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

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Sonoma, Sonoma valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Bedrock makes a very nice Sauvignon Blanc that is an excellent value.  Golden in color with green hues.  The nose is great with a slight grassy note along with some melons and a hint of grapefruits.  Medium bodied.  Lovely slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It drinks very easily with a persistent finish.  Great on its own, this would be very popular for a summer party.  It also works well with lighter foods.  It went great with vegetarian (Tofu) Tacos.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2008 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

James Berry Vineyard is the home vineyard of Saxum and one of the great Rhone varietal vineyards in the world.  Mike Officer of Carlisle does a great job with his allotment.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, slight black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberries, blueberries and spice with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and about at peak.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with (Vegetarian) Chil

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$53.00USD

Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, char, slight bramble and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Nice acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Lovely texture.  Black cherries, cherries and some char and spice.  Good finish.  This is very drinkable.  Young, but open.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Great on its own, this will work well with ribs or a burger off the grill.  

2013 Quintessa Red Wine, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This is a proprietary Red wine from Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate, black cherries and cedar.  Clean.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, cedar and chocolate.  Long finish.  Deep and complex.  This is still drinking young, so if opening soon, give it some air.  It should drink well for twenty to thirty more years.  Great on its own, this is the quintessential steak house wine.  

2017 Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon NVS, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

First time trying this winery.  The winemaker is Jeff Ames who makes some great wines at TOR and other wineries.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, slight lumber and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis with some cedar and spice.  Tightly layered complexity, it unwinds nicely in the glass.  Long finish.  This will improve with a few years in the cellar but is drinking well now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this needs big food right now.  Pot Roast would go well.  

2007 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir East Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Perhaps the top bottling from this storied winery.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, pomegranate, and a slight earthiness.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sour cherries, some cranberries, root beer, and the slightest milk chocolate note at the top of the long finish.  Complex and tightly layered, it unwinds quickly in the glass.  This is drinking close to peak it seems but should drink well for another ten years or so.  Nice on its own, this would be better with food.  Roasted Duck would be an obvious choice.  

2013 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$570.00USD

A WOW wine to be sure.  Still very young.  The color is fascinating.  Almost a Day-Glo yellow/green in color.  Iridescent.  The nose has a lot of oak, toast and char but also some pineapple and a bit of citrus.  With air, minerality comes out and the oak integrates just a bit.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is big, ripe and sexy.  Citrus, some butterscotch and plenty of baking spice and char.  Long finish.  This is fantastic now (especially if you are not oak averse), but give it another decade  in the cellar and it will be flirting with a 100 score.  Either way, it should have at least

2016 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, spice, lumber, and slight cedar.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, nice cassis fruit with some char.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another seven to ten years.  A nice choice with a burger off the grill.  

2018 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is  nice with cassis, cedar, camphor and leather.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, plenty of cassis with some char.  Lots of depth.  Complex if still tight.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another ten to twelve years.  It might improve a bit more as it ages.  Nice on its own, this would work well with grilled meats.  

2016 Ramey Syrah Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper and a hint of purple flowers.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, nice black raspberry fruit with some char.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy and is tasty.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A nice wine with a really good burger.  

Pages