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

2014 Saxum Broken Stones, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$155.00USD

This is a blend of 41% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, black cherries, char, white pepper, floral notes and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this has shed it baby fat but is still youthful.  it took a couple of hours to really open up.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with black pepper, black cherries, some blueberries and a bit of char.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own but may overpower most foods.  I

2018 Neyers Sage Canyon Red Wine, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a blend of Mourvedre, Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.  This is a quite good expression of Rhone varietals from California.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, black pepper and slight nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty with bright acidity.  Black raspberries and black cherries with some underlying char.  Black pepper note on the finish.  Drinking well now, this should go another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work nicely with a good (veggie) Burger.  Nice value.  

2013 Boars' View Pinot Noir The Coast, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$149.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from the folks who make Schrader.  14.5% abv.  Ruby in color, darker at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, and spice with a nice earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with some spice.  This is a huge Pinot with tons of fruit.  Some may find that off putting while others may finally have found a Pinot they love.  It drinks great on its own and will pair for food similar to a Napa Cab (i.e steak, etc.)  Drink over the next ten years.  

2018 Sine Qua Non Syrah Ziehharmonika, USA, California, Syrah, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

Checking in on a young wine can be fun even if way before peak.  This was consumed and enjoyed over two evenings.  This is a blend of 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and the rest Petite Sirah and Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, gravel, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep but almost monolithic at the point.  Like a wall of flavor.  Black raspberries, blueberries, char, lavender and spice.  Long finish.  At this stage it wil

2018 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This wine is half the price of Bevan's single vineyard wines and almost as good.  It is expensive but vis-a-vis the quality it is worth buying a bottle or two.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm but smooth tannins.  On the palate, juicy cassis with some cedar, tobacco and char.  Long finish.  Delicious if young.  This drinks well on its own and would be at home at a Steak House.  Drink over the next twenty years.  It will still improve with good cellaring.

2007 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I usually drink these young and let the other wines from Jonata age, but I managed to keep this one and it was worth it.  This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Viognier, 3% Sangiovese, and 2% Grenache.  Purple in color with ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, cherries, black cherries, char, floral notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Silky tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty with nice varietal complexity.  This seems like it should be at peak but shows no sign of older age.  Black raspb

2021 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is 93% Zinfandel and 7% Syrah from Sonoma County.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight plums, an interesting note of menthol, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is juicy and delicious.  Black cherries with spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It is nice on its own and will work well with grilled meats and veggies.  Drink over the next seven to ten years. 

2022 Desire Lines Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Fountain Grove District, Wine review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

First time trying this winery.  Tasted over two days, it was significantly more open (and better) on day 2.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Lemons, floral notes, citrus and herbs.  Medium bodied.  Some minerality.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, lemons with slight orange and a slight minerals note.  Good finish.  As Sauvignon Blancs go, this is heavy and present.  Not a light, easy going aperitif.  Good on its own, this would be better with some food.  It would be nice with Tuna Steak with a Chimichurri Sauce.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2000 Lagier Meredith Syrah, USA, California, Napa, Mount Veeder, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

My last bottle of this and it sure seemed to be at or close to peak.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, bacon fat, white pepper and slight dried floral note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, char and slight earthiness.  Complex.  Nice finish.  It threw a lot of sediment.  This will work better with food at this point although nice on its own.  A greart5 match for pizza night.  Drink up.  

2012 Torrin Tsundere, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$77.00USD

An unusual blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Tannat, 13% Grenache and 3% Syrah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, cassis, char, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep.  A bit chunky with cassis, black raspberries and black cherries with underlying  char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Delicious on its own, this would be a great wine with a steak.  It will need big food.  

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