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

2019 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Platt Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$83.00USD

Wow.  This wine rocks.  Maybe the best Chardonnay I have had from this winery and I was already a big fan!  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with vanilla, spice and lemon cream.  With air, maybe a bit of peach.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  Almost viscous in texture.  On the palate, this is so smooth and seamless.  Peaches, lemon cream, vanilla and spice.  Delicious.  Long finish.  Drinking great right now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Wonderful on its own, this would work well with a Mushroom pasta in a cream sauce.  

2017 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$107.00USD

Opened this on night one.  It was drinking ok, but tight.  Recorked, on the counter and reopened the following evening.  Much better.  This is 97 to 100% Syrah with the balance, Viognier.  While perhaps a "weaker" vintage and more accessible than most, this is a killer wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, maybe some boysenberries (its a fine line), along with black pepper, black olives and slight floral notes.  In the glass, an earthy note comes out.  Great texture.  Luxurious but energetic at the same time.  On the palate, black raspbe

2021 Truchard Chardonnay, USA, California, Carneros, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

Light golden in color with some green hues.  The nose is nice with slight tropical fruits, granny smith apples, and hay.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice crispness.  Lemons, green apples and slight grassy note.  Slightly oily texture.  Nice finish.  Overall, this is a nice California chardonnay that drinks well on its own and would be nice with chicken salad or other lighter meals.  Drink over the next five years.  

2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$98.00USD

This is a big Pinot for those who love this style.  14.6% abv according to the label.  Purple/garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, slight root beer and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, load of fruit but balanced by juicy acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Black cherries, cherries and spice.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This drinks great on its own and will work with bolder flavors in foods such as Roasted Fowl.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

2019 Husch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, bel peppers, spice and some pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has some black cherry fruit with green bell peppers.  One dimensional.  Clipped finish.  This would be a fine wine with meatloaf or a burger.  Drink over the next few years.  

2009 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

Nice to revisit this.  It is just about at peak at age 14.  No hurry though.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, some earthiness and a hint of graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis with some earthiness.  Layers that unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  It worked well with a variety of Hungarian foods.  

2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$115.00USD

Checked in on this recently.  At age 11, it is still drinking beautifully.  It took about an hour to open and then soared.  Medium golden color, clear and bright.  The nose has the vanilla note along with lemon cream.  Full bodied.  Showing more depth and complexity although less vibrancy than in its youth.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This went great with Hungarian Mushroom Goulash.  

Goldeneye 2020 Pinot Noir Gowen Creek

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

I have reviewed, favorably, the Pinot Noir from Gowen Creek for years. When you find a wine that offers such consistency, you stick with it. What Gowen offers is a sublime melding of fruit like black cherry, red raspberry, boysenberry, blackberry acidity, minerality and judicious use of oak. This wine has those in spades. Though the word “balance” is tossed around a lot in the wine industry, when you taste one, you know. Not only is this wine balanced, it is simply enjoyable to drink.

2020 Wander + Ivy Cabernet Sauvignon California, USA, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

These come in 187ml individual servings packaged in an attractive glass bottle with a plastic stopper and screw on top.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is  tight but opens to show cherry aromas.  Perhaps a touch of volatile acidity as well which helps life the nose.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is a fun, easy drinking wine that would be nice for picnics.  Drink now.  

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