California

• Amador County
  • Shenandoah Valley
• Carmel Valley
• Carneros
• Central Coast
  • Edna Valley
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Paso Robles
• Contra Costa County
• El Dorado County
• Lake County
• Lodi
• Mendocino
  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
• Monterey
• Napa Valley
  • Atlas Peak
  • Best of Napa
  • Calistoga
  • Conn Valley
  • Diamond Mountain
  • Howell Mountain
  • Mt. Veeder
  • Oak Knoll
  • Oakville
  • Pope Valley
  • Rutherford
  • Spring Mountain
  • St. Helena
  • Stags Leap
  • Yountville
• North Coast
• Santa Barbara
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Maria Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
  • Bennett Valley
  • Best of Sonoma
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Fort Ross/Seaview
  • Moon Mountain
  • Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak
  • Russian River Valley
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

A very nice Syrah from Santa Maria in southern California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats, and slight violets.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has bold fruit.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Great texture.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now if still youthful.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It's great on its own and will work nicely with Roasted vegetable.  

This is a blend of 85% Zinfandel and 15% Alicante Bouschet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, slight plums, black pepper and a bit of char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance and energy.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of black raspberries, some raspberries and a bit of bramble.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and will work with spicy foods.  BBQ Ribs would be a nice match.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

One of my favorite Napa Cabs, it was nice to try a Materium with some age on it from a very good if not great vintage.  Inky purple in color with a thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, graphite and char.  Great texture.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is not quite at peak but getting there.  Layers of cassis with some minerality and char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is great on its own and will work well with heavy meaty dishes such as Prime Rib.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

The fruit for this came from the Lewelling Ranch vineyard.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is deep with cassis, boysenberries, dark chocolate, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is tight but opens with air.  Delicious.  Flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, slight forest floor and spice.  Long finish.  If drinking soon, give it a long decant but better yet, wait a few more years and then drink over the next  twenty.  Great on its own, this will work with big fatty dishes (not seafood).  

Great showing for this wine at age 14 (and not the best vintage).  Deeper golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows slight oxidation along with lemon creme, slight vanilla and minerality.  Full bodied.  Nicely balanced.  On the palate, this is layered and complex.  Still plenty of fruit but also some tertiary notes of dried fruits, earthiness and nuts.  Long finish.  This is mature and seemingly at peak or slightly past.  It begs for food and would go nicely with Fruit Salad but also scallops.  Drink up.  

Another great Kutch wine. His Chardonnays (and Pinots) are really top notch. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with red apples, slight vanilla and spice. Medium to full bodied. Crisp acidity. On the palate, this is concentrated but unwinds nicely in the glass. Great texture. Flavors of apples and maybe some pears. Long finish. This is delicious and drinks very easily. Great on its own but better with food. A nice choice for rich seafood as the crispness will lend a nice foil. Drink over the next ten years.

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, cedar, slight graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious if still youthful.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, graphite and spice.  Complex but tight, it unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and would be nice with roasted meats, fowl or squash.  Drink over the next twenty years.