2014 Torrin Akasha, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Torrin continues to make some of the best, fruit forward, Rhone varietals anywhere.  These are big wines that benefit from extended cellaring.  This one is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black raspberries, black pepper, slight iodine, roasted meats and herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, concentrated black raspberry fruit, some blueberries, black pepper with underlying meatiness and char.  Nice acidity.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This will still get better over the next five years and drin

2012 Booker Vineyard Oublie Extended Age 24 Months, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$87.00USD

Tasted side by side with the regular bottling, I slightly preferred this one.  It is also a blend of 44% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache and 20% Counoise.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is similar with black raspberries, plums, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks a bit younger and also more expressive.  Lots of black raspberries, plums, some black cherries, black pepper and char.  More vibrancy.  Long finish.  Overall, the distinctions are small, but this did seem a bit younger with more going on.  Now, was that due to the extended ageing or

2012 Booker Vineyard Oublie, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$63.00USD

Tasted this side by side with the extended ageing slightly preferring the extended ageing.  This is a blend of  44% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache and 20% Counoise.  Purple in color with ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, slight plums, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.

2011 Torrin James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 52% Syrah and 48% Grenache from one of the great Rhone varietal vineyards of California (or anywhere).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, smoke, roasted herbs, and a bit of meatiness.  Full bodied.  Complex and seemingly at peak.  Layers of black raspberry and black cherry fruit with underlying char and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This wine should continue to drink well for another ten to twelve years.  A nice match for Indian or Thal food.  

2018 Field Recordings Chenin Blanc, USA, California, Central Coast

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is an old vine Chenin Blanc from vineyards in Santa Ynez and Paso Robles.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a bunch of granny smith apples with a touch of chamomile tea.  Medium bodied.  On the palate this has a nice minerality.  There is some green apples.  Dry.  Clean.  This drinks easy.  Nice finish.  Although Chenin ages well, and these are old vines, it should probably be consumed over the next five years.  It might be interesting to lay one down for ten or more though.  This will go well with seafood.  Oysters are a good call.  

2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

This is quite young but still delicious.  It is a blend of 64% Grenache, 16% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan.  Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, some black licorice, floral notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Vibrant with lots of energy.  On the palate, loads of black raspberries and black cherries with medium tannins.  It takes some time to open in the glass but then shows a nice minerality.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to hits its peak but is delicious today

2018 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This used to be a go to wine but it had been about 15 years since tried.  Still a very nice Cab for the money.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, nice cassis fruit.  Drink over the next couple of years.  A nice wine for a party or cook-out.  It works well on its own and will work nicely with burgers or other foods off the grill.  

2010 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$118.00USD

This is a blend of 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 21% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper and floral notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Velvety with precision.  Flavors of black raspberries with underlying roasted meats and some black pepper.  Very lively.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  A delicious wine that just about mature.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  A nice match with a burger or roasted veggies off the grill.  

2015 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre checking in at 15.7% ABV.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, plums, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and meats and a bit of violets.  Full bodied.  Great lush texture but with lively acidity.  So easy to drink with no noticeable alcohol on the nose or palate.  Black raspberries over roasted earth with some herbs.  Long finish.  This is young but accessible.  It should continue to improve over the next three to seven years and drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  It dri

2014 Samsara Syrah Zotovich Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Sta. Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  A cooler climate style of Syrah.  Garnet in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, black olives and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, some black cherries with underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own,  it should be better with food.  Chili or beef stew would be a nice choice.  

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