This is a Bordeaux blend with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc.  It is a bit more understated than the Cabernet from the True Vineyard.  Drinking well now, this improved with a bit of air and really needs a few more years in the cellar.  But it is fantastic right now.  People who prefer Bordeaux will probably prefer this to the Cab and visa-versa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight blueberries, milk chocolate, cigar box, vanilla and spice.  Yes, there is a lot going on.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Compl

This is a very nice value in Napa Cabs.  Of course, it is still an expensive wine, but that happens in Napa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood and other spices, and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is big but not over the top.  Lots of cassis with underlying earthiness/tobacco.  It is delicious.  Still young, this should easily mature for the next decade and probably two.  Drinking quite well now though.  It will go well with roasted meats or veggies.  

Sineann gets grapes in Oregon and Washington and makes quite a few different wines.  This one is a blend of grapes that did not get bottled as a single varietal.  It is always a great wine and a better value.  This vintage it contains Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel.  By the way, Abondante means "generous" in Italian.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, slight chocolate and forest floor.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  This is medium to full bodied.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with some cherry over a forest floor quality.  Good finish.  This is very fle

This is the base bottling from one of the better producers of Napa Cabernet.  The grapes come from Larkmead Vineyard.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, spice, and a bit of floral notes.  On the palate, this is lush.  Medium tannins.  Lots of cassis over a bit of dry earth and slight vanilla.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature and improve for another five to ten and be good for another decade and a half after that.  It is delicious right now on its own and will need bolder foods.  As it matures it will offer a broader array of possibilities.  

This is an inexpensive Cabernet from Chile made by the same family who makes such great wines in Bordeaux, France.  This is a wine that is meant for people who like wine and don't want to spend a ton of money with a goal of finding something drinkable.  This meets that goal.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has some dusty black raspberries.  On the palate, this has black raspberry fruit.  It is a bit sweet.  Clean, short finish.  It presents a fine alternative on restaurant lists with high markups as well.  It is not meant to age.  It would be good with a burger or other grilled foods.  

This is from a can although it appears they also sell this in bottles.  It is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Grenache.  It has a reasonably deep pink/ruby color.  The nose has cherries and raspberries.  On the palate, this is easy drinking and refreshing.  Flavors of cherries and strawberries.  No tannins.  Ready to drink now.  Worked well with salty fried food but should go with a wide variety of foods.  The trend of wine cans is catching on.  For wines that are made for now, this is a convenient, non-breakable alternative.  I hope more wineries go this route.  

This is interesting.  I normally prefer a Rose to be young (with a couple of important exceptions) but this still tasted youthful at 5 years from vintage.  It is made from Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc.  Orange/salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has watermelons, strawberries and slight hay.  On the palate, this is clean with just a touch of acidity.  Cherries and strawberries.  Nice finish.  This will go with anything from a light salad to a burger or fowl.  

A very pretty white wine from the Rhone.  This is a big, round wine that is unique and outstanding.  Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne.  Golden in color.  The nose is gorgeous with peaches, minerals, slight lime, toast and a slight waxy/floral quality (not unlike my late Aunt's apartment).  On the palate, this is round with a slightly oily texture.  very nice acidity.  Long finish.  In a very good way, this is somewhat like a white Burgundy with a peach candle melted in.  Delicious.  It would go great with food especially vegetarian grain dishes (couscous, quinoa, etc.). 

Nice to revisit this wine.  Tasted (note posted elsewhere on this site), it was quite tight.  While still quite young, this wine has really made a lot of progress.  Still not at its peak, but providing a lot of pleasure right now.  It is a blend of 89% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier.  inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, smoked meat, white pepper and floral notes.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Black raspberry fruit over scorched earth and also some pepper.  Great texture.  Long finish.  This will go well with big meat dishes but also roasted veggie

I am a big fan of the Chenin Blanc grape and Sandlands makes some of the best in California!  They have a low alcohol but at the same time, these are not wispy or lacking in fruit.  Light bronze/gold in color.  The nose is great with lemons, wax, slight orange peel and minerals.  On the palate, this is lean but solid.  Nice acidity.  A bit of lemon, over a nice steely minerality.  Nice finish.  Worked great on its own but will work with lighter foods and even a burger.  Probably should last for 5 to 8 more years, but perhaps even longer.  It would be fun to put a bottle away and these are n