2014 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Agira Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Diamond Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Great showing for this wine.  Young, but tasty.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  It is jammy and full of fruit, so make sure you share it with people who like that style.  I did, and they loved it.  Lots of cassis, some blueberries with some spice and graphite as well.  This is still primary with a lovely texture.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This probably drinks better on its own right now but would work with a grilled steak.  Drink over the next ten years or so.  

2005 Lillian Winery Syrah, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

California Syrah bottled in Oregon by Maggie Harrison.  Some of the best Syrah out there.  I last had this about ten years ago.  At age 16, this was at peak and gorgeous.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted herbs, and a hint of gamey meat.  Full bodied.  Lots of vibrancy and energy.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, still plenty of fruit, light tannins with depth and complexity.  Black raspberries over pepper and gravel.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and is perfect with roasted meats, fowl or veggies.  This prob

2016 Château de la Grande Gardiole Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

Another great vintage in the southern Rhone valley in France.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, slight anise and floral notes (Violets?).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cherries and dark cherries come thru with underlying spices and roasted herbs.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for the next seven to ten years.  It drinks well on its own but will work better with foods.  Ribs off the grill would be a nice choice.  

2016 Mullineux Syrah, South Africa, Swartland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$37.00USD

I don't drink a lot of wines from South Africa, but that is not for any particular reason.  When I drink ones, such as this, it raises the issue as this is a delightful Syrah that is prices fairly.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries, slight mint and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Nice depth.  Delicious.  On the palate, boysenberries over a char base.  Clean.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice match with Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next 15 years.  

2010 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$385.00USD

What more can be said about one of the truly great wines made.  Golden in color, deep and shimmering bright.  On the nose there is honey, some dust, pineapple and orange marmalade.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is so smooth as it coats the mouth.  Notes or apricots, honey, pineapple and slight caramel.  Long, long finish.  This is not an opulent year for Yquem nor is it lean.  It drinks great on its own.  It would work with a less sweet dessert, but this is one of those wines that deserves 100% attention.  Drink over the next thirty years.  

2018 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 704, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is part of the new lineup of Penfold's wines that are from other than Australia.  This one is from Napa.  I believe it is supposed to be a Napa version of their Bin 407 from Australia.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis and an interesting scent that I have notice rarely in other wines that can best be described as the fat off a fresh corned beef sandwich at a Jewish delicatessen.  There is also a bit of baking spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is ripe fruit with a lot of cassis.  Some underlying char/smoke.  Nice finish

2017 No Girls Double Lucky #8, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is apparently a new wine from No Girls that was sent free to those members on the Mailing List.  A Zoom tasting was held for people to try it although a friend brought this bottle to a separate event.  Pop and pour.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.  Almost black in color, more ruby towards the rim.  The nose has that burnt rubber smell so prevalent in many Washington Syrahs.  Also, some slight barnyard, black raspberries and black cherries.  Medium bodied if not a bit thinner.  On the palate, this is a nice quaff.  Somewhat one dimensional with nice black cherry fruit

2014 K Vintners Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard, Washington, Wahluke Slope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, spice and cedar.  On the palate, ripe black raspberry fruit with a slight sour cherry note.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but not over done.  It is just starting to calm down a bit as it enters middle age.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another seven to ten years.  This would work well with Indian food including yellow curries.

2002 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

At age 19, this is doing just fine with no signs of being past prime.  The vineyard has since been bought and is now part of the Burgundy producer's Louis Jadot winery in Oregon.  Darker ruby in color, mostly opaque and looking a bit flat at this point.  On the nose, there are cherries, black cherries and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some underlying dry forest floor.  Long finish.  It has a nice depth and complexity.  At this age, all bottles are different (it uses a natural cork), but well stored bottles should last another decade.  It drin

2018 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Although young, this wine is a beauty.  Kistler used to have a lot of oak on its Chardonnays.  Some loved it, some didn't, but this wine seems to have backed off a bit on the oak and upped the acidity.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some pineapple, and lemons.  With air, a lemon candy note comes thru.  There is a fair amount of oak showing too coming thru as caramel and vanilla but it is already integrating.  Full bodied with a lovely viscous, oily texture.  On the palate, this is crisp with nice minerality.  The lemon/lemon candy comes thru.  Long finish.  This drinks ni

Pages