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

Bonterra specializes in using organically grown grapes.  Pale silvery salmon pink in color.  The nose is light but has some nice strawberries.  On the palate, the fruit is more watermelon and quite pronounced.  Juicy watermelons at that.  Very refreshing.  There is a slight bitterness on the finish but overall this is a quality rose that is very enjoyable.  This is (well) under $20 and a very nice value.  While some say we should drink Rose all year round, I can't wait for the weather to warm up and sip some on a warm evening outside.  This will sip great on its own or work well with fruit

Whether you like this wine comes down to style.  It is well made in the "classic" new world style with rich, opulent tropical fruit, butter and oak.  It does seem to be a bit past its prime so drinking sooner than later is called for.  Golden in color.  The nose has butterscotch, spice, mango and butter.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Decent acidity certainly helps it work with food.  The buttery and spice notes are predominant on the palate but there is some tropical fruit quality.  This is not my preferred style of Chardonnay but it is certainly better than many in the ca

Sadly Ulises Valdez has passed away too young.  This bottle was opened for a time when tasted (I believe for 24 hours), so take that into account.  It is drinking very well though.  Golden in color with a bit of straw.  On the nose, this is nice with slight green apples, some hay and some butterscotch.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  There is some depth here.  Drinking very well with some lemon/citrus and a nice minerality.  Good finish.  Worked well with some appetizers as we stood around talking.  

This was quite good.  It is still young but drinking great.  It should continue to evolve and mature and should be good for another decade and probably more.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  On the nose, this has nice bramble, black cherry fruit, raspberries, pepper and spice.  A very nice lush texture.  Black cherries on the palate with underlying char and dry earth.  Long finish.  This is delicious and continued to open though it didn't take long to finish the bottle.  Would work well with spicy foods and grilled foods.  

Paso Robles is making some of the best Syrahs anywhere in the world.  They have a warm fruit profile and are delicious.  Dark purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight roasted meats, black pepper and spice.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy yet lush.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with pepper notes and some underlying char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This works with roasted foods.  Another good match are Indian foods.  

Monte Rosso is one of the top vineyards for California Zinfandel.  Many producers utilize its fruit.  Although it is not my favorite Bedrock Zin, it is an outstanding Zin.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some char and spice.  Medium bodied.  It is not a fruit bomb but is not shy either.  Very concentrated black cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Works well with spicy and hearty foods.  

Perhaps not quite as good as the amazing 2013, but a stellar wine nevertheless.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, smoke and slight floral notes.  On the palate, this is open and drinking well.  Still, it is deep and unwinds beautifully in the glass.  It really is well served with a few hours of a decant.  Cassis and other dark fruits with graphite and smoke intertwined on  the palate.  Juicy acidity.  Medium tannins.  Probably about five to ten years from peak and should last a couple more decades, but wonderful now.  Needs heavier food and great on its own.  

I love Saxum wines.  They might not be or everyone, but more times than not, they are crowd pleasers.  This one was served with friends along side a cheese course at the end of a meal and it was wonderful.  It is blend of 57% Grenache (60% aged in concrete), 31% Mourvedre, and 12% Syrah.  It has very high alcohol levels and a ton of fruit.  It drinks well on its own or needs some hearty food (or cheeses) to stand up to it.  inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some white pepper, black cherries, spice and slight roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has a lovely energetic qua

Pride has a long history of making great wines in different styles from different winemakers.  The reserve wines are at the top of their pecking order and for my tastes the Cabernet Reserve is usually the best wine that they make.  It is a middle ground in style between a full blown fruit bomb and a left bank styled wine from either California or Bordeaux.  This one was gorgeous.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, slight coffee, a bit of graphite and a bit of earth and char.  Full bodied with a lovely texture.  Deep.  It unwinds in the glass.  Lots of cassis fruit on the palate, with s

My third time trying this bottle and it is incredible.  I have scored it 99 and 100 and this again gets the top score.  This bottle was opened 12 hours in advance, checked for quality, and then allowed to breathe.  Served with stuffed roasted peppers with feta, it was an excellent match.  Deep purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, dark chocolate and spice.  On the palate, this is not overblown.  There is some obvious oak showing but it integrates nicely.  More than enough fruit to age this out beautifully.  Deep and complex but tight.  Drinking great now but will continue