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2013 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre.  Consumed in the NY Jets stadium parking lot prior to the Monday night game between the Browns and the Jets.  A lot of fun.  While still very young, this was a perfect wine for the occasion.  Big, bold and delicious.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs, plums and slight violets.  On the palate, this has a wonderfully rich texture.  The wine goes down easily.  It is also delicious.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying char and a bit of pepper.  Great energy and balance.  Long finish.  Goes great with

2014 Place de la Bourse, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B

This seems to be a basic negoiant level wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and slight bell peppers.  A bit of dust.  On the palate, the cherries come thru.  Not green but not ripe either.  No tannins.  Easy drinking.  Worked well with middle eastern foods.  Drink now.  No idea on the pricing but if around $10, this is a fine value and probably better in 2015 or 2016.  

2011 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas, USA, California, Mendocino, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This was in magnum and opened to celebrate the engagement of our friends daughter.  The non-wine geek crowd seemed to really enjoy it (as did the wine geeks present).  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, some black pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy, slick and medium to full bodied.  Plenty of boysenberry fruit over a bit of char and slight dry earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is coming around now and just about at peak.  Even in 750ml format there is no hurry though, this should have another decade.  It will go well wit

2009 Arômes de Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is from the younger wines at Chateau Pavie (under 10 years old).  It is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with a bit of cigar box.  On the palate, this is drinking well now.  Nice cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa and slight tobacco.  Not a lot of concentration or complexity but it is tasty.  Good acidity.  It seems as though this will be as good as this gets and thought it should do another five to ten years, the safer bet is to drink it now.  It will go well with stews and medium weight foods.  

2014 Pott Wine Viognier 20m3 Stagecoach Vineyard Pritchard Hill, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is an intriguing Viognier.  Much of California Viognier comes off as alcoholic or hot and certainly lacks the floral lightness of many of the Rhone counterparts.  This bottle strikes a middle round which is quite nice.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lots of grapefruit with a bit of a floral quality (white flowers?).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a grapefruit juice quality but a bit livelier that say a Sauvignon Blanc.  Not really showing any age at the moment, still, I would drink this sooner than later to enjoy the freshness.  It will go well with all but the heavies

2013 Harris Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Casey's Lakeview Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is an intense and concentrated wine.  While it is drinking well today, proper cellaring will be rewarded.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, coffee and iron.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Deep but tight.  Lots of cassis fruit with underlying spice.  Long finish.  It needs about seven to ten years until peak and should be good for fifteen after that.  It drinks well today on its own and will work with bigger foods.  

2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajana, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is still young but a very nice showing.  It might still get a bit better but for the most part is close to peak.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, tar, slight dried roses.  Also a bit of tea.  On the palate, there are fresh and dried cherries over a bit of forest floor.  Good acidity.  Layers unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  Pretty much everything one could want from this wine at 15 years from vintage.  It will work well with past and meat dished but even light fol or salads.  

2016 Sojourn Pinot Noir Riddle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Sojourn makes some might fine Pinot Noir, this one included.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls.  The nose is bit but pretty with sour cherries, rhubarb, and earl grey tea.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Layers of sour cherries and forest floor.  Clean.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  This will work well with lighter foods and heavier sea foods and fowl.  It is drinking well now but should last another decade or more.   

2005 Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

My first time trying this producer.  It was good but a bit under ripe.  Perhaps another five years and it sorts itself out.  I have my doubts but time will tell.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, bell peppers and roasted herbs.  On the palate, there is a green streak running thru this wine.  Firm tannins.  Underlying tar.  There is some complexity here.  In the end, it depends on what you like,  but for my tastes, I this could have been better had they let the fruit hang a bit longer.  It has a nice acidity and will work better with food.  No harm in waiting on it at this point.  Serv

2015 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Valmur

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$76.00USD

It is always a pleasure to drink Chablis   Even more Grand Cru from a great vintage.  These are some of the best expressions of Chardonnay.  This was my second time being lucky enough to try this one.  It was pretty consistent,  This one was no exception,   Green/gold in color.  Shimmering bright.  The nose has plenty of green apples with a nice chalk/sea shell quality.  On the palate, this is ripe and broad.  It has a slightly oily texture which is a good thing.  More red apple with underlying chalk.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is still young and though ageing white Burgundies can b

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