2018 Jax Vineyards Pinot Noir Y3, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is very nice but curiously seemed a bit behind the two prior vintages of this wine.  Perhaps a bit shutdown.  Still, it was very good. Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight smoke and an herbal streak (rosemary/tarragon?).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit, a bit stemmy with an underlying damp earthiness.  Moderate finish.  This will work better with food.  Pasta with mushrooms would be a nice choice.  It will be interesting to watch it develop Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 70% from the Napa side of Pride Mountain and 30% from the Sonoma side.  Very young but an excellent wine.  Long gone are the days of Bob Foley's full throttle wines from Pride.  Different, but just as good.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose shows cassis, spice, fresh tobacco and slight char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis and black cherry fruit with some tobacco and underlying earthiness.  Deep and complex if tight.  This will need about seven to ten years to develop to get near peak and then should drink for ten to fifteen

2017 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a nice Zin that takes its foot off the gas just a bit in this vintage.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose has raspberries, slight bramble and spice.  Medium bodied.  14.8% ABV.  On the palate, raspberries with some underlying char and a bit of black pepper.  Nice finish.  This is the type of Zin that should age pretty well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This is probably better with food; pizza or a burger are nice choices.  

2017 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wetzel Family, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a nice, moderately priced California Cabernet.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, bell peppers, cherries and some spice.  Medium bodied with light tannins.  On the palate black cherry fruit with a touch of green bell pepper.  Moderate finish.  This drinks easily and although good on its own, is better with some food.  Chili is a nice match.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2018 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille, USA, California, Sonoma, Knights Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

This is a round, rich Chardonnay from Sonoma.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red apples, some peach, Crème brûlée and slight pineapple.  Full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, Crème brûlée takes the stage.  Modest acidity.  Some pineapple and peach.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for the next ten to twelve years.  It will drink better on its own than with food, but would work with salmon on the grill.  

2018 Ceritas Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This took some time to open, then drank very well.  A precise, concentrated wine.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is mineral oriented but with some bright lemon notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the minerals and lemons continue.  Bright acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own but shows better with food.  Seafood would be good but worked well with a  watermelon salad.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.

2018 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with vanilla, lemon cream, slight wax note.  Full bodied.  Great acidity.  Deep and complex albeit obviously young.  On the palate, the lemon cream takes the stage with some background vanilla.  Long finish.  This it rich without being overblown.  One of, if not the best RM Chard I have had.  This should drink well for another 15 years.  Great on its own, this will work well with lobster or salmon.  

2018 Gehricke Pinot Noir, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a nice Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and some strawberries.  On the palate, this is a lighter, more elegant styled Pinot.  Nice cherry fruit with a touch of pomegranate.  Dry.  It finishes with tart cherries which wake up the palate.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with roasted (or fried) chicken.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 Ron Rubin Pinot Noir, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is an accessible Pinot Noir that has some seriousness to it as well.  More "old world" than a ripe fruit bomb.  Garnet in color with some purple swirls.  On the nose, it has a classic rhubarb, cranberries and cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, rhubarb with some cherries.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks well now on its own but is even better with food.  Lighter foods such as chicken salad are a nice match but this will work well with ribs r a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2020 Gehricke Rosé Los Carneros, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

At a recent Intowine.com tasting, this proved to be quite popular especially among those who drank a lot of Rosé.  This is made from 100% Pinot Noir.  Pink/orange/amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose has watermelon, cherries and slight chervil notes.  Slightly viscous.  Dry with good acidity.  On the palate, cherries, boysenberries and slight citrus notes.  Clean and long finish.  More understated but delicious.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with all but the heaviest foods, especially on a hot day.  Drink over the next year or two.  

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