California

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Classic Napa Cabernet from a very good vintage.  This is a Cab that takes a while to mature and at age 15, it is just hitting that sweet spot.  Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, cedar, a bit of funk, leather and camphor.  Complex and enticing.  Full bodied but not a bomb at all.  The palate is complex and deep without being over done.  Cassis layered with earth and leather.  Energy and balance.  Long finish.  Drink this over the next ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own but is probably better with food.  From a steak to a roast, this would work great.  

John Alban is one of the pioneers of the California Rhone wine movement and he is still at the top of his game.  Inky purple in color, magenta at the rim.  An amazing nose with black raspberries, graphite and a bit of funky earthiness.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lush.  Black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Long finish.  Just starting to show some maturity.  This ill go another ten to fifteen years with no trouble.  Great on its own, this will work well with spicy foods.  

From the heart of the historic To Kalon Vineyard in Napa.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for about 8 hours prior to serving.  This was a cooler vintage in Napa, but To Kalon is on the valley floor and gets plenty of sun and warmth.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  It is young but showing some signs of maturity.  Cassis, cedar and black cherries intertwined with spice and slight minerality.  Lovely texture.  Nice finish.  This should continue to mature for another five to sev

This is a wine made by Rhone wine consultant Philippe Cambie and Saxum’s Justin Smith.  It is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 6% Mataró, 6% Petite Sirah, and 4% Tempranillo.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bramble, dust, black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Delicious.  Serious tannins.  Black raspberries, plums and spices over a gravelly bed.  Long finish.  Pop and pour, this was drinking great from the start.  It's hard to say how well this well age.  The label says 16.1% abv but there is no heat.  Still, at t

For those who dismiss California Pinots as bombastic, this is proof they don't have to be.  Sure, it is kissed with sunshine, but this has a lovely elegance in addition to its power.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, slight plums and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries and cherries come thru with a bit of earthiness underneath.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is in a great place but willl continue to mature for another  five to ten and be good for another ten to fifteen after that.  It will work well w

A delightful Sauvignon Blanc from this top Red Wine producer.  Green/gold in color.  A bit cloudy.  Great nose of grapefruits, spice and lemons.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, grapefruit with a slight minty note.  Good acidity.  Dry.  This drinks great young but will certainly age for five to seven years.  Great on its own.  A nice pairing with lighter salads and veggie dishes.  

One of the great Cabernet Franc's in California or the world.  From the historic To Kalon vineyard in Napa.  Although 2017 was a difficult vintage in Napa, this wine is from the warmer valley floor and Cabernet Franc ripens a bit earlier.  No issues here.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight cigar tobacco, hints of roasted bell pepper and baking spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lots of depth, it unwinds in the glass.  Flavors of black cherries and earthiness.  Nice energy.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature for the next ten t

Another winner from Maybach.  This is expensive but in the rarified air of top Napa Cabs, it is reasonable.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has blueberries, gravel, cassis, pencil lead and spice.  What a rich and lovely texture.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries over a bed of gravel.  Medium tannins.  This will continue to slowly age for the next fifteen or so years and be good for ten to twenty after that.  Delicious.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own now, but will over power all but the biggest dishes.  If wishing to serve with dinner,

Another gorgeous wine from Thomas Rivers Brown.  This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot that were co-fermented .  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate and baking spices.  Lush and rich texture on a medium to full bodied frame.  Very concentrated.  Black cherry fruit with cassis with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Drinking youthfully but very well.  This should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another ten to twelve more after that.  It will go well with roasts of all kinds.  

Beautiful showing for this wine.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper, black olives and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Silky texture.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Layers of black raspberry fruit, char, and pepper.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will continue to evolve and mature.  Some upside potential.  Drink now and for ten to fifteen more years.  A great match with spicy or roasted meat and/or veggie dishes.