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This is an interesting wine.  Apparently, they hard press the must from their Grenache based Rose wine to get more juice.  Typically, this is a tannic, more colorful juice but lacking some of the stuffing and nuances.  Then Malbec is added back to the wine presumably to give it more freshness and character.  In any event, the resulting wine is quite interesting and at $16, a very nice value.  It is made from organically grown grapes.  It has a very deep ruby color to it almost, but not quite opaque.  On the nose, this has dark cherries, a slight bubble gum note, and cherry juice.  A bit lig

This is a Cabernet made by Thomas Rivers Brown, one of Napa's top winemakers.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, some pencil lead and a bit of chocolate and spice.  Very tight on the palate, give this time or air.  Cassis fruit and spice.  Very deep.  As it opens up over a couple of hours, it is delicious.  Precise.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Worked well with food.  This has some upside to it and really shouldn't be opened for a few years.  Should last twenty years though so no hurry.  

This is a GSM blend.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, black raspberries, floral notes, slight earthiness, black pepper and spice.  On the palate, this is lush and deep.  Almost but not quite jammy.  Medium tannins.  This is still young and in need of time to delineate its complexity.  Right now it is fun and delicious.  Depends on how you like them.  Probably another 10 years to get to peak.  

Light golden in color.  The nose is quiet at first but opens to nice grapefruit notes.  Very fresh on the nose.  The grapefruit continues to the palate which is both wide and deep.  Good acidity.  Worked well with food and on its own.  Very tasty.  Long finish.  No green or grass here.  At around $35, this is very fairly priced.  

Sadly, this vineyard was burned in 2017 in the fires of Sonoma and Napa.  It is being replanted which is good news as this was the star of the Donelan line-up.  This was tasted from Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, and some grilled meats.  With air a nice floral note emerges.  On the palate, this has a softer accessible side which is nice, but don't mistake that for a lack of structure.  Black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  It is classic Sonoma Syrah that should last a couple of decades more and continue to improve along the w

Nice to revisit this classic wine.  It has been a long time.  This varies widely in pricing from $25 to $40 at retail.  Purple in color.  The nose has the classic Rutherford dust along with some cassis.  Also a bit of an herbal note.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet cassis fruit.  it drinks easy and is ready right now.  No tannins.  Shorter finish.  It is a fund for immediate drinking and over the next five years.  

I haven't had this in a few years but it hasn't changed it seems.  This retails for around $25 and for people who like this style, this is a great price point.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries and cherries in a very perfumed liqueur package.  Also plenty of "toasty oak".   On the palate, this is warm but juicy.  Plenty of red berry pie filling.  Plenty of toast and spice.  Medium tannins.  Easily gulpable.  More of a love it or hate wine perhaps, but those who love it will drink bottles (and add 2 or 3 points to the score) and for those who don't, one glass will sti

Carlisle makes great reds at fair prices, but they also make a variety of whites as well.  Gruner Veltliner is the grape of Austria, but this is a bit of a different take from California.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose is interesting.  It has pineapple, asparagus and minerals.  Deep and interesting and clean.  On the palate, the pineapple carries thru a bit on the attack.  The asparagus and minerals pick up from there.  Nice slightly oily texture.  Then some citrus/lime on the finish.  Very refreshing but more than just that.  Very food friendly.  Consumed over two nights, it was pro

This wine seems to be hitting a nice stride.  Certainly a long life left depending on how you like your Cabs.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, some spice, a little chocolate, and slight blueberries.  On the palate, this is dense and concentrated.  A little jammy.  Cassis, slight plums, blueberries and also a bit of dry earth and char.  Medium tannins.  Deep with some complexity as it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  May improve a bit but it is outstanding right now.  

This is starting to come into its own but still is young and really needs more time.  Pop and pour, this should have been decanted.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, an underlying char with some peppery notes.  On the palate, this is concentrated but has a lot of black raspberry fruit.  Dense.  Medium tannins.  Worked well with spicy Chile Relenos.  It could use a few more years of cellaring and there is some slight upside for that.