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

2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

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.  

2013 Epoch Estate Wines Syrah Block B Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

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.  

2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

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.  

2012 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

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.  

2009 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

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

2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

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

2014 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$500.00USD

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

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Since these wines first came out, it has always been an open question how well they would age.  At age 11, this one is doing great.  Drinking quite young but quite well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, slight spice, black cherries, and very slight cola note.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Shows depth but tight.  Plenty of cherries and black cherry fruit.  Great balance.  Drink now or should hold for another ten or fifteen years, depending what you like in a Pinot.  Will work with a wide variety of food.  

2016 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is an excellent value in top Napa Cabs.  While Rivers Marie makes single vineyard wines, those cost into three figures.  This is not inexpensive but it almost as good.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, leather, slight blueberries,  and slight spice.  On the palate, this is young and tannic.  If drinking soon, give it a few hours at least, in a decanter.  Great texture; juicy yet plush.  Lots of cassis fruit over a dry earth/graphite quality.  Long finish.  Ideally, give this five moer years and drink over the next ten to twenty.  Needs bigger food right now.

2014 JCK Wine Company Moonset, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Sometimes its good to have an inexpensive red wine on hand.  This is ok.  Certainly not for everyone though.  It is a blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice.  A bit meaty with black raspberries and some baking spices.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Made for immediate drinking.  Black raspberry fruit.  Probably better on its own than with food.  For $15, it is fine.  

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