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

Finally.  I have been drinking this wine since release and it is finally approaching ready to drink.  There was always potential but it has now been realized.  Hopefully, everyone still has some left.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and slight roasted meat and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this is not big but it is concentrated.  Lots of black raspberry fruit but not over ripe.  A nice under layer or char and slight salinity.  Very nice balance and texture.  Long finish.  This begs for roasted meats or veggies though Indian food would work well too.  It shou

Not quite as good as the 2013 but still a very nice value.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has dusty plums with slight cherry notes.  On the palate, more tart cherries.  The acidity is very food friendly.  Good finish.  This wine is more simple, one dimensional.  But for under $20, it works well at the dinner table.  It might not make old bones but should easily last five to seven years.  

Inky purple in color.  The nose has black cherries with slight bramble notes.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Silky.  Black cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa on the finish.  There is nice depth here.  Long finish.  This retails for about $18 which is an excellent value.  It won't get better but should drink well for at least five and probably ten years.  It worked well with a slightly gingery squash soup.  

2007 was an excellent year for Zinfandel and the Easton Zins are no exception.  This wine is purple in color.  It has a great nose bordering on a right bank Bordeaux with some age.  Deep with black cherries and some tobacco.  On the palate, it seems to be youthful still but showing some maturity.  Juicy black cherry fruit.  There is a nice complexity here.  Good finish.  Food friendly.  It might not get better but should be here for a while.  

This was the top wine in a comprehensive vertical of Easton Zinfandels.  Purple in color.  What a great nose; deep with black cherry fruit  notes.  On the palate, this is a claret styled Zin.  Deep and a nice complexity.  Wonderful texture.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  A delicious wine that is drinking great today and should be here for a decade.  Food friendly or great on its own.  

Purple in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries and black olives.  With air, some tart cranberries on the nose.  Medium tannins.  Good black cherry fruit on the palate.  A bit clipped on the finish.  Overall, this is in a good place and drinking nicely but with some maturity.  Impressive at age 14.  Easily seems like it has a decade left.  

Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  The nose has some volatile acidity but just a bit which serves to raise the aromatics in a good way.  Cherries and dust.  On the palate, this is less ripe than the other vintages in a comprehensive vertical.  That is not a bad thing.  There is still plenty of black cherry fruit with good acidity.  This may be one of the longer lasting wines.  Good finish.  It is also quite food friendly at this point.  Easily has a decade of good drinking left.  

Purple in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with dusty black cherries and slight volatile acidity.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with slight tannins.  Ripe black cherry fruit.  Really delicious and drinking quite well right now.  Just getting to a mature claret style zinfandel.  Easily has a decade more of good drinking.  Food friendly.  

Another spectacular Chardonnay from Rhys.  This is probably my favorite bottling.  Opened to celebrate a friend's 40th and finished the rest on the following night.  It was great both nights but a bit better on night 2.  Light golden in color.  The nose is sensational.  Yes, there is some oak showing but the nose is so pretty and enticing with lemon cream and vanilla.  On the palate, this has a slightly soft texture, with great lemon fruit.  Some vanilla as well.  Great acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Long finish.  This is not a fruit bomb but it does have a big personality.  It will go with al

Groth Reserve is one of the historically great Cabernet's from Napa.  2011 was a difficult vintage but, at least for the Reserve, Groth managed to make a great wine. Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cedar, and green bell pepper.  While some might not like that green pepper note, other's will enjoy the classic version of an old school cab.  On the palate, there is nice black cherry fruit along with a bit of green pepper and also some cedar.  Medium tannins.  This should improve over the next few years with a point or two of upside.