2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Since these wines first came out, it has always been an open question how well they would age.  At age 11, this one is doing great.  Drinking quite young but quite well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, slight spice, black cherries, and very slight cola note.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Shows depth but tight.  Plenty of cherries and black cherry fruit.  Great balance.  Drink now or should hold for another ten or fifteen years, depending what you like in a Pinot.  Will work with a wide variety of food.  

NV Old Westminster Pip & Berry, USA, Maryland, Wine Review

Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+

OK, this was served to me at a wine store, so what the heck.  It is a sparkling rosé wine & cider blend that is 30% Merlot, 30% Chambourcin, and 40% Stayman Winesap apples. I can't imagine it costs much.  It was fun to try a can (yes, a can).  Other's seemed to find it fun.  For this grizzled old wine geek, it was more a curiosity.  But, that's ok too.  

2017 Bieler Family Pinot Grigio Daisy, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is an inexpensive Pinot Grigio from Washington state.  It costs about $10 which is fair.  Light white gold/copper in color.  The nose is light but mostly minerals.  Easy drinking although it finishes bitter.  Has some acidity.  If this is the option at a party, it is fine.  Drink now.  

2016 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is an excellent value in top Napa Cabs.  While Rivers Marie makes single vineyard wines, those cost into three figures.  This is not inexpensive but it almost as good.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, leather, slight blueberries,  and slight spice.  On the palate, this is young and tannic.  If drinking soon, give it a few hours at least, in a decanter.  Great texture; juicy yet plush.  Lots of cassis fruit over a dry earth/graphite quality.  Long finish.  Ideally, give this five moer years and drink over the next ten to twenty.  Needs bigger food right now.

2013 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Baby Poux Vineyard, Washington, Columbia valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a great value in Washington Cab.  Originally from younger vines in the Champoux vineyard, these wine have been made for 20+ years now.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with an underlying char.  Full bodied.  A nice complexity, it takes some time (about an hour) to fully open up.  Firm tannins.  Juicy acidity.  In style, this is somewhere less ripe than Napa and more than Bordeaux.  It easily has a decade or more left.  Works great on its own or with bigger foods.  

2016 Laurent Habrard Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, slight raspberries, a bit of minerality and spice.  On the palate, this is mid-weight.  Drinking well right now.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  Ripe enough black raspberry fruit.  This will work well with stews and roasts and is better with food.  Some peppery qualities on the finish.  Probably needs to be consumed in the next five years.  

2014 JCK Wine Company Moonset, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Sometimes its good to have an inexpensive red wine on hand.  This is ok.  Certainly not for everyone though.  It is a blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice.  A bit meaty with black raspberries and some baking spices.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Made for immediate drinking.  Black raspberry fruit.  Probably better on its own than with food.  For $15, it is fine.  

2006 Bodegas Roda Rioja Cirsion, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

Purple in color.  The nose is clean with fresh cherries and a bit of dill.  On the palate, cherries with a bit of coffee.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  This seems to be about at peak right now.  It is very food friendly with stews and meats being a good choice.  It should be good for another decade.  This is, however, a very expensive wine with current vintages costing over $200 per bottle.  This was apparently around $100 on release.  

2004 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Another great wine from this winery.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim.  The nose is very tight at first.  With air it shows some black cherry and spice.  On the palate, delicious black cherry fruit.  Showing quite young.  Firm tannins.  This bottle would have been better served being decanted for an hour or so.  There is still some upside development to go which is impressive at 15 years from vintage.  Works well on its own or needs bigger foods.  Should be good for another 15 years.  

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