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The perils of buying wines off store shelved that have been there a while.  This wine, recently bought, did not appear to be in perfect shape.  Still, it offered up enough pleasure that it was worth drinking.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has a slight aquarium note along with a bit of balsamic.  There is also some red fruit fighting to be heard.  The palate was pretty much the same.  There is some complexity here.  Probably a very nice wine as it fought with likely poor storage and heat.  Too bad.  

Sadly, this bottle was quite off.  Not sure if it is over the hill or something went wrong.  Its full of volatile acidity.  Undrinkable.  I am a huge fan of Sineann wines and a bottle consumed in 2010 of this scored 90.  This one went down the drain.  Bad bottles happen and its important to note those as well.  This had a glass cork.  

Named after the soccer team, from one of the top vineyards in Napa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with cassis, slight blueberries, dust, a bit of chocolate and spice.  On the palate, this drinks well with just a bit of air.  Deep black raspberry fruit; it unwinds in the glass to show layers of spice, blueberries, dark chocolate and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  Wonderful texture.  Long finish.  This is a big wine, but it also has that super concentration.  The flavors just keep growing and growing.  Great finish.  No hurry here, this has a decade or two remaining

Purple in color.  The nose is heavily oaked.  Also plenty of cassis and some pencil lead.  On the palate, this is more integrated.  Black raspberries, underlying graphite.  Thick tannins.  Some depth.  Good finish.  This is a rich, huge wine.  It will take some very hearty food to stand up to it, but it is delicious on its own.  Those who love Napa fruit bombs will indeed enjoy this a lot.  It retails for around $100.  

Drop dead gorgeous wine.  Still not quite fully mature but close.  The only trouble with this wine is it get's drunk so quickly.  A super crowd pleaser.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rime.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, drilled meats and slight violets.  Wonderful velvety texture.  Great balance.  Juicy black raspberry fruit with grilled meats underlying it on the palate.  Long finish.  Each gulp begets another.  Works with hearty or spicy foods.  Long finish.  Just a superb wine.  

emBrazen is a new line of wines honoring bold women who were trailblazers in their fields.  This one honors Nellie Bly who became a Foreign Correspondent.  This wine was a step up from the Chardonnay.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose is dusty with black cherries and some tobacco.  On the palate, the black cherries continue.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  This would work with BBQ and other summer/autumn fare.  It retails for $16 which is a very nice value.  

emBrazen is a new line of wines honoring bold women who were trailblazers in their fields.  This one honors Celia Crus, salsa singer originally from Cuba.  Look her up.  Yellow gold in color.  The nose has slight grapefruit.  On the palate, this is easy.  Not a lot of acidity here.  Slight grapefruit.  This retails for $16 which is a fair price.  The label is sure to start a few discussion.  

Outpost wines are made by Thomas Rivers Brown, a sensational winemaker.  They are made up on Howell Mountain from mountain fruit and are very intense yet also generous.  This one is of course young, but delicious.  Consumed over two days, it was just as good on either day if different.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, graphite, blueberries and slight spice.  On the palate, this is concentrated and intense.  Firm tannins.  Cassis and blueberry fruit with some spice.  Really delicious.  On Day 2, some leather notes emerge.  It will take some hearty meat dishes to stand up to it at this

This is really in a nice place right now.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black cherries, spice and a bit of char.  On the palate, this has a really nice texture.  Despite the vintage, a lot of Sonoma Zins did just fine in 2011 and this is one.  Black cherries and black raspberries with some char.  Good finish.  Not a monster Zin but plenty of fruit too.  Works well with food.  

This is a Rhone blend.  Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, the cherries continue thru.  Its a bit clipped on the mid-palate and finish.  This is nice easy drinking.  A bit hot but not too out of bonds.  It should probably be drunk in the next few years.