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2019 Faethm / Fingers Crossed Grenache Two Become One, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

This is a blend of 76% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, and 11% Syrah from the central Coast (although carries a California AVA designation).  This is a very impressive full throttle, ripe California Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, black cherries, leather, floral notes, spice, leather and coffee.  Full bodied.  Plush texture.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is deep but accessible.  Lots going on.  Delicious.  Black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, with a bit of gravel and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  Great on its

2019 Levo Syrah 22 Tango, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Graciano from the Central Coast of California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Flavors of black raspberries with some pepper.  Good finish.  This is riper in style but not to an extreme.  It should drink well for another ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with hearty foods such as Roasted Acorn Squash.  

2018 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon HãLo Hillspring Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oak Knoll, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$210.00USD

This is Trefethen's top wine.  Trefethen, as a winery, dates back to 1973.  The wine is middle of the road in terms of style for a Napa Cab.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slightly woody, spice and slight roasted coffee.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of black cherries, cassis and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly (probably not seafood).  It went well with a couple of homemade veggie pizzas.  Drink over the next ten years.

2014 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$270.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  Tench vineyard shares a border with Screaming Eagle (a bit of name dropping).  This wine was huge on release and while still fruit forward, at age 10, it is drinking wonderfully.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and complex with cassis, blueberries, sandalwood, slight soy sauce with earthiness and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will drink beautifully for another twenty years.  Great on its own, t

2011 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 8% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, fresh herbs, cedar, leather and char.  Nice texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is nice.  Good fruit.  Black cherries, cassis, with some earthiness.  Good finish. This seems about at peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work with most (non-seafood) foods.  

2015 Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinha da Ponte, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a single vineyard wine from Portugal.  It is only made in the best vintages. Garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with black cherries, black olives, spice and a bit of dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Deep with some complexity.  Black cherries, cherries, slight anise and spice.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own, but better with food.  It worked well with a "Mexican" pizza.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2019 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet "Soul of a Lion", USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

While not their "top" wine, this is an ultra premium Cabernet that is on par with Napa or any other Cabernets at this price level.  It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is open and enticing.  Cassis, black raspberries, cigar box, chocolate, spice and char.

2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is their basic Cabernet.  it is a blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.6% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Merlot, and 0.4% Cabernet Franc.  It had been in a decanter for about 45 minutes when I tried it.  Nevertheless, it was at least partially shut down at this point.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very tight.  With some air in the glass, it opened a bit more.  Aromas of Black cherries, sandalwood and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, it is a bit more open.  Black cherries with some spice and char.  Moderate finish.  This wine needs time

2018 Calla Lily Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

A bit surprisingly, while still a nice wine, this lagged a bit behind both the 2017 and the 2019.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cedar, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this drinks easy but doesn't have the expected depth.  Good finish.  It is a nice wine and will work well with heavier foods.  Beef Ragu would work nicely.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2005 La Collina dei Lecci Brunello di Montalcino La Tanuta, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is a solid Brunello that is at peak.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, tea leaves and spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, cherries with some forest floor.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  There is some complexity.  Better with food at this point.  A nice match with a plate of mushroom pasta.  Drink up over the next few years.  

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