California

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This is a serious Napa Cab that should be on your radar if you love Napa Cabs.  It is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Cabernet Franc.  Eighteen percent of the Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards in Oakville and Yountville with the remaining coming from Ehlers Estate grown fruit.  It is middle of the road in style, not a bruiser but not shy either.  14.5 abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, chocolate, baking spices and cedar.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture that is lovely.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries,

This is a 100% Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley.  It is designated as a "Reserve" although there doesn't appear to be any such designation on the label.  The way to tell is that it does say Russian River Valley on the label.  Either way, this is an outstanding Pinot Noir and more than fairly priced for the quality.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has fresh cherries with slight cherry pie filling, licorice and slight cola notes.  While not a delicately styled Pinot, it is also not huge.  More middle of the road for a California Pinot.  Medium to full bodied.

Tasted from Magnum.  The last note on this vintage, posted on this site was 100 points back in 2018.  This may have been better as it is really hitting its stride. Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is amazing with cassis, blueberries, licorice, cedar, and spice.  Deep with light tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Lots of black cherry and cassis fruit.  Underlying minerality and slight smoke.  Wonderful lush texture.

Tasted blind in a tasting of Tannat wines, this was ten years older than the other wines and nothing suggested that this was the "old" wine.  Still very youthful.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, xmas spice, and baking spices.  On the palate, medium firm tannins.  Black raspberry fruit with some xmas spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but still not yet at peak.  It should continue to drink well for ten to fifteen more years.  It needs hearty food.  Ossobuco with polenta would work well.

This is a blend of 92% Syrah and 8% Mourvedre checking in at 15.8% ABV.  Yes, it is a big wine, but the alcohol is very integrated and while it still packs a punch it is not noticeable on the palate.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, oak, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is still youthful although past the baby stage.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, some blueberries and plums with underlying char and black pepper.  This is deep and complex.  No harm drinking now, it is delicious, but this w

This is 100% Tempranillo from California's Central Coast - Paso Robles.  A very interesting take.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, and is dusty with dill (American oak?).  Full bodied.  This is a big wine.  On the palate, cherries with dust.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Very firm tannins.  This seems like it will need time but I doubt it ever loses its "bigness".  It is also delicious.  For those who like this style of wine, drink over the next twenty years.  Glazed Pork Tenderloin would be a good match.  

This is a field blend (mostly Zinfandel) from Sonoma.  Of course, 2011 was a difficult vintage.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, flat.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is somewhat surprisingly ripe.  Black cherries and cherries with some prune notes.  There is some depth and complexity.  A long finish.  This is probably better on its own but would work with pizza.  Drink up over the next few years. 

This is a blend of 97% Syrah with 3% Petite Sirah.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens after about an hour.  Spice, black raspberries, some smoke along with roasted meats and herbs and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Has a bit more elegance than prior vintages perhaps due to less Petite Sirah?  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char and earth.  Some black pepper, too.  Nice finish.  This may still improve a bit and while it drinks well now, it may be worth cellaring for another three to seven years.  Either way, it will drink we

This winery has since been sold, but they went out with a bang producing some very highly rated Cabernets.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight graphite, black cherries, baking spices and slight char.  Full bodied.  Delicious.  Depth.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and cassis with underlying char and slight spice.  It unwinds nicely in the glass.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with food such as braised short ribs or roasted vegetables. Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

Mike Smith is the winemaker here and produces some of the top wines in the world.  This is an interesting vintage.  Initially, it looked like it would be amazing, but many of the wines seemed to get almost to that point and just stopped.  Still outstanding, but not quite the overall quality of say 2013 or 2014.  I think that is true for this wine although that is clearly nit-picking and most wineries only dream of getting to this level of quality.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spices and char.  A really great, plush texture.  Tannins are mostly resolved but