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2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

This is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the rest is the other permitted varietals.  At age 22, it is showing some age and a bit past prime.  This bottle had been bought on release and well cellared.  Ruby/brown in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, soy/umami, and spice.  Medium bodied.  There are some drying tannins left.  Better on the palate.  Complex with layers of dried and fresh cherries.  Good balance.  Nice finish.

2014 Joseph Drouhin / Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has chalk, salinity and green apples.  Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity.  No sharp edges.  On the palate, red apples with slight chalk.  Easy drinking.  Moderate finish.  Drinking well now and should for another five to eight years.  This would work well with shell fish.  

MV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 166eme, France, Wine Review

Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

Gorgeous.  This is their "basic" non-vintage or multi-vintage but better than most luxury cuvees.  It is a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay, and 16% Meunier.  Light golden in color with a steady stream of small bubbles.  Nice frothy mousse.  The nose has toast, yeast, slight cherries, apples and chalk.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Slightly tart fruit (oranges) with some chalk.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now, and should for the next ten to fifteen years.  This will go with just about any food.  It would be great with Sushi.

2006 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut La Grande Dame, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Always a treat though this is starting to show some age (in a good way).  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The mousse isn't as frothy as it had been not as persistent, but still present.  It is a blend of 53% Pinot Noir and 47% Chardonnay.  The nose is great with yeast, ginger, slight char, and slight nutty note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Some apples, ginger, char and nuts especially on the finish.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this is incredibly versatile with food. It worked well with grilled, spiced radishes.  

2019 Piedrasassi Syrah PS, USA, California, Santa Barbara County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a lighter in style Syrah from Santa Barbara.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight herbal notes and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with slight earthiness.  Moderate finish.  This is better with food.  A nice wine with pizza.  Drink now.  

2018 Gérard Boulay Sancerre La Comtesse, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$67.00USD

This was a delightful Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  Stylistically, it had a bit of new world characteristics which was interesting.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with some grassiness and some tropical fruits.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is tasty with some depth.  Tropical fruits with some minerality.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  This would work well with fish tacos.

2016 Beckmen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a nice value in Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cassis, slight vanilla, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a nice easy drinking Cab.  Cassis and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next few years.  A nice with with a (veggie) burger.  

2017 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This producer is more known for their Pinots and Chards but now also produces an excellent Cab.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice, bell pepper and slight tobacco.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries and bell pepper.  Some depth.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Szechuan beef.

2019 Sineann Cabernet Franc Phinny Hill Vineyard, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

A very nice Cab Franc and a nice value.  Purple in color, some ruby, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cigar box, slighter bell pepper, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some tobacco and slight bell pepper.  Good finish.  Drinking well and should continue for seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Lamb Stew.  

2001 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This was from a 375ml bottle bought on release.  Purple in color, slightly flat, opaque.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, black raspberries, and some roasted meat.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is past maturity but still with plenty to offer.  Nice complexity.  Black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  These should be consumed soon.  Better with good.  Chili would work well.  

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