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
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• Napa Valley
  • Atlas Peak
  • Best of Napa
  • Calistoga
  • Conn Valley
  • Diamond Mountain
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  • Oak Knoll
  • Oakville
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  • 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

This did not seem like a proper bottle.  It was quite advanced for its age.  Most likely a cork issue? Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a slight oxidized note to it.  Also, butterscotch and vanilla.  No fruit on the nose.  On the palate, it is a bit cleaner with some lemon and some vanilla.  Clipped on the finish.  A shame as this should have been a bit fresher but it happens.  Drinkable depending on your aversion (or not) to oxidized wines.  I ten to not have as much an issue as most.  If I had to score it, maybe an 83?

This is always one of the great wines out of Napa.  The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec. Inky purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis and coffee.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Black cherries, cassis and some char.  It is delicious.  This was consumed over three nights and was best on night three though excellent on all three.  This still needs a few more years until peak and then should be good for another ten to twelve at least.  The score certainly has a point or two more of upside.  There is a depth and complexity to it that really

Always a sound value in Napa Cabernet's.  I am not sure of the exact blend this vintage, but usually, this is mostly Cab with some Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, slight mint and slight chocolate.  On the palate, this is soft and accessible.  Cassis and slight chocolate.  Some depth and complexity but that should develop over the next five to seven years.  Light to medium tannins.  Nice finish. Some depth and complexity but that should develop over the next five to seven years.

This was the year the fires hit California.  It is important to be careful due to that but there were no notes of fire tain here.  It is a well priced blend that is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petite Sirah, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, and 1% Syrah.  The wine is ruby at the rim of the glass with core of purple.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, cassis, char, and slight camphor.  With air, slight cedar emerges.  On the palate, this is soft and accessible.  A hint of sweetness.  Slightly drying tannins.  A moderate finish.  This is a very nice wine for immediate drinking.  It works w

This is a value drive Pinot Noir from one of the longtime California wineries.  Ruby in color with slight purple swirls.  On the nose this has cherries, sour cherries, slight hay/earthiness to it.  On the palate, this is ripe, slightly sweet Pinot Noir.  Big cherry fruit.  A bit of underlying cola flavors.  A soft texture.  Light tannins.   Slight bitter note on the finish.

This is the inaugural vintage for this wine.  It is a bright pink/watermelon color, clear and bright.  Very unique.  On the nose, this has light cherries with slight watermelon notes.  It is lean but not really light bodied.  Slightly sweet.  Flavors of apples and cherries and a slight bubble gum note.  Light tannins.  It finishes with an ever so slightly bitter note.  Overall, this is refreshing.  It has lots of little parts going on and will probably come together a bit more just in time for warmer weather.  Right now, it worked better with food, but as it comes together, it should drink

This is a nice value for a very tasty California Pinot Gris.  Silvery gold in color with just a swish of green.  The nose is nice with almonds, minerals and pears.  On the palate,this is slightly viscous with an oily texture in a good way.  It starts crisp but rounds out.  Dry.  The palate has a nice minerality with almonds and slight pears.  It turns crisp/tart on the finish.  This drinks fine on its own, but really improves with food.  Lighter foods such as fruit salads, but also cheese and salty nuts worked great.  It's hard to find a wine of this quality for this price in California any

Ceritas makes a wonderful lineup of Chardonnay's and I encourage everyone to sign up for their mailing list.  This one is no exception.  Light golden in color.

Tablas Creek has some great levels of wine clubs which offer up wines not available outside the winery or in different formats.  This one is easily available although this particular bottle was from a 375ml bottle ($25).  It is a blend of 49% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 21% Syrah, and 5% Counoise.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  A lovely nose of black raspberries, raspberries, spice and anise.  On the palate, this has firm tannins but the fruit is open and drinking well.  Juicy black raspberries, raspberries, over a clean dry earthiness with just a touch of char.  This is a big wine but no

This is a blend of 84% Petite Sirah, 13% Syrah and 3% Viognier from the home winery of star winemaker Helen Keplinger.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, graphite, asphalt and some cherries.  With air some roasted meats come out.  A wonderful lush texture.  Firm tannins.  This has lots of depth but is still young and tight.  It is delicious though.  Black raspberries, with underlying char on the palate.