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Sometimes when in a restaurant in can be challenging to find a wine that is priced fairly and good.  Often, I just turn to beer.  Last night, this one was on the menu for $45 at a nice restaurant.  This retails for about $26 in a limited release, so the price is a bit high, but not bad for a downtown restaurant.  sadly, it was served quite warm.  We asked for an ice bucket and got a marble cooler that had limited effect.  Nevertheless, the wine was good.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight bramble, cherries, slight anise and alcohol.  On the palate, lush black cherries an

This is still pretty tight and in need of cellaring or air.  Getting there but taking forever.  If drinking soon, give it a nice decant.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has a nice backbone of acidity.  Black raspberry fruit.  Some tannins.  Some depth, it unwinds in the glass.  Nice finish.  Food friendly.  Hold for a few more years.  

These wines are taking forever to come around.  Just now starting to show something.  This is going to be a beautiful wine.  Its outstanding now, but not nearly at peak and needs a lot of air.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, minerals, black pepper and slight black olives.  On the palate, this is cooler climate in style.  Black raspberries, slight black olives, earthiness and a mineral streak.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  

This is a winery that really doesn't get the publicity it deserves.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some black pepper, a hint of roasted meats and herbs.  Neither war climate not cool climate in style.  On the palate, black raspberries layered with char and slight earthiness.  Good acidity.  Lots of tasty fruit with light tannins at this point.  It takes an hour or two to really open and then is drinking beautifully.  Nice finish.  Good with food.  

Purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis, slight cedar, some earthiness to it as well.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Still some fine tannins.  Plenty of fruit.  Layers of cassis and earth.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Worked well with hearty vegetarian fare.  I don't think it improves from here and I would drink these up in the next five years or so.  

This was a bit backward and tight and the moment.  It needed some time and air although it is getting close.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black cherries, slight bramble, and raspberries.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Once it opens, it is just delicious.  Deep but tight.  Gobs of juicy black cherries and raspberries.  An underlying char.  Works with big foods.  Nice finish.  Will it age?  Yes.  How well just depends on how you like you Zins.  

Light yellow, silvery, gold in color.  Really nice nose with slight waxiness, minerals, citrus and slight dust.  On the palate, this is crisp.  Good citrus.  Deep but tight.  This wine drinks well now, but should improve in a cellar for a decade at least.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Pretty wine.  

Amazing wine.  Maybach is right up there with any winery in California, or the world for that matter.  Just spectacular.  Purple to the rim.  The nose has graphite, cassis powdered sugar (thanks George), blueberries and warm earth.  On the palate, this is ripe without being sweet.  Cassis.  Deep.  Tightly layered, it explodes in the glass.  Seamless.  Long finish.  It will change and morph but can it get better?  I suppose so, but it is 100 points right now.  On a night with a lot of Napa stars, this was the groups WOTN.   Wow.  

I love Bevan wines and they drink so well young.  No exception here although I am sure it will last for a couple of decades (mine will be long gone by then).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, some blueberries, cedar and graphite.  Very nice.  On the palate, this has great ripe cassis.  The fruit is a bit sweet if I am to nit pick and that kept this from getting a perfect score.  I wonder if in a year or two as it all comes together it it becomes more seamless and less noticeable.  I suppose that depends on if it is residual sugar or just ripe fruit.  As we drank this

This was tight and of course young.  It was interesting to compare this to the Nine Suns (2012) to get a glimpse where it might be going.  For my tastes, this was much tighter than the 2015 Realm Moonracer.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim.  The nose has cassis, dust, minerals and spice.  On the palate, it has a beautiful texture.  Rich and lush with plenty of acidity.  Tightly packed, it takes vigorous swirling to open in the glass.  Firm tannins.  Tons of fruit though; cassis, dark cherries along with a nice bit of earth.  Very deep and brooding right now.  Long finish.  Hold on these