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

2019 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is their basic wine but it less expensive and almost as good as their single vineyard designate Cabs.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, sandalwood, char, and sour cherries.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great acidity.  Crisp yet creamy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, black cherries with spice and char.  Long finish.  This is young and should improve with another five to ten years of cellaring.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It would be a nice wine with a hearty eggplant or vegetarian lasagna.  

2019 Andremily Syrah No. 8, United States, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

We recently tried the EABA from 2019, so wanted to compare it to the regular Syrah.  For now anyways, this one is a bit better and more open.  Experience suggests that this may switch (back and forth) and these wines age.  More importantly, however, is how good they both are.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, some roasted meats and herbs, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, plush texture.  Not as over the top as the EABA seemed, but loads of black raspberries with some meaty notes and gre

1996 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow, USA, California, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$320.00USD

Purple in color with some ruby hues and ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque if a bit flat.  The nose has some funk on it (more than just bottle age) along with cassis and leather.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sweet cassis fruit with underlying earthiness.  Mature but still offering up a lot.  Nice finish.  This is probably better with some food at this point.  Goulash would work well.  Drink over the next few years.  

2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This was really special.  One of the best Pinot Noir's I have had in a long time.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and a bit on the flat side.  The nose has sour cherries, cherries, spice with loads of minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has layers of complexity.  Black cherries, sour cherries, minerals and earthiness.  Delicious.  Lively acidity.  Long finish.  At age 15, it still has some youth but starting to show good development.  This would be great with a bean casserole.  Drink over the next ten years.  This bottle was bought on

2022 Jaffurs Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

One of our go to value wines (especially when buying on futures), this continues to impress even after the sale of the winery.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with some complexity.  No doubt, this could last fifteen years, but we tend to drink these young and age the single vineyard wines.  Great on its own, this went well with a Butternut squash curry.

2020 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

If you look around, this varies in price from $35 to $70 typically.  At the former, that is a tremendous value in California Cab.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has spice, cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, ripe cassis (not over ripe) with some underlying char.  Long finish.  Very tasty on its own and makes a great wine with burgers or meatloaf (or a steak).  Drink over the next ten years.  

2018 TH Estate Wines Syrah Three-Four, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

From what used to be known as Terry Hoage Vineyards.  It is 96% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, plums, spice, black pepper and Roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Concentrated.  On the palate, this is big and slightly jammy, but so delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black pepper and spices.  Long finish.  Great on its own.  Foods will need to be able to stand up to it.  Roasted Lam Chops would work.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Calla Lily Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a household favorite every vintage, but this one may be the best yet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is young but accessible.  Big fruit but not overblown.  Good energy.  Cassis, leather and spice.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this would be nice with grilled Portobello Mushrooms.

2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is one of the best values in Syrah.  It is also one of the best Syrahs.  it ages so beautifully, it is a pleasure to drink one at age 18.  Perfectly mature but not showing any age.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is great with black raspberries, a hint of barnyard, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Lovely texture.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Long finish.  great on its own but perfect with dinner.  It will work with most fowl, meats or pork.  It raised a veggies

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