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

This is a blend  of 75% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah, and  3% Roussanne.  One of the best Grenache wines from California.  This is concentrated and intense, but not over the top.  Deep garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, game meats and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, some black raspberries, roasted herbs  and slight beef notes.  Long finish.  Almost seamless texture.  This is drinking well but will no doubt improve over the next couple of years.  It should drink well for an

This is pretty Riesling grown and made in a certified sustainable vineyard and winery.  Screw capped.  Silvery gold in color with some green hues.  The nose is nice with seltzer, lemons and minerality.  Full bodied with a very nice, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this has a tart acidity that is balanced against a semi-sweet wine.  Notes of pineapple and honey dew.  Very tasty.  Good finish.  This will be a very popular wine at summer parties and events.  It drinks great on its own but worked well with a wide variety of foods including a roasted veggie and eggplant spread on Pita.  V

An interesting tidbit from the American Vintner's Website"  "Miller and Lux went from small time New York butchers to the largest cattle owners in California, and one of the largest land holders in the United State in the late 1800’s.  At the height of their partnership, Miller and Lux boasted nearly 1.4 million acres of grazing land and one million head of cattle. They would come to be known as the “Cattle Kings of California”. Fast forward to current day, and much of the Miller and Lux land holdings is now the fertile ground of California’s Central Coast wine country."  

This is a Trousseau from California.  Pale ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, some confectionary sugar but also a bit of aquarium water.  Think bodied.  On the palate, cherry fruit with a soft texture.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  This had many similarities to the 2016 Frédéric Lambert Côtes du Jura Trousseau consumed along side.  It is fine on its own but worked better with an assortment of cheeses.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper and slight black olives.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with some underlying char.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  Good finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another eight to ten years.  A nice match for Indian food.  

This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah from various vineyards across California.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The e nose has black cherries, black raspberries and some smoke.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is ripe but short of cloying.  It has a balance to it that makes it easy to drink and very tasty.  Black raspberries with underlying char.  Alcohol is noticeable on the finish.  This probably drinks better on its own than with food but would work with a burger.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles but it does have some Petite Sirah blended in.  Purple in color with magenta hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries and confectionary sugar.  On the palate, this is sweet and syrupy.  Lots of sweet black raspberry fruit with some confectionary sugar notes.  This is a bit too much for what I like but I am sure many will love this wine.  The kind of wine to enjoy with BBQ ribs off the grill on a summer evening.  Drink over the next few years.  If you like this style, then add a few points.  Cheers.  

This is a very nice wine.  It is made in a reticent style and more elegant that bombastic.  Very pale pink in color, almost no color at tall.  The nose is nice with watermelon rind, cherries, and strawberries.  Slightly oily texture.  Plenty of watermelon on the palate.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own but will work better with lighter foods.  A fruit salad would work well.  Drink over the next year.  

From one of the premier producers of Cabernet Franc in California.  The vines are part of what was historically To Kalon vineyard.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cigar tobacco and cedar.  Wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lots of black cherries, some cassis with underlying spice.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should last another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, better with food.  Roast duck or chicken would be great.  

I am a big fan of this (and the regular bottling) and find it some of the best values in high end Cabernet from California.  This is still young and tight and in need of some air or better, cellar time.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and char.  Just a lovely texture hinting at a bright future.  Tingly acidity.  Firm tannins.  Lots of fruit.  Cassis with underlying char.  Deep.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This will drink well for the next fifteen, maybe twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work great with a really great burger