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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2018 Gundlach Bundschu Zinfandel Estate Vineyard Sonoma Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This appears to be available only from the winery.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, raspberries, slight bramble and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  Flavors of cherries and black cherries with some pepper.  Good finish.  A bit of complexity.  This is drinking well now on its own and should work well with many foods. A nice choice with meatloaf.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2021 Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$37.00USD

This is a blend of 77% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, slight blueberries, sandalwood, and slight black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light drying tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of spice and pepper.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to eight years.  It is nice on its own and will work nicely with many foods.  It would work well with Roasted Chicken.  

2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is a Zin blend with Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, and Peloursin.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and tart cherries.  With air, a bit of sea air/salinity comes out.  Full bodied.  Nicely balanced.  Great texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is some warmth.  Flavors of black cherries, cherries, slight blueberries, chocolate and char.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  A nice choice for Pizza night!

2021 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Cortina, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

Purple in color with ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate and a hint of bramble.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  On the palate, there is some complexity and depth.  Flavors of black cherries with some char.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now but should have another five to eight years left.  Nice on its own, this will need bolder foods.  It should go nicely with BBQ Spare Ribs.  

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