For those who dismiss California Pinots as bombastic, this is proof they don't have to be.  Sure, it is kissed with sunshine, but this has a lovely elegance in addition to its power.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, slight plums and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries and cherries come thru with a bit of earthiness underneath.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is in a great place but willl continue to mature for another  five to ten and be good for another ten to fifteen after that.  It will work well w

From a tremendous, if very ripe, vintage.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, cola and slight earthiness.  This has a great lush texture.  The black cherry fruit comes out on the palate with some cherries and underlying minerality.  Clean.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  Tasted blind, one might think California but on the more elegant side.  Still on the youthful side, this should develop a bit more.  drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This will work well with roasted foul or slow cooked braised meat dishes.  

This was popped and poured but it took about an hour to blow off some bottle stink and another hour to really get into gear.  It would have been better served to pop the cork and allowed to breathe for a few hours.  Luckily, we had the time to wait.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose (after a couple hours) is nice with cherries, earthy funk and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has cherries layered with earthiness.  Slightly soft.  Deep.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and will not get better.  From a very good if not great vintage.  Drink over the

Great showing for this wine.  Decanted for sediment and air for about 4 hours.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  No browning.  The nose is pretty with cherries, slight cherry juice, roses, black cherries and slight forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru a bit stronger.  Mild tannins.  Underlying forest floor.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This has layers of fruit and earth.  It seems to be drinking close to prime now, but well stored bottles should easily have another decade.  This will work great with pasta, mushrooms or more savory meat

A birth year wine for me.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright with a slight, slight browning.  On the nose, there are fresh cherries, cola, slight tar and dried roses.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the fresh cherry fruit comes thru.  Light tannins.  Nice acidity.  Round.  This is drinking older, but I would not have guessed 62 years.  it has a nice complexity and depth.  At this point, all bottles are a crap shoot, but this one could have gone a while longer.  Better with food.  Pasta in a cream sauce with mushrooms would be great.  

Consumed over two nights.  Consistent.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has diesel fuel, lemons and salinity.  On the palate, this is dry.  Slightly viscous texture.  Grapefruit with underlying minerality.  Slightly bitter grapefruit pith on the finish.  This is youthful but approaching maturity.  It probably should be consumed in the next seven to ten years.  This will work with almost any food, but sea food or poultry would be best.  It will work better with food than on its own.  

Drunk over two consecutive nights, this was a bit better on night 2.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pineapple, slight honey, wet rocks and just a bare whiff of petrol.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Pineapple and some tropical fruits.  Nice underlying minerality.  Viscous texture.  Lingering finish.  A very nice wine.  This should easily go another decade and probably two.  It will work great early or late in a meal and also pair well with fruit salads.  

A delightful Sauvignon Blanc from this top Red Wine producer.  Green/gold in color.  A bit cloudy.  Great nose of grapefruits, spice and lemons.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, grapefruit with a slight minty note.  Good acidity.  Dry.  This drinks great young but will certainly age for five to seven years.  Great on its own.  A nice pairing with lighter salads and veggie dishes.  

A phenomenal wine in a phenomenal vintage.  Dom really nailed it in 2008.  Light green/gold in color with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose has lemons, brioche, and slight smoke.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Smooth.  Tart lemons, chalk and crushed rocks.  A very long finish.  Delicious and deep.  This is still young with lots of energy.  It should drink like this for another ten years before starting to mature for another twenty to thirty after that.  It will work with virtually any food.  An incredible wine.   

Another gorgeous bottle from one of the top producers of Vouvray.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great.  Lots of minerality with pears, quince and saline.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Ripe quince and orange peel with underlying minerality.  Great smooth texture.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This is slightly sweet but certainly not overt.  This should last for a couple of decades although Huet has had some issues with random bottles prematurely oxidizing.  Still, laying a few down and drinking some young is a nice strategy.  This drinks great on its own and would work well