2018 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This producer makes wine in Oregon, New Zealand, and for Bordeaux varietals, in Washington.  It is a lighter styled Cab that makes for easy drinking.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show dust, cherries and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is clean with cassis and a slight sweetness to it.  Moderate finish.  It would work better with food.  Roasted chicken would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2016 J. Bookwalter Conflict Conner-Lee Vineyard, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 48% merlot and 2% malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries and an herbal note that a friend called pickle juice.  I found it more like sage.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some cassis and some cherries.  Moderate depth.  Shorter finish.  It's a nice wine if not profound.  It probably would be better with some food.  Roasted chicken or duck would work well.  Drink over the next five years.  

2017 Lobo Hills Right Bank Blend, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is mostly Merlot with  18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc.  This is a very accessible and easy to drink wine that has nice ripeness to it.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, chocolate and a slight char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Easy to drink.  Moderate depth. Nice texture.  Cassis and black cherries.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with foods with a tangy/sweet BBQ sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

2015 Basel Cellars Merriment, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 12% Cabernet Franc.  Medium deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries, spice, slight tobacco and slight milk chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cassis with some black cherries with underlying spice and slight char.  This drinks nicely on its own but will work better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to seven  years.  

2016 Secret Squirrel Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

In a recent tasting of Washington wines, this was the groups Wine Of The Night.  Pretty impressive for a wine that was purchased for $20.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cedar, plums, cassis and dark chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Some depth and complexity.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, lots of cassis, some black cherries and a bit of char and ash.  Tasty.  This is drinking well now and is the kind of wine that would be popular at a party.  It drinks well on its own and would be a nice choice with burgers, ribs

2018 J. Bookwalter Conflict, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

A blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cassis and baking spice.  With air some coffee notes emerge.  On the palate, this is ripe and sweet cassis fruit.  Seems like a touch of residual sugar.  Also some spices. Nice finish.  It drinks well on its own but might be harder to match food.  A nice wine to sip on its own by the fire this winter.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2017 Shalestone Saperavi, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Tasted as an additional wine in a Georgian Wine tasting, this is made from the Saperavi grape which is the primary red grape of Georgia.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some black raspberries, and gravel.  Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, the cherries and black cherries come thru.  It is a bit softer and more supple than the Georgian Saperavi's tasted alongside.  Light but persistent tannins.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work better with food but is nice on its own.  It would work nicely wi

2006 Sineann Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is drinking well and at maturity (although no hurry).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, iron, slight tobacco and slight iodine.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and a bit of that iron note.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work better with food.  Roasted chicken or vegetables would work well.

2017 Sineann Pinot Noir Wy'east, USA, Oregon, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Deep rub y in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit with some baking spices.  With air, black cherry fruit emerges.  Full bodied (especially for a Pinot Noir).  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Some depth.  It keeps opening with more and more air.  Light tannins.  This is accessible now but should continue to mature and evolve for the next fifteen years.  It just depends on how you like your Pinot Noir.  Great on its own, this would work great with roasted duck or chicken (or turkey).  A really nice value in Pinot Noir.  

NV Gruet Winery Brut, USA, New Mexico, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

It had been a while since last trying a Gruet wine, so this was a nice opportunity.  Originally founded by a Frenchman with ancestral ties to Champagne in New Mexico, this winery has been making lovely sparkling  wines for decades now.  This one is also lovely.  Silvery gold in color with lot of smaller bubbles.  Toasty with lemons.  Clean.  Crisp.  On the palate, this is tasty with some complexity.  Slight apples, more lemon and toast.  Nice toasty finish.  A great value in sparkling wines.  Very food friendly.  Try it with popcorn.  

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