California

• Amador County
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• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
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  • Sonoma Coast
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  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

Saxum did quite well with their 2011's, a difficult and cooler vintage than most.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight roasted herbs, white pepper and roasted meat.  On the palate, this is full bodied with a nice texture.  Pure black raspberry fruit.  Deep but opens in the glass.  Normally, I think ten years is about right to wait but this one is a bit ahead of that.  Getting closer to peak.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Works with food or delicious on its own.  Really a great Syrah.  

A blend of Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Zinfandel, and some other stuff too.  Ruby in color, purple at the rim.  The nose is nice.  Cherries, dark cherries, spice, chocolate and pepper.  Also some leather.  On the palate, there is some varietal complexity.  Not a ton of depth but width.  Easy to drink.  Firm tannins.  Probably better drunk in the next few years to enjoy its vibrancy.  It retails for under $25 and that is a fair price.  This is one of those fruit forward, kitchen sink wines that are popular right now and this competes with them and beats most on price.  Attractive, silk screened l

This is made by one of the superstar winemakers of California.  This is Helen Keplinger's eponymous label.  It is a blend featuring Mourvedre as the primary grape.  While this is young and won't reach peak for a decade, it is delicious right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, plums, spice, slight earthiness and slight char.  On the palate, this has great fruit; dark cherries and plums with strong tannins.  Great mouthfeel.  

This is a Zinfandel blend.  It seems to be a bit past prime at this point but still hanging in there.  Not as energetic as it was a few years prior.  No sin in that for this wine, it just means to drink the newer vintages in the first five years or so.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, some spice and a bit of alcohol.  On the palate, mostly red fruits; cherries and raspberries.  Not deep but tasty.  There is some heat on it, more warming than hot.  

Ruby in color, some purple.  On the nose this has some cherry juice and also some celery.  On the palate, the green streak is a bit out of balance.  There is some cherry fruit.  It seems a bit disjointed at present.  Perhaps it comes around with time.  I am told this sells for around $60.  Certainly worth drinking but not a great value for my tastes.  

This is a field blend with over 30 different types of grape interspersed throughout the vineyard, much of it zinfandel and alicante bouschet, but also tempranillo, mondeuse, carignane and mourvedre.  Pop and pour, it is very interesting.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls.  The nose has a some barnyard which seems to be brettanomyces ( a yeast that is in wines).  It is possible its just from the Mondeuse or possibly some Mourvedre.  In addition, there is great black cherry fruit and a bit of anise.  On the palate, this has tart red cherry fruit with a bit of earthiness.  Slightly drying

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, cedar and a bit of menthol.  On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with spice and slight dry earth.  It is ripe enough given the vintage.  Not a lot of depth but perhaps that might still develop.  Works well with food.  Drinks like an old school Napa Cab with nice balance.  Good finish.  

Some of the older standards of California wine get short shifted by the new comers.  Pride is one of those whose wines stand the test of time and over a variety of great wine makers.  This wine is purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, dark chocolate, spice and cedar.  On the palate, there is plenty of dark cherry fruit layered with brown tobacco notes.  There are firm tannins that seem to grow in the glass.  Despite being 11 years from vintage, this really needs time or air.  There appears to be enough fruit to outlast the tannins.  There is certainly more upside on this wine.  

Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, saw dust, some plums and cedar.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Cherries.  Woody.  This is a simple California Cab available for around $15.  It makes not pretense about what it is.  Drinkable.  Good for a party.  

One of my go to wines for inexpensive but really good red wines.  This costs around $25 a bottle and really over delivers.  Purple in color.  The nose has some raspberries, dark cherries, a bit of bramble, and some char.  On the palate, this has a nice full bodied texture.  It is young now and would probably last 10 years except that I can't manage not to drink these.  Black cherries, boysenberries, some black licorice on the palate.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Works well on its own or with food.  Nice finish.  Some upside potential to improve with age for a couple of years.