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

2012 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$67.00USD

Consistently one of the best Chardonnay's coming from Napa.  It is a hypothetical cross in style between a fatter Burgundy and a racier California Chardonnay.  It is a bit tropical and definitely shows some oak, but used deftly.  Always a hit when a bottle is opened.  Pale golden in color.  The nose has vanilla, lemons and minerals.  Complex.  On the palate, this is round but with enough acidity to make it work.  Vanilla and lemon cream.  Long finish.  This keeps unwinding in the glass.   Not a baby but not yet at peak depending how you like your Chards.  This will work great on its own or

2014 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

Outpost Cabernet's probably don't get enough respect.  They are some of the top Cabs being made in Napa.  Plus, if you like the concentrated mountain fruit, look no further.  This is purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Shiny and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cassis and an interesting watercress note to it.  Not exactly green as much as crisp and clean.  On the palate, this is full bodied and complex.  A beautiful streak of acidity.  Cassis and tart cherries.  Long finish.  Medium tannins.  This is still young and will likely improve.  This bottle was consumed on a trip to N

2014 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$475.00USD

There are a few reviews of this wine posted on this site but this wine, or at least this bottle, seemed much tighter than prior bottles.  It was spectacular but tight with no decant.  It was opened while visiting friends in Napa, so it could be that due to the bottle having flown 2,500 miles earlier in the day.  Travel shock with wines is controversial but I know I was tired, so why wouldn't the wine?  After all, it is a living breathing thing too.  Anyway, this bottle was opened as we were visiting the property the following day, and it gave a nice reference point to one of the great wines

2018 ZD Wines Chardonnay Rosa Lee, USA, California, Napa Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

Golden in color, with slight green tinges to it.  The nose has slight vanilla and slight fresh oak along with some lemons.  Overall though, it is still quite tight.  On the palate, this has a nice mouth feel.  Vanilla, lemons and oak.  It opens with some air but is still very young.  It is very good but should continue to improve over the next few years.  It makes some sense to hold these if you have good storage.  It drinks well on its own and will go with heavier sea food dishes or even salads or lighter fowl dishes.  

2010 Jaffurs Syrah Verna's, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Beautiful wine.  Deep ruby in color, purple core.  The nose has black raspberries, iodine and slight char.  Still pretty youthful and tannic on pop and pour.  It opens nicely with some air.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some spice.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This was very ripe in its youth though has settled in very nice now.  It may still get a bit better but is drinking very well now.  It will go well with meats and fowl or Indian food too.  It easily has another decade left and probably a bit more.  

2016 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Block 1910, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$68.00USD

One of the better Zinfandel's that I have tasted.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, spice, slight mint and char.  On the palate, this has a gorgeous texture.  Plush, juicy and full bodied.  Black cherries and raspberry fruit with some charred wood and spice.  Delicious.  Deep.  Young and vibrant, it would be a shame not to enjoy at least one this way although it seems to have the stuffing to age for a decade.  It will work well with grilled foods or Asian foods and is great on its own.  

2006 Saxum Broken Stones, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

This is drinking quite well and at peak right now.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, slight white pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this is light on its feet, not ponderous yet there is alcohol in the plush texture.  Juicy black raspberry fruit.  Layers of fruit and pepper and slight earth.  Long finish.  Easily will go another decade and closer to two.  A nice match with roasted foods.  

2013 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre.  Consumed in the NY Jets stadium parking lot prior to the Monday night game between the Browns and the Jets.  A lot of fun.  While still very young, this was a perfect wine for the occasion.  Big, bold and delicious.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs, plums and slight violets.  On the palate, this has a wonderfully rich texture.  The wine goes down easily.  It is also delicious.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying char and a bit of pepper.  Great energy and balance.  Long finish.  Goes great with

2011 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas, USA, California, Mendocino, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This was in magnum and opened to celebrate the engagement of our friends daughter.  The non-wine geek crowd seemed to really enjoy it (as did the wine geeks present).  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, some black pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy, slick and medium to full bodied.  Plenty of boysenberry fruit over a bit of char and slight dry earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is coming around now and just about at peak.  Even in 750ml format there is no hurry though, this should have another decade.  It will go well wit

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