California

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  • Alexander Valley
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Good Pinot Noir is hard to find. A good Pinot at a good price is even harder. But Decoy’s latest hits the right notes. Black cherry, boysenberry, wild strawberry, black berry and a hint of green tea leaf, this offers mild tannins and acidity and is a pretty comprehensive Pinot for just $25. The grapes were harvested from six different counties in California, and it was aged one year in new French oak barrels, 35% of which were new. The result is a well crafted Pinot Noir that won’t break the bank, but will give you a quality wine that is food-friendly and enjoyable.

This is a "kitchen sink" blend of lots of red varietals grown in California.  Garnet in color, purple at the core, bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, black raspberries, spices and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this is big wine.  Tasty but the kind of wine that doesn't demand introspection.  Loads of black cherries and cherries with a bit of chocolate.  Long finish with slight warmth.  It drinks well on its own and will need big food such as BBQ Ribs off the grill.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This is a blend of 92% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, chocolate and roasted meat.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of black raspberries with some blueberries over a bit of roasted meat (more char).  Long finish.  Drinking nicely if not fully mature.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this needs bigger food.  It would work well with Prime Rib.

This wine is a blend of the best individual vineyard barrels of Syrah (50% Thompson, 33% Larner and 17% Verna's Vineyard).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and roasted meat.  With air a slight "purple" flower note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not a fruit monster but not shy either.  Lots of depth.  Still drinking youthfully.  Lot of  black raspberry fruit with some underlying char and minerality.  Nice finish.  Great on its own, this works well with food.  It

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with grapefruits, slight lemon, and a hint of vanilla.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is lean but piercing (in a good way).  Grapefruit notes with just a bit of spice.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with lighter foods but also Salmon or Tuna steaks.  Drink over the next five years.  

This comes from the son of the owner of Sine Qua Non Wines, but Nikolas Krankl is making excellent wines that stand on their own.  This is a blend of 93% Syrah, 2% Grenache, 2% Mourvedre, and 3% Roussane.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs, and black pepper.  Lovely, slightly viscous texture.  This is a big, ripe wine but it is not heavy or plodding.  Delicious black raspberry fruit with black pepper and a gamey note on the palate.  Lots of energy and acidity.  Long finish.  This is still very young but for those who

A nice, solid Napa Cabernet.  At 15.6%, this is not shy although the alcohol is not noticeable.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, cedar and spice.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks smooth and easy.  Cassis notes with a touch of cedar.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for the next five to eight years.  A nice wine with a steak or burger.  

This is a relatively inexpensive Cabernet that is a nice choice for a party or a reception.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some cassis, slight cedar and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is tasty and easy to drink on its own.  It will work with grilled meats but also worked well with chocolate.  Drink over the next couple of years.

A delightfully seductive Chardonnay that veers away from traditional, California Chardonnays, this offers deeper, richer notes of resin, honeysuckle, butter rum, light orange zest, apricot, and quince. It has a creaminess and lithe viscosity that rolls over the tongue. With only 33% new oak used on this you might think it would be more prevalent, but the fruit itself shines forth, the volcanic soils providing and earthiness and minerality. ORIGIN: Russian River Valley, Sonoma. ALCOHOL: 14.7%

Ordered off the list at Craig's in Hollywood, CA.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon, lime, slight floral note and  slight  smoke.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, this is dry as a bone.  Delicious.  Lemons with slight lime.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Went great with a Veggie Burger.  Drink over the next ten years.