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I am a huge fan of Rhys Chardonnays and also a big fan of the Chenin Blanc grape so it was with great anticipation that this got opened.  Its a very nice wine, but not at the level for me of the Chardonnays.  I believe this was the first vintage so perhaps Kevin Harvey and his team will zero in on growing this varietal and making the wine they want.  Tasted over three days, it didn't really change, so perhaps this is the proverbial "needs more time" wine.  In any event, light golden in color with the slightest copper hue.  On the nose, some orange rind, a bit of honey, peaches and some mine

Opened to celebrate my 63rd birthday.  Pop and pour and consumed over several hours.  This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest  made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight black cherries, cedar, slight camphor, spice and a hint of leather.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is still not at maturity but has started to move in that direction.  No doubt it will improve but certainly enjoyable now.  Cassis, plums, slight sour black cherries with underlying spice and a bit of dried

Torrin continues to make some of the best, fruit forward, Rhone varietals anywhere.  These are big wines that benefit from extended cellaring.  This one is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black raspberries, black pepper, slight iodine, roasted meats and herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, concentrated black raspberry fruit, some blueberries, black pepper with underlying meatiness and char.  Nice acidity.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This will still get better over the next five years and drin

This is their regular (not single vineyard) Cabernet.  The better barrels typically go to the single vineyard releases, but the blends seem to have more complexity (if less depth) but cost less.  This is an excellent wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight blueberries, black licorice, spice and slight leather. There is a juicy texture. Full bodied.  Cassis and black licorice along with a bit spice. Moderate tannins but they are silky. Good balance.

One of the top producers of Sonoma Chardonnays.  At age 7, this is in a nice sweet spot between youth and maturity.  Light gold in color with some green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, vanilla, and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Vibrant.  Notes of grapefruit, lemons, pears, vanilla with underlying char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work well with scallops or other shellfish.  

This is a great bottle of Napa Cabernet even if a bit young.  And that, is a great thing about Napa Cabs versus Bordeaux; they drink so well young.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight blueberries, cedar, slight cigar box and spice.  Also some char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, there is lush cassis fruit with some blueberries.  Underlying cedar and char.  Lots of depth.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature for another eight to ten years and drink well for ten to fifteen more after that.  Wit

Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has fresh cut lumber, toast, butterscotch and a slight lemon note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins (most likely oak driven).  On the palate, the toast and butterscotch come thru with a bit more lemon.  Lower acidity.  The finish is medium with a bit of vanilla.  This has a lot of oak on it, so factor that into your buying preferences.  It drinks better on its own than with food for that reason.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is the "second" wine for Bevan, the other Cabs being single vineyard releases.  While it is expensive, it is half the price of those other wines.  It is a fantastic wine in its own right if not quite as good as those single vineyard wines.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, slight coffee, some blueberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Rich and muscular but with a touch of finesse.  Flavors of cassis, and blueberries intertwines with coffee and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This

This remains my favorite Carlisle Zinfandel year in and year out.  There are lots of reasons, but chief among them is the texture.  So rich and lush yet the wine has so much balance and energy.   A blend of 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignan.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, smoke and slight bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, raspberries and slight black cherries with smoke and some dry earthiness.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should drink well over the next ten to

This is such an excellent Zinfandel, it would be really great to let some age.  But, given the price and how good it drinks so young, these seem to be go to wines for mid-week drinking and a case doesn't even make it to the next release.  Oh well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, slight black cherries, char and slight bramble.  Medium bodied.  Really nice texture with lots of energy.  On the palate, raspberries and black cherries with underlying charred earth.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  Just guessing, but it seems like these will l