California

• Amador County
  • Shenandoah Valley
• Carmel Valley
• Carneros
• Central Coast
  • Edna Valley
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Paso Robles
• Contra Costa County
• El Dorado County
• Lake County
• Lodi
• Mendocino
  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
• Monterey
• Napa Valley
  • Atlas Peak
  • Best of Napa
  • Calistoga
  • Conn Valley
  • Diamond Mountain
  • Howell Mountain
  • Mt. Veeder
  • Oak Knoll
  • Oakville
  • Pope Valley
  • Rutherford
  • Spring Mountain
  • St. Helena
  • Stags Leap
  • Yountville
• North Coast
• Santa Barbara
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Maria Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
  • Bennett Valley
  • Best of Sonoma
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Fort Ross/Seaview
  • Moon Mountain
  • Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak
  • Russian River Valley
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

Another great wine from Andremily.  This is 88% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah and 3 Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, blueberries, dark chocolate and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is lush and delicious.  Flavors of plums, black raspberries, slight blueberries with pepper and char.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is delicious on its own.  It will need big food flavors to match.  Smoked brisket would work.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

This had been purchased at the winery.  First time trying a sparkling Sangiovese wine.  Deep salmon pink in color.  It has a nice mousse with small to medium bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is nice if not expected.  Green apples with slight rhubarb and strawberries.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, apples, and slight strawberry notes.  Moderate finish.  A pleasant wine that will work better with food than on its own. Drink now.

Rhys may be my favorite Chardonnay producer (that I still choose to afford) and Santa Cruz may be my favorite region for Chardonnay.  But, still, this is their basic offering and I had low expectations.  They were far exceeded.  What an excellent wine.  I ended up drinking two bottles over three days and that is unusual.  Light golden in color with slight silvery/green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Very mineral driven but also some lemon creme, vanilla and a touch of grapefruits.  Medium to full bodied.  Lots of energy.  Light tannins.  Great acidity and balance.  On the pal

Another winner from this winery.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty.  It is a big wine, but for a Paso Syrah more middle of the road.  Juicy acidity makes it very food friendly.  It would work well with beef stew but also Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

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.