2023 Bravium Chardonnay, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is an inexpensive Sonoma Chardonnay that offers up a pretty classic version of an oaked Chardonnay.  Gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has vanilla, lemon creme, slight pineapple, and toast.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemon-lime notes, vanilla and some fresh cut lumber.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  The is nice on its own and would work well with grilled Salmon or Tuna.  drink over the next few years.  

2009 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Terrace Select, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Opened by a friend for my 66th.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, slight bell pepper and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  great balance.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking great.  Cassis, leather, slight black cherry and char.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and worked well with a flat bread with onions and arugula.  It should still have another ten to fifteen years left in it.  

 

2023 Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

What a lovely Rosé and a great value as well.  Sort of a pink/purple/blue color with the pink dominating, clear and bright.  Very pretty.  The nose is nice with typical light cherries, strawberries and watermelon but also some interesting tangerine/orange notes and a bit of a dried herbal note.  Medium bodied.  Semi-plush texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with cherries, some watermelon and again a bit of orange citrus that seems to give it a jolt of acidity that livens it up and makes it very food friendly.  Nice finish.  It drinks very well now and will work well with a

2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Sonoma Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

This is a blend of 74% Sonoma fruit and 26% Cabernet.  A gorgeous wine that is just entering its prime drinking window.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, tobacco, slight cocoa and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is complex, deep and delicious.  Flavors of cassis, earthiness and spice.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and worked well with eggplant Parmesan.  It should have at least another ten or fifteen years.  I know a lot of people like to say these big Cal Cabs can't last.  Th

2021 Seghesio Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is a blend of 87% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 1% Alicante Bouschet from vines averaging 75 years old.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, brambles, gravel and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a middle of the road Zin.  Not a monster, but not a claret either.  It has depth and some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, slight cherries, spice and slight bramble.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be great with a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Kosta Browne 2021 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, El Diablo

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

Known for Pinot Noir, Kosta Browne has embarked on a Chardonnay program for a number of years but only recently has given the single vineyards wines turbo-charged attention.” “Elevating our Chardonnay to the same level as our Pinot Noirs is something our team takes great pride in,” says winemaker Julien Howsepian. This stellar example of Chardonnay allows for light malolactic fermentation, bright acidity, crisp fruit and minerality. This offers seductive notes of crème brûlée, lemon chiffon, lime kefir, sweet resin, apricot, white peach and delicate herbal wildflowers.

2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Exposition Three Weill a Way Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is 84% Syrah and 16% Viognier from Sonoma.  There are three version of this wine which Robert Parker compared to the three Guigal Lala wines from the northern Rhone.  Luckily, they were not that expensive back on release.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, bacon fat, slight dried flowers, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this seems mature and close to peak.  Flavors of black raspberries, slight blueberries, spice, and a hint of earthiness.  Long finish.  This wine is complex and deep.  This is great on

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