California

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My first time trying this wine.  It is a full throttle Pinot Noir carrying a California designation that weighs in at 14.5% abv.  Attratcively packaged with half the bottle covered in black wax.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is big with black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Cherries, black cherries and anise.  Long finish.  This is bold and delicious.  This could only come from California.  It is very young so it will be interesting to see how it evolves.  Right now it drinks better on its own although it will work with hearty meat and fow

This is a proprietary blend made from Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, and Vermentino from California.  Light golden in color, sparkling bright.  The nose has lychees, marzipan, apples and honey.  It is medium to full bodied with a heavy quality to it.  Like other Prisoner wines, there is nothing light about this wine.  The palate has apples, orange peel and slight noticeable alcohol.  It adds some caramel and butter scotch on the long finish.  This is a very interesting wine that is also quite tasty.  It drinks very well sipping on its own and will work well with roas

Certainly one of the more iconic names in Cabernet and in Napa.  And, 2018 was a stellar vintage in Napa.  This Cab proves you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a high quality Cab if you buy from good producers and in good vintages.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, spic and chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, black raspberries and oak.  This is young and the oak will integrate with time.  It is ripe but not overdone.  The bottle list 14.5% but some promotional information lists 15.1% abv.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish. 

One typically doesn't think of Pinot Noir and Napa, but the district of Carneros spans into both Napa and Sonoma and is the home of many excellent Pinot Noirs.  This is a very pretty, elegantly styled Pinot.  Ruby in color, clear and bright and a touch lighter.  The nose is nice with bright cherries, macerated cherries, sandalwood and a touch of chervil.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has cherries and cherry cough drop notes with a touch of anise.  Light tannins.  Very smooth and easy to sip.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with salmon or roasted fowl. 

This is really drinking well right now.  Purple in color with a thin ruby line at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight bacon fat, char and black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Black raspberry fruit intertwined with roasted meats and black pepper.  Very smooth.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is closing in on peak but should have ten to fifteen more years at or near the top.  This worked great with Indian food.  

This is one of my favorite Petite Sirahs out there.  At age 7, this is still a youngster, but it is delicious.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is intense.  Lots of precision.  Very deep.  Boysenberries over a char base.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  Great value, too!  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years, but it is so good now.  Works great on its own or with spicy foods or fatty foods.  

This bottle is drinking quite well at age 18 despite not being stored immaculately.  A friend brought this over and had been keeping since buying at the winery.  She does not have a wine cellar and has moved a couple of times, so our hopes were guarded.  It drank very well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, and a bit of chocolate.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Tannins are all resolved.  Layers of black cherry fruit with some dark chocolate and slight earthiness.  Good finish.  These probably should be consumed over the next

This is a Bordeaux blend from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, licorice, and spice.  Very nice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is black cherries and spice.  Moderate tannins.  A slight hint of mint on the finish.  This is drinking well now but may get a point or two better.  It drinks nicely on its own and would work well with a steak or roast.  

This is a pretty classic Napa Cab more in the old school style.  The label lists 14.3% ABV.  Not the wine if you are looking for a big fruit bomb, it is much more restrained.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, minerality, slight herbal notes and coffee.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Cassis fruit over roasted herbs with slight char.  Nice finish.  This is young and might improve a bit with some ageing.  It should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another five to seven more after that.  It will

Another winner from this stalwart Napa producer.  White gold/silvery in color.  The nose has seltzer, minerality, pears and white floral notes.  Pretty.  Medium bodied.  On the palate there is a sort of copper minerality that is very interesting along with the more usual notes of lemon peel, and melon.  Good acidity.  Fresh.  Long finish.  This is delicious and refreshing on its own but would work great with chicken salad or other lighter fare/salads.  Best to drink in the next few years to enjoy the vibrancy.