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

2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Old Vine, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

I try to buy a case of this every year.  You know how when you go to the wine cellar and you want something good but not too expensive.  Maybe you already had a glass or two and can't quite remember the pricing on every one of your bottles?  This is perfect.  Always good.  Always fairly priced.  I know it lasts a couple of years, and probably more, but mine never do.  I drink them too easily.  Readily available for around $25.  Bright purple in color.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, a bit of bramble.  It's almost jammy and almost sweet but not quite.  The black cherry frui

2012 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas, USA, California, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$29.96USD

Halcon makes some great cooler climate Syrah's at very fair pricing.  Definitely check them out.  They do take some time to mature and this one was just starting to hit its stride though it was better on Day 2.  If drinking the 2012 now, give it a few hours of air.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper, a hint of bacon fat, and slight earthy notes.  On the palate, this is lean and mean as opposed to being a fruit bomb.  Yet, there is persistent black raspberry fruit with a nice underlying char.  It is deep but will need time to show more layering.  That said

2013 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Normally, its better to let Saxum's wait ten years from vintage to really get the best but the Paderewski is a different animal.  It is 34% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Syrah and 8% Tempranillo.  Because of that it changes as it ages with the Zin showing more in its youth and fading a bit back with time.  This bottle was beautiful.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep and intoxicating with black cherries, roasted meats, leather, black raspberries, black pepper and cherries.  On the palate, this has a lush chewy texture.  Delicious.  Lots of fruit right now with black cherr

2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Judge Family Vineyard. USA, California, Sonoma, Bennett Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Opened this for starters on New Years Eve.  While it would work better on a warm summer evening, it worked fine.  A flexible wine that works on its own or with food.  Light gold/green in color.  Nice minerality, some grapefruit.  Light bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is thinner with minerals and slight grapefruit.  Hopefully, this puts on some weight over the next couple of months.  This was thinner and lighter than prior Bedrock Sauvignon Blancs.  It is still a solid wine.  It was $32 delivered on release.  

2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

From a 375ml bottle.  Rhys makes some of the best Chards in California, but this is from purchased fruit and so carries the Alesia name.  It does seem like the oak treatment is different as well.  This is a sold Chardonnay but not nearly in the class of the Rhys Chards.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, spice, slight lemons and slight lumber.  On the palate, the minerals and lumber carry thru.  Some lemon.  Lean in body with good acidity.  This will work with a lots of foods.  

2013 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

Wow.  Dark purple in color, to the rim.  What a great nose.  The kind of nose one could just sniff all evening.  Cassis, graphite, slight chocolate, slight cedar and slight spice.  The nose itself it big but not overblown.  On the palate, the texture is gorgeous.  Seamless, velvety and round yet muscular enough.  Layers of fruit tightly layered with chocolate and slight dry earth.  Complex and deep.  Dee-licious.  Gulpable but then it demands attention.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This will require bigger foods and meat but this is a classic Napa Cab to just drink by itself.  It is that

2014 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Grown Heritage Vines, USA, California, Monterey, Chalone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with an earthy cherry quality to it.  Perhaps some woodsy tree bark as well.  On the palate, this has a soft, creamy texture.  Cherries, slightly sour with depth.  Tight layers that open in the glass.  Nice finish.  This seems like it would age nicely over the next ten to fifteen years.  Drinking well right now.  This will match with a wide variety of foods from Salmon to Turkey and more.  Upside overtime is likely.  

2015 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Light golden in color.  The nose has some oak/spice on it but not a ton.  Also some baked apples.  On the palate, the apples are fresh with a slight bit of ripeness.  The oak is a bit more persistent but again, not over the top.  Good bite of refreshing acidity.  Nice finish.  This works on its own as a cocktail wine but will work just fine with lighter fare.  It should make good drinking over the next few years.  It may not be worth long term cellaring, but it might surprise.  

2013 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$199.95USD

Wow.  This is drinking great but may yet hit that 100 point mark.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, smoke, gravel and graphite.  All of those come thru to the palate along with some roasted meats.  Firm tannins.  Drunk over two nights, it was fresher on Night one and deeper on night two.  Fantastic both nights.  This will probably follow that path as it matures.  Will work with meats and heartier foods.  

2016 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$124.97USD

Wow.  Rhys hits another home run with this Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great with lemon cream and vanilla.  The palate matches.  Smooth and almost seamless.  Depth and complexity.  So good right now that it would be a shame not to drink one this young.  Based on past history, this is likely to shut down for a bit and not emerge for 7 or so years.  So, if you don't like older Chards or can't wait, then just enjoy now!  Will work with medium or lighter weight foods.  

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