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2012 Burly Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, vanilla, sandalwood and slight blueberries.  On the palate, there is a fair amount of oak on this.  Spice and some burn from fresh cut lumber.  But, also some excellent fruit showing as cassis and blueberries.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  Right now it is a good wine especially for those who don't mind a bit of oak.  I would hold these as there is plenty of fruit to integrate with the oak over the next five years.  

2015 Plumpjack Chardonnay Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons, vanilla, fresh cut lumber, slight tropical fruits and butter.  On the palate, this has a fair amount of oak showing.  Perhaps with some age it sheds some of it.  There is plenty of lemon fruit and it is a bit buttery.  Decent acidity.  It presents a style of Napa Chardonnay that seems people either love or hate.  It is a well made wine and if you like a more buttery and oaked Chard, add a few points.  

2009 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Purple, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, anise, spice and slight floral notes.  Full bodied.  Excellent balance.  Cherries, dark cherries, spice and slight earthiness on the palate.  Drinking quite fresh.  Good energy.  Opens up with air.  Pretty close to peak but should stay there for 8 years at least.  It will gain in complexity but lose some of the freshness.  More fruit forward in style for CdP.  Great wine.  

2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, cedar, dark chocolate and a bit of cedar.  On the palate, this is intense fruit.  The wine itself gives an impression of being broad and easy, but the fruit is piercing.  This still needs some time to develop and unwind.  Give it some air.  Flavors of cassis and dark chocolate with firm tannins.  Drunk over two days, this was markedly better on day 2.  Long finish.  

2014 Sineann Pinot Noir Oregon

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

From a 375 ml.  This is really a nice value in Oregon Pinot Noir.  Sineann makes a variety of single vineyard bottlings but this is the blend for thos which didn't get bottled.  It is always quite good and the added complexity sometimes makes this as good as the individual bottlings.  13.8% this is not huge nor is it "Burgundian".  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has lovely sour cherries and spice.  On the palate, nice texture.  Cherries finishing as sour cherries.  Some depth.  A nice complexity.  Love the 375 format when a bottle is more than I want to open.  

NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado Los Arcos Seco - Dry Solera Familiar, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a relatively inexpensive bottle of sherry (I paid $10 on sale).  Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice; nuts, slight caramel, slight saline and of course "Sherried".  On the palate, this is dry.  Nutty with some caramel notes.  A bit of bitterness.  Some alcohol.  Deep and texture.  Contemplative.  Long finish.  Great value.  It really does perform much better with salty foods.  

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

One of the best Zinfandel producers and one of the best Zinfandel vineyards.  What's not to like?  This is a great Zinfandel.  It's always a question when to open Zins.  They drink so well young.  Some of them age great.  This is one that there is no right answer to the question as it seems its always good.  Purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, boysenberries, bramble, black pepper and an interesting iodine note.  On the palate, this has a lush but lively texture.  Great energy to the wine.  Flavors of raspberries and dark cherries intertwines with char and earth.  Great balance.  Lon

2014 Turtle Rock G2, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Looking for a new winery to follow.  If you like American Rhone wines, this is one to check out.  Purple in color, deep and inky.  On the nose, black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meat and spice/vanilla.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Medium tannins.   Good balance.  This is a big wine.  It is delicious now but if your prefer a little more restraint, I think this has the stuffing to age for another decade, perhaps two.  

2012 Giuseppe Campagnola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is an inexpensive Amarone that is at least true to its name.  So many of these are just glorified Valpolicella's it seems.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has dried cherries and black cherries with an herbal note and slight raisin.  On the palate this drinks well.  Dried cherries with an herbal note.  Dry.  Good acidity.  Nice with food.  Nothing amazing here but enjoyable and drinking very well for the price.  

 

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