Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill in Napa. Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright. The nose has cassis, clay and spice. With air a bit of espresso comes out. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, cassis, very light char, cinammon and bit of coffee bean. Plenty of depth. Good finish. This is young and should improve a couple points. It can be drunk now with some air but better to cellar for five to seven years and drink for ten after that. Great on its own, this would work well with grilled meats or mushrooms. 6000 bottles produced.
This is 100% from the tiny appelation, York Mountain, in Paso Robles. Like most Torrin wines, this is a delicious, full throttle wine. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black rasperries, black pepper, roasted meat and a slight floral note. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is big with loads of black raspberries with some black pepper and char. At age 11, it is still youhtful and should go another decade. Its grea on its own and would work well with big meat dishes but also Stuffed Vegetarian style peppers.
2024 marks the 20th vintage for Spottswoode’s Lyndenhurst label. The original goal is still the same: use all five Bordeaux varietals and pull fruit from the estate as well as other exceptional Napa vineyards, all of which are organically grown. In doing so this wine allows for, “a broader expression of Napa Valley, while applying the same philosophy that shapes our Estate Cabernet,” says winemaker Aron Weinkauf.
This is a blend of 76% Cabernet sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from Napa. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is lovely with cassis, cedar, slight cigar box and spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. Great balance. On the palate, this is young and delicious. Flavors of cassis, spice, slight mocha and char. Long finish. This drinks great on its own and will work with most food (not seafood). It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.
