Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.
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Wine To Go Buy This Week – New Year’s Edition -Domaine Carneros 2008 Le Reve Blanc de Blancs – 90 Points

France’s Champagne Taittinger started its U.S label with the opening of Domaine Carneros in 1987 and has gone on to create world-class sparkling wines in America, of which their flagship Le Reve has always been a consistent standout. This Blanc de Blanc is comprised of five Chardonnay clones from the Domaine’s Carneros estate fruit.
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2016 Andremily Mourvèdre, USA, California, Wine Revieew

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$168.00USD

This is a blend of 89% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah and 2% Viognier.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoked meat, black pepper, slight floral note and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is in a great place and delicious.  Loads of fruit with lots of depth.  Flavors of black raspberries, plums, slight dark chocolate, black pepper and spice.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and worked wonderfully with Indian foods.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2018 Peacock Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a nice, "reasonably" priced Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is good with cassis, slight saw dust, baking spice and slight vanilla.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easily.  Some depth.  Flavors of cassis with slight black cherries.  Good finish.  This is a good, solid wine without crazy Napa pricing.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with bigger, fatty foods.  A good choice with a Burger or Steak.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2023 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is the base level Chardonnay at Rivers-Marie.  It is not quite as good as the single vineyards but is also much less pricier making it a great value.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep with vanilla, lemon cream, spice and a hint of lemon peel.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delcious.  Creamy texture.  Flavors of lemon cream and vanilla.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with many foods.  This worked well with a  Butternut Squash soup.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2023 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

Another top notch Chardonnay from Ceritas.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with Orange peel, slight lemon creme, vanilla, minerality and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this has plenty of depth and complexity that opens nicely in the glass.  Flavors of orange citrus, slight lemon, minerality, and slight vanilla.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with most foods.  A nice choice would be Baked Salmon.  Drink over the next ten years or so.

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