Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2021 Gentleman Farmer Wines Rosé, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$37.00USD

A very interesting wine.  It is 90% Pinot Noir, 7% Merlot, and 3% Pinot Meunier.  The website indicates that the fruit is Sonoma Coast, but the bottle is devoid of info except carrying a California designation.  Deep light ruby/orange in color, clear and bright.  Very pretty.  The nose is intense with rhubarb, apples and watermelon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, watermelon, raspberries and cherries.  Long finish.  A very satisfying Rose that should be quite food friendly with everything from Salmon to a steak.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2020 Gentleman Farmer Wines Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$49.00USD

A middle of the road in style, Napa Chardonnay.  14.5% abv.   Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, almonds, spices, minerals, and with some air, lemon crème.  A slight bitter almond note on the finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would be a nice wine with seafood, pork or veggies.  Salmon is a great choice.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 North Coast Wine Club Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made from purchased grapes in northeastern Ohio.  For $30, this is certainly competitive or better than most similarly priced Napa Cabernets on our grocery store shelves.  Very impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  The nose has cassis, plums, baking spices and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this opens with about 30 minutes of air.

2017 Tablas Creek Le Complice, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 67% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 12% Terret Noir.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, spice and smoke.  Medium to full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, this drinks very easy.  Black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of black licorice and pepper.  Nice finish.  An interesting wine but also an enjoyable one.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This is nice on its own and will work well with food.  A nice choice for a burger or meatloaf.  

2006 Carlisle Syrah Rosella's Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Lucia Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is in a great spot at age 17.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight gamey meat, and a bit of raspberries.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is deep with some complexity.  Black raspberry fruit with some black pepper and a hint of meatiness.  Nice finish.  This seems to be about at peak but should go another five to eight years at this level.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with roasted veggies, fowl or meats.  

2019 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

From Mike Officer's home vineyard, another in the Carlisle collection of excellent Zinfandels.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, raspberries, slight leather and citrus.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Black raspberries, black cherries, and spice.  Some minty on the finish.  This should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this will work well with a burger or ribs off the grill.  

2019 Mending Wall Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Palisades is one of the best Petite Sirah Vineyards anywhere.  Now, that is somewhat a backhanded compliment as there just aren't that many of those vineyards.  Still, this is one worth checking out.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, juicy black raspberries with underlying gravel and char.  Long finish.  This is very young and although approachable, it will get better.  It could really use about ten years in the cellar.  Patience will be rewarded.  In any event, this makes good drinking

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Teldeschi Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, bramble and black pepper. Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity. On the palate, this is upfront with good black cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Good finish.  Tasty.  Drinking well now and should for another five to eight years.  A nice wine with pizza.  

2007 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

The label lists this as 33 year old vines.  Great showing.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cola, cherries, spice and slight earthiness.  Wonderful round texture.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, this seems to be at peak.  Black cherries with slight cherries and a bit of spice.  No signs of age but certainly mature.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted chicken.  

1994 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Goldridge Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

The label proclaims the grapes were from 20 year old vines.  What a treat to taste this at age 29.  Drinking beautifully.  Ruby color, clear and bright.  Just the barest tinge or browning.  The nose is great with cherries, slight rhubarb, slight cola, dust and spice.  Medium bodied.  This is mature but if it is past, it hides it very well.  Impressive.  The palate has cherries, rhubarb and an underlying earthiness.  Complex.  Nice finish.  This seems like it would still have life left but given bottle variation with older wines, be prudent.  Nice on its own or with food.  This deserves a ni

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