2015 DuMOL Pinot Noir Finn, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Beautiful Pinot Noir.  Ruby with some purple swirls.  The nose is great with bright cherries contrasted by an earthy, damp forest floor note.  Also some spice.  On the palate, this is tight but quite good.  It needs at least five years or a long decant.  Cherries, macerated cherries, layered tightly with damp earth and spice.  Complex.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Went quite well with food.  

2008 Scherrer Winery Syrah Calypso Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this is mature.  Some amount of depth with layers of earth, black raspberries and bacon fat.  Nice acidity.  Very food friendly.  Good finish.  Very good wine.  Drink in the next five to seven years.  

2014 Cowan Cellars Fiano, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

"Florida" Jim Cowan is doing some really interesting things with Italian (and other) varietals and at fair prices.  This is one of his more straightforward white wines.  Made from the Fiano grape more typically found in Campagna, Italy.  Light green gold in color.  The nose is nice with almonds and a nice salinity to it.  On the palate, this is medium bodied but a rounder fuller texture.  Not quite the acidity of the Italian versions, but still enough to work with food.  It has a quality that is almost like a non-oxidized sherry in a good way.  Easy drinking but still with some depth.  Nice

2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is still young but drinking quite well now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, black raspberries, leather, bramble and spice.  On the palate, this is juicy with lots of fruit.  Black cherries mostly.  Some leathery tannins.  Depth.  Delicious.  Drank over a couple days, it was better on day 2.  Nice finish.  Food friendly or on its own.

2007 Dehlinger Syrah Goldridge, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black pepper, black raspberries, slight roasted herbs, and some bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Cooler climate in style.  On the palate, boysenberries, black pepper, slight earthiness with good acidity.  Slight tannins.  deep and layered.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This went very well with Indian food (Syrah is a surprisingly good food match with Indian food).  Seems to be still on the younger side of peak though drinking well now.  

2008 Carlisle Two Acres, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a field blend of mostly Rhone varietals and some Petite Sirah.  The Petite Sirah seems to take over more and more as this wine ages.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, plums, char and some roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has boysenberries, some black cherries and spice.  Nice medium bodied mouth feel.  some complexity.  Slight tannins.  Good finish.  Probably at peak now, but no hurry at all on this.  

2013 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

I try to let some of my Carlisle wines age.  Really, I do.  This is about as successful as I get.  They are just so good young.  This one was consumed at age 5.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, some raspberries, a bit of black licorice and char.  On the palate, a really luxurious texture.  Delicious.  Black cherries, some black licorice and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Great on its own or with food.  Great wine.  

2008 Dehlinger Syrah Goldridge, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

These wines are taking forever to come around.  Just now starting to show something.  This is going to be a beautiful wine.  Its outstanding now, but not nearly at peak and needs a lot of air.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, minerals, black pepper and slight black olives.  On the palate, this is cooler climate in style.  Black raspberries, slight black olives, earthiness and a mineral streak.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  

2015 Ridge Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Inky purple in color.  The nose is very nice with black cherry fruit.  Some bramble.  A bit if spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely, juicy texture.  Black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  Some depth although this is young and its packed tight.  It does unwind in the glass.  Nice finish.  This is really enjoyable now and should store well for a decade or more.  

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