Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2016 Saxum The Hexe, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$314.00USD

This is a blend of 56% Grenache, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah, 9% Mataro, 7% Zinfandel and 5% Tempranillo.  The bottle lists 15.7% abv but it is not noticeable on the wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, gravel, and black pepper.  Great backbone of acidity.  On the palate, though young, this is showing a nice complexity.  Medium tannins.  Black cherries and black raspberries with underlying char and gravel.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This may still improve a bit but is drinking great now and should continue for another twe

2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$208.00USD

This is 100% Grenache made only in selected vintages.  The bottle lists 16.4% abv but there is no heat.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is explosive with black raspberries, black cherries, char and slight gun powder notes.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight black cherries.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is still drinking youthfully and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work nicely with roasted fowl.  

2016 Nine Suns Grenache, USA, California, Napa, Pritchard Hill, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This property has since been purchased by Realm Cellars.  Only five cases of this 100% Grenache wine were produced.  Inky Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, clay and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with underlying char.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years. It is great on its own and would work very well with a hearty meat or vegetarian chili.  

2019 Piedrasassi Syrah PS, USA, California, Santa Barbara County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a lighter in style Syrah from Santa Barbara.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight herbal notes and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with slight earthiness.  Moderate finish.  This is better with food.  A nice wine with pizza.  Drink now.  

2016 Beckmen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a nice value in Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cassis, slight vanilla, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a nice easy drinking Cab.  Cassis and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next few years.  A nice with with a (veggie) burger.  

2017 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This producer is more known for their Pinots and Chards but now also produces an excellent Cab.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice, bell pepper and slight tobacco.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries and bell pepper.  Some depth.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Szechuan beef.

2012 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is their middle level Cabernet.  Purple in color, some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, coffee, graphite, dark chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is seriously good.  Lush cassis, graphite and spice.  This drinking great and should continue for ten to fifteen more years.  Great on its own, it will work great with Prime Rib.  

2017 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Detert is more known for it Cab Franc, but this was excellent as well.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice, coffee, and slight earthiness.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  good balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, baking spice and slight tobacco.  Deep.  Long finish.  Ripe but not a fruit bomb.  Drinking well now, it will get better over the next five years.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with pork chops.

J. Lohr 2018 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

When Jerry Lohr started planting Cabernet in Paso Robles in the 1970s most people thought he was crazy. But it turns out that Paso Robles has been quite an exceptional AVA for Cabernet in the Golden State. The combination of Jerry’s years of working with this grape is now seen inside this bottle. It offers wonderful dark fruits - blackberry boysenberry, and huckleberry with only slight elements of red fruit like black cherry and raspberry. On the back palate there is noticeable chocolate/tobacco notes.

2020 Ladera Chardonnay, Pillow Road Vineyard

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Ladera launched in 1998 and has consistently produced impressive wines. For their 2020 Chardonnay, they aged the grapes sur lie in new French oak barrels for 15 months (58% of which were new), which means this definitely offers a creamier style, however it is well balanced so you get a classic Chardonnay, but a silky smooth one. This offers light pear, lemon chiffon, lime meringue, candied almond, slight resin, and hints of guava. This is a lovely, tactile wine that drinks beautifully with, or without food. 289 cases. ORIGIN: Russian River Valley.  ALCOHOL: 14.1%

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