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This is a very accessible Zinfandel that is also excellent.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight bramble, sandalwood and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with spice and char.  This has nice depth and concentration.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, this will work well with a burger or other foods off the grill.  

This is a blend of 76% Grenache, 15% Graciano, and 9% Syrah.  It is a ripe styled Grenache that is very impressive.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, blueberries, black raspberries, spice and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries and black raspberries with some minerality and char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Great on its own, this will be a difficult food match until it ages more.  For now, ribs off the grill would work.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

This is their basic Cab bottling and it is very good and for Napa, a great value in high end Cabs.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, some leather, a bit of earth and spice.  Nice, semi-plush texture with good balance.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, with earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This will get better with short term cellaring.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  It is great on its own and would work well with a steak or other big meats off the grill.  

When Pinot Noir vines hit around 20 years of age, they typically show a beautiful maturity of fruit. At a grow elevation of 2,200 feet and planted in limestone soils Calera’s wines show an intensity and acidity other wines only strive for. Soft and lithe, this Pinot is an easy drinking, very amenable wine. There are fruit notes with a little more earthiness, light mushroom and damp leaf. You’ll notice rhubarb, pomegranate, very light cherry with a firm tannic structure to support the acidity. Perhaps curiously, there are not certain flavors that dominate this Pinot, as is typical of many.

It’s always exciting to see a winery launch a new wine and for Acumen, this is their first ever Cabernet Franc. True, they have grown and used Franc for years, just not as its own bottling. This offers tight, dusty tannins supported by a mélange of dark red and black berry fruits. There is an earthy core with light black tea leaves, cigar notes and pomegranate. The oak program is evident (60% new French oak was used) but not overwhelming. Comprised mainly of Cabernet Franc, there are small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot added in to finesse this already lovely wine.

Calera winery has been making wine for almost 50 years. But few people ever visit this winery. It’s way off the normal wine experience, being sequestered in the Gavilan Mountain range near the tiny town of Hollister. But that is also its best quality. There is a lovely viscosity to this Chardonnay - a thickness that rolls over the tongue. Yes, you will find the requisite lemon chiffon, lime kefir, white peach, green apple and Asian pear.

One of the few less than good vintages in Napa, yet, this wine rocks.  Purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The  nose has cassis, blueberries, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, with slight blueberries and a bit of earthiness.  Good finish.  This has some depth and complexity.  Drinking well now on its own, this will work well with a steak or burger.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

My second time in the last month or so drinking this and I am not complaining.  I had a small taste at a wine dinner featuring many other bottles and then a small glass on the next day.  Fantastic wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, pencil lead, cedar, smoke and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Flavors of cassis, graphite dry earthiness, char and leather.  Long finish.  Delicious.  I won't give this a 100 score as I just didn't pay enough attention to it, but was fantastic.  

One of the great classic Napa cabernets.  It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Petit Verdot and some Merlot and Malbec.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, slight cedar, dark chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex and layered.  Cassis, earthiness, spices, minerality and chocolate.  Long finish.  This is still young but getting close to peak.  That said, it should go another twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work with Roasted meats, poultry and vegetables. 

Very nice showing for this wine.  It is in a great place right now.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee, cedar and graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Mature but plenty of time left.  Complex and deep.  Flavors of cassis, cocoa, spice and nice minerality.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next ten years or so.  Besides the usual spices, this would work well with bacon wrapped steaks.