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

2014 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard 'Elysian', USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$226.00USD

Wow, what a wine!  BTW, this is not to be confused with the wine of the same name without the "Elysian".  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has cassis, cedar, chocolate, graphite, tobacco, blueberries and just a hint of funk.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Rich, lush texture.  This is young but delicious.  On the palate, cassis, blueberries, chocolate, with some underlying leather.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will evolve and may even improve but it is so good today.  Drink over the next twenty-five years.  Great on its own, it will need big food to matc

2016 Maybach Family Vineyards Chardonnay Eterium, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

There are lots of reviews for Maybach Cabs on this site, but not as many for other varietals so it was nice to get a chance to enjoy this Chardonnay.  At age 5, this is still young, but showing a bit of maturity and very enjoyable.  Golden in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  On the nose, this is a big wine.  Lots of red apples, some grapefruit, with lots of vanilla and oak and some floral notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great, viscous texture.  Flavors of lemons, lemon candy and baking spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  If you like oak, this is your wine, b

2012 Jaffurs Syrah Upslope, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend from the better barrels of the single vineyard wines made by Jaffurs.  It is their top Syrah.  This vintage seems to be a bit "flatter" than others but is still quite good.  Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to open and then showed very nicely.  Black raspberries with some underlying char.  Light tannins.  Nice balance.  Nice finish.  This is close to peak but should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  

2010 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$185.00USD

This has shed its baby fat and is drinking very well.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, spice, white pepper, slightly grilled meats and leather. Great texture. Big but with finesse. No sign of heat. Lots black and red fruits on the palate. Depth. Manageable tannins. Long finish. This is delicious.  Drinking youthfully but no harm in opening now.  This is great on its own but will work well with roasted meats or veggies.  Indian food will work well too.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.  

2016 Palazzo Cabernet Franc Reserve, USA, California, Napa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a very nice Cabernet Franc from the Napa Valley.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, tobacco, black pepper and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Nice, lush texture.  On the palate, black cherries, spice and char, layered and deep.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is one of the better California Cab Francs.  Still needs another five to ten years until full mature, it will drink great over the next twenty years.  Nice on its own, it will work better with food.  Standing Rib Roast would be a nice match.  

2018 Badgerhound Red Blend, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is 95% Zinfandel with 5% Petite Sirah from Sonoma County.  15,3% abv.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, slight bramble, and smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, raspberries, black raspberries and black pepper with some char.  As Zins go, this is middle of the road in style.  Delicious.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work well with a burger or pizza.  Drink over the next couple years.  

2018 Buehler Vineyards Chardonnay, USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Green gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight grapefruits and baking spices.  Light bodied.  Thin.  On the palate, slight grapefruits with no oak showing.  Clean.  Refreshing.  A bit clipped on the finish.  This is solid with no faults but not particularly exciting.  However, an RRV Chardonnay at this price point is rare.  It drinks better on its own.  Drink over the next year.  

NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Always a nice value in sparkling wine.  Approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  Frothy with lots of small bubbles.  The nose is less toasty than I remember with more green apple.  Very clean.  On the palate, the green apple is present with slight minerality.  This is crisp and tasty.  Nice on it own, but also quite food friendly.  Fried foods would match easily.  Drink over the next couple years.  

2018 Dominus Napanook Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is the little brother of Dominus (which was the Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year), so it was nice to try.  It was tasted completely blind.  My guess was a California GSM blend which I found interesting.  Not for being wrong, that happens a lot, but for how it tasted.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black licorice, black olives and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry fruit, some black raspberries, black licorice and a bit of earthiness.  Good balance in a new world way.  Nice fin

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