California

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  • Alexander Valley
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This is a 250ML "juice box" of 100% Merlot from California.  It retails for $15 per four pack.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, and confectionary sugar.  Light bodied.  No tannins.  On the palate, this has sour cherries.  Moderate acidity.  Short finish.  The packaging is cool for those trying to take wine next to a pool or someplace glass bottles are not allowed.  These boxes should hold the contents well but probably should be consumed sooner than later.  This would probably make a nice base for a Sangria, etc.  

This is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec from Paso Robles coming in at 13.8% abv according to the label.  Purple with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, green bell peppers and a slight celery seed note.  Light to medium bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit.  This is an easy going red wine that is a nice value.  It drinks well on its own and would be a nice wine with burgers off the grill.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is the first Chardonnay-centric sparkler MacRostie has ever made and, as an inaugural effort, they nailed it, creating a lovely wine that is complex and just plain enjoyable to drink. This is a soft, velvety sparkler that drinks incredibly smoothly. The carbonation is fairly mild, a plus in that we get more of the aromas and flavors of the wine than it being obstructed by bubbles. Soft baked bread, light lemon-lime, whispers of resin, grapefruit, white peach and Asian pear fill the palate.

This is a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara.  Its rare to find good Pinot for under $20, but this manages to do it.  Screw capped.  Pale, ruby in color with some blueish hues.  clear and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show some rhubarb and cranberries.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate a sort red currant, slightly medicinal note (better than it sounds) along with red berries.  A bit of menthol on the finish.  After about an hour, its more of a cherry cough drop note.  A solid Pinot that is nice on its own, but improves with food.  This went well with vegetarian taco roll-u

This is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cassis, and some char.  Full bodied.  Soft texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight but complex.  It unwinds slowly.  Black cherry fruit with some spice.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and will work well with many foods.  Certainly, it would be nice with Rotisserie Chicken.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.   

Ruby in color, mostly opaque and partly bright.  The nose has cherries, strawberries, slight black olives and slight black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Lower acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and cherries with a soft texture and light tannins.  Easy drinking and approachable.  Seems more cooler climate in style.  Nice finish.  More on the delicate/feminine side of Syrah.  Nice on its own, this will work well with foods, but stay away from foods that may overpower it.  Pan roasted chicken breast would work well.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

Green/gold in color with a bit more green than most Chardonnays.  The nose is sweaty with slight smoke and plenty of green apples.  very nice slick texture.  Good acidity, yet the mouthfeel is softer.  Of course, young, but showing a fair amount.  The  palate has apples, vanilla, and some char.  Long finish.  Overall, this is very good and seems to be built for the long haul.  This is not "lean and mean", but it is also not a fruit bomb.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Great on its own, it would be a classic pairing with a seared peppercorn Tuna Steak.  

From a 500ml size bottle.  The name translates to "The Sin".  This is a dessert wine from Paso Robles that is made from 78% Tannat and 22% Grenache grapes.  The grapes are air dried on wooden racks and then go thru a fermentation.  During that process the wine is infused with hand roasted coffee beans and cocoa nibs.  It is a really enjoyable wine, but let's talk about the wine.  First, the drying process is supposed to increase sugar levels by 40%.  It is unclear how ripe the grapes were at harvest.  The wine is listed at 15% abv, which seems very high for a dessert wine that is not fortif

Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cranberries and slight rhubarb along with some spice and char.  Wonderful semi-plush texture.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  The palate is riper/stronger than the nose (in a good way).  Cherries and Kirsch with some char.  Long finish.  This has some complexity and depth as it nears peak.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, this would be great with Roasted Duck.

Always one of my go to value wines, but that does this a disservice.  It is an excellent wine that if, I could keep my hands off, would probably age well for a decade.  But, that's not why I buy a case.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Great balance and acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Some level of complexity.  Open and drinking well.  Mild tannins.  This drinks easily on its own and would be a great pairing with a (veggie) burger.  Drink over the next ten years if you