley
Vintage: 2021/2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: These wines are nothing like the Cabs of Napa Valley. They still have delicious tannins that sizzle on the palate. They have great concentration, lovely intensity and long finish. But what you don’t get with Napa Cabs is really vibrant, ripe fruits that fill every corner of your mouth. These wines have fascinating edges that demand attention.
Suisun Valley, located just east of Napa Valley, might be the next destination for wine tasting in California with 15 or more wineries already in operation — and more coming. Might be a good idea to get in now and try them all out — especially the consistently amazing Ryan Darrall wines.
See our review of all Ryan’s wines here: Ryan Darrall Wine.
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Rating: 93/93
Date Tasted: 12/20/2025
Vintner: Dutton Estate
Description: Cherry Hill Vineyard, Dutton Estate, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Syrah
Notes: The nose is so much like pumpkin pie, blackberry, pepper and pencil wood.
The tannins are juicy and firm, the acid is high, the concentration, finish and intensity are all high.
Seriously, this wine is tight. In 5 years, it is going to open up. Right now it has good intensity and concentration, but is a sleeping monster!
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 12/20/2025
Vintner: Auteur
Description: Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Classic red cherry, raspberry, cranberry notes with wet soil, biscuit, soft oak and baking spice.
Nice long finish, med body, high acid, med+ intensity and concentration. Overall, for a regional blend, this rocks. Auteur always puts out great Pinot Noir, but it is always prudent to try their regional blends. We have found that they can be the slow burning winners as opposed to the single vineyard wines.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 12/16/2025
Vintner: Beringer
Description: Single Vineyard, Marston Vineyard, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This is a great single vineyard wine from Marston Vineyard up on Spring Mountain. It has lovely notes of blackberry, nectarine pit, raspberry, brioche, black plum, cocoa, cranberry and pomegranate.
The tannins are big but silky. The acid is high, concentration, body, intensity and finish are all high.
For a 7 year old Cabernet Sauv, this is showing no age. The tannins are still firm, there is very little bottle aged tertiary notes. This wine is going to hold for a long time. It is a wine to try for sure if you can get a hold of a bottle. It is an education.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 12/15/2025
Vintner: Rutherford Hill
Description: Wine Maker’s Blend, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Just picked this up from a Rutherford Hill employee who said we needed to try this. Very glad they did! This is lovely wine. You get notes of blackberry, kirsch cherry, cocoa, cassis, licorice, coffee and black currant.
The body, intensity and concentration are full. The acidity is med+, the finish long and the tannins med+.
The nose on this thing is opulent! The flavors are very nicely balanced. And this is a $68 dollar wine at the tasting room in Rutherford.
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Rating: 95
Date Tasted: 12/12/2025
Vintner: Les Pallieres
Description: Terrasse du Diable, Gigondas
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: Like the wine just below, this wine has a gorgeous, rich nose of blackberry, kirsch cherry, roasted game, dried herbs, raspberry jam and soil. Almost the same profile.
The palate has full tannins, high acid, full body, concentration and intensity. The finish is long.
Wow! That’s all we have to say.
The wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Clairette. We purchased this on Wine.com.
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Rating: 97
Date Tasted: 12/12/2025
Vintner: Les Pallieres
Description: Racines, Gigondas
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Rhone Blend
Notes: This wine has a gorgeous, rich nose of blackberry, kirsch cherry, roasted game, dried herbs, raspberry jam and soil.
The palate has full tannins, high acid, med+ body, concentration and intensity. The finish is medium.
The flavors are great in this wine. The concentration and intensity are amazing. This is a real keeper!
The wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Clairette. We purchased this on Wine.com.
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Rating: 96
Date Tasted: 12/10/2025
