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2021 Adelsheim Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

Adelsheim was established in Oregon in 1971.  This is their basic Chardonnay and it is excellent and a great value.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with grapefruit, slight peaches, limes and a bit of minerality.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity. Great, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is very clean.  Some grapefruit with slight peach.  A bit of pine on the back end.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and will be versatile with food.  It would work well with seafood such as Crab Salad.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2016 Adelsheim Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Bryan Creek Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Chehalem Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This is a lovely sparkling wine from Oregon.  It is 100% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a full mousse with a thick head of tiny bubbles.  The nose is persistent with lemons and some lanolin notes.  With a bit of air, some apple notes emerge.  Good acidity.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, fresh lemons and slight chalky notes.  A long, slightly tart finish.  Overall, this is an excellent sparkling wine that should drink well for another decade.  It is very food friendly and will work with a wide variety of foods.  It was very nice with a French Lentil Sa

Calera 2021 Mt. Harlan Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Calera winery has been making wine for almost 50 years. But few people ever visit this winery. It’s way off the normal wine experience, being sequestered in the Gavilan Mountain range near the tiny town of Hollister. But that is also its best quality. There is a lovely viscosity to this Chardonnay - a thickness that rolls over the tongue. Yes, you will find the requisite lemon chiffon, lime kefir, white peach, green apple and Asian pear.

2010 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  It has started to shed some of its oak coat and the fruit is coming thru.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, spice, slight lumber, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, boysenberries, vanilla, spice, black pepper and roasted herbs.  Long finish.  This could use a few more years but should drink well for another ten to fifteen.  Right now it could use some fatty food to match it with.  

2011 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, USA, California, Napa,

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

One of the few less than good vintages in Napa, yet, this wine rocks.  Purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The  nose has cassis, blueberries, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, with slight blueberries and a bit of earthiness.  Good finish.  This has some depth and complexity.  Drinking well now on its own, this will work well with a steak or burger.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2002 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard, Oregon, ribbon Ridge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

From the excellent 2002 vintage, this should answer any doubts about whether Oregon Pinot Noir can age and also how it ages.  This was a huge wine on release but now it is mature and drinking beautifully.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, a hint of black cherries, some earthiness and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy, mostly integrated tannins.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Layers of black cherries, sour cherries, earth and slight char.  Great energy.  Good finish.  It would have been interesting to stick this in

2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$395.00USD

My second time in the last month or so drinking this and I am not complaining.  I had a small taste at a wine dinner featuring many other bottles and then a small glass on the next day.  Fantastic wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, pencil lead, cedar, smoke and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Flavors of cassis, graphite dry earthiness, char and leather.  Long finish.  Delicious.  I won't give this a 100 score as I just didn't pay enough attention to it, but was fantastic.  

2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

It is always a real treat to drink this wine.  The price has gone up quite a bit in recent years but for the quality, it is still fairly priced.  One hundred percent Sangiovese from Tuscany.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with black cherries, cherries, sandalwood, black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Still very firm tannins.  On the palate, this is showing some early maturity with flavors of black cherries, cherries, tea leaves and spice.  Long finish.  This still has another ten to fifteen years on it for well stored bottles.  Delicious on its own, this would

2004 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Reivew

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$480.00USD

Count me among those who find a certain greenness to the 2004 Burgundies.  Others at the table loved this wine and either didn't find that quality or didn't mind it.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, a bit of earthiness and an herbal quality hanging around the background.  It comes across as a sort fresh thyme mixed with cilantro.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, herbal notes and char.  It is also complex and layered.  It works better with food and it would be nice with fresh sashimi.  It has plenty

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