Central Coast

• Edna Valley
• Mt. Harlan
• Paso Robles
  • Willow Creek

This continues to improve.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper and grilled meats.  On the palate, this has a nice juicy acidity.  Medium tannins.  Black raspberries layered with char and earth.  Good finish.  No hint of alcohol or heat.  Needs bigger and/or spicy foods.  This wine still needs about five years to peak.  Then should be good for another 15 after that.  Very concentrated.  

81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano.  Inky purple in color.  This is very different for an SQN wine.  It does have 15.8% Alc but there is no sign of that.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, some roasted meats and herbs and black pepper.  On the palate, this is almost elegant.  It has a refined quality but also the intensity and concentration one expects.  Black raspberry and blueberry fruit on the palate with underlying coffee grounds and char.  Great texture.  Long finish.  This is still quite young and has some upside even as good as it

Light ruby in color.  The nose is sweaty with cherries and slight earth.  On the palate, this has macerated cherries.  A bit harsh but ok.  A mild bit of depth.  THis is a fine wine to serve for large parties.  It retails for $15 and is varietally correct.  Not a big wine, but not delicate either.  

This is an under $20 bottle of California Cab.  Well worth the price in the grand scheme of things.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has some cassis, dust and cedar.  On the palate, this is easy drinking.  Not complex but tasty and works with food.  Probably needs to be drunk in the next few years.  

This is excellent.  From a winery who will undoubtedly raise their prices once the critics start scoring their wines.  This is a GSM blend.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, black raspberries, char, leather and spice.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Firm yet sinewy.  Great black raspberry and cherry fruit with some spice.  Deep and will undoubtedly age well.  Good finish.  Works great on its own or with food.  A winery to follow.  

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, and some roasted meats.  Very deep.  On the  palate, this is still young but drinking great.  Black raspberry fruit with some roasted herbs and some spice.  Great texture.  Deep and tightly layered.  Long finish.  This will develop more complexity but if you like lush, delicious warm climate Syrah, this one is fine now.   

Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with some peach notes.  Slight minerality.  Clean.  Nice texture.  A perception of sweetness perhaps, but this drinks dry.  Some red apple, some dry peach on the palate.  Refreshing.  Not very deep.  Easy drinking.  Worked fine on its own or with food.  

40% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah, 21% Grenache and 9% Counoise.  Tablas Creek is making some of the best Rhone varietal wines anywhere and they have been for 20 years.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice, deep and has a nice complexity.  Plums, dark cherries, slight char, black pepper and spice.  With air, purple fruits come to the forefront.  On the palate, this is young and still not yet at peak IMO.  Plums, black raspberries layered with char and spice.  A hint of muskiness as well.  Lovely mouthfeel.  Great texture.  Nice finish.  These wines are built to age and while the 2012 is more open tha

Pop and pour, this wine is in a great place right now.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, slight roasted meats and with air, blueberries and floral notes.  Very nice.  On the palate, this is layered and complex.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit, slight blueberries along with an underlying char.  Great balance.  It is actually a bit soft in texture from what I expected which is not a bad thing.  Complex and almost seamless.  Not sure if it gets better, but certainly no hurry, this has decades left.  Great wine.  

Looking for a new winery to follow.  If you like American Rhone wines, this is one to check out.  Purple in color, deep and inky.  On the nose, black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meat and spice/vanilla.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Medium tannins.   Good balance.  This is a big wine.  It is delicious now but if your prefer a little more restraint, I think this has the stuffing to age for another decade, perhaps two.