This is made from Primitivo grapes which is a close relative of Zinfandel in Apulia, Italy (the heel of the boot).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, cherries, bramble, orange peel and black pepper.  Soft texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black and red raspberries with a touch of milk chocolate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but would be better with food.  A great choice for Pizza night.  Drink over the next few years.

This is 100% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  This is a grape that can be made for ageing and this bottling is the wineries top choice for having a long life.  At age 9, it is showing some age but seems like it has a lot left to offer.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, smoked fruits, spice, coffee beans and minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity especially for such a ripe wine.  On the palate, this has a deep, layered complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, some boysenberries with minerality and char.  Long finish.  Thi

Davis Bynum has a long history in Sonoma, dating back to the early 1970s and has long promoted Sonoma wine before Sonoma was known for its dynamic wines it is today. This 2022 uses six different Chardonnay clones from various blocks on their property to craft a classic Sonoma Chardonnay. You’ll find lemon curd, light resin, apricot, honeysuckle and white peach where the acidity supports the fruit.

This is an Albariño from Spain.  While I truly love many of the Albariños we are now seeing from California, its hard to justify spending that kind of money when Spain offers wines like this for $30.  Very light silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is mineral driven with a touch of wild thyme, salinity and maybe some crushed shells.  Light bodied.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is dry.  The minerality continues and the crushed shell notes get louder.  Good finish.  This is refreshing on its own but better with food.  A great choice for grilled shrimp.  

One of the best 20`17 Napa Cabs I have tried.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, tobacco, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, some black cherries, with a nice earthiness and a touch of char.  Long finish.  This has a nice depth and complexity and unwinds in the glass.  It will still gain more with further cellaring.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work with meat, fowl or veggies.  A nice wine with a grilled steak off the grill

This is 100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) from Ribera del Duero in Spain.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is more classic with black cherries, cherries, anise, slight coffee and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Loads of red cherries with some black cherries along with a bit of coffee and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  This would work well with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a beautiful 100% Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo) from Ribera del Duero in Spain.  It is a great example of the style of wine often found in RdD these days.  It's a bit more "modern" and fruit forward than classic Rioja (the region next door).  Purple in color with a think ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cherries, black raspberries, fresh tobacco, baking spice and slight char.  Great energy and balance.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this is big but not overdone.  Delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, char

With vineyards in both Santa Cruz and Mendocino counties, Rhys can pull from a variety of sources to make a variety of Pinot Noir. With Bearwallow, their vineyard in the Anderson Valley, there is a delicate and quite lovely feel to this – something as smooth as silk. The softness texturally belies its layered complexity. Yes there is the requisite black cherry, boysenberry, loganberry and light strawberry, but there is also black tea leaf, light resin and sandalwood.

Back around the turn of the century, I drank a lot of this wine from the 90's and the 00's.  For no reason in particular, it fell off my radar, so it was fun to revisit this.  And, I plan on buying more.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Powerful with black raspberries, cedar, black pepper, spice, dust and slight gravel notes.  Firm tannins.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries, some gravel and spice.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but not over blown.  Fresh with lots of energy.  This is nice on its  own and will work well with

This is mostly Tempranillo but also has 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (according to the label).  This is everything one wants in a Gran Reserva including a reasonable price!  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, vanilla and forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity and depth.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, wild herbs, spice and slight tobacco notes.  Long finish.  Mature but plenty of life left.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  This  is great on its