1961 Château Gruaud Larose, France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1961
Grade: 

This has a different shaped ullage so saying low-shoulder fill is quite accurate.  The fill was about four inches down from the top of the cork.  The cork was removed and the bottle blew off stink for a bit and then we tried it.  It did get a bit better over the subsequent 20 minutes before dying a quick death.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  On the nose there is dust, saddle leather, dusty attic and just a hint of dried cranberries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is just a hint of cherries with leather and earth.  A bit tart.  Clipped finish.  There are surely people

1981 Domaine Ponsot Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos des Monts Luisants Blanc, France, Burgundy, Cotes de Nuits, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1981
Grade: 

The neck tag on this said 1978 but the label said 1981 so...  A bit of research seems to suggest this is 60% Aligote, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Pinot Gouges.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of mushrooms along with a bit of citrus and a burnt almond quality.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the citrus and burnt almond quality come out.  There is some life here but not a lot.  Still an interesting wine to try.  Drink up if you have any.  Giving it the respect it deserves, share this wine with friends without food and have a back up bottle.  It doesn't seem fair to

2010 Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Five, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

From Magnum.  This is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dominated by Brettanomyces which comes across as a "ripe" barnyard.  Some people love this while others are averse.  This is a spoilage yeast that will only bloom when the bottle sees warmer temperatures.  In addition, there are plums and cassis with some green bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks a bit cleaner.  Very earthy with cassis, bell pepper and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  Long fin

2016 Maison Riviere Château de Callac Prestige, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon,  and 15% Cabernet Franc that sees 100% new oak.  .  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice and slight cigar.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries, some black cherries and underlying earthy tobacco notes.  Moderate finish.  This will work better with food than on its own.  Slow cooked, braised beef or lamb would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 Jax Vineyards Pinot Noir Y3, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is very nice but curiously seemed a bit behind the two prior vintages of this wine.  Perhaps a bit shutdown.  Still, it was very good. Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight smoke and an herbal streak (rosemary/tarragon?).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit, a bit stemmy with an underlying damp earthiness.  Moderate finish.  This will work better with food.  Pasta with mushrooms would be a nice choice.  It will be interesting to watch it develop Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2019 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a "Bordeaux Blanc" styles wine from Washington state.  It is 69% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon.  Very impressive and a dead ringer for a Bordeaux white in style and quality.  Light golden in color.  The nose has apples, wax, sweet herbs, minerality and a touch of cedar.  Light to medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, apples, slight citrus, wax with underlying minerality.  Fresh and lively.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Versatile.  This drinks great on its own and will work with with sea food, pork or fowl and also spicy Asian foods.  Drink over the next few years for its

2020 Bodega Cuatro Rayas Green & Social, Spain, Rueda, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is 100% Verdejo from Spain.  A delightful white that is made from organic grapes using socially conscious production methods.  Light golden in color with greenish hues, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with a bit of lemon lime, tangerine, and honey dew.  Light bodied and refreshing.  On the palate, tangerine/oranges with some underlying spice.  Crisp and clean, this drinks easy.  Nice on its own, this will work with lighter foods such as fruit salads or chicken salad.  Drink over the next year or two to enjoy its freshness.  

2019 Maurice Écard Bourgogne Chardonnay, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a nice easy going French Chardonnay (listed on the label).  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears and apples with a slight note of almonds.  Light bodied.  Crisp and clean.  On the palate, green apples with a slight minerality.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This is refreshing and should be popular among fans of all styles of Chardonnay.  This should be consumed over the next couple of years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with salads and seafoods.  

2009 Torrin The Banshee, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre, and 18% Grenache from Torrin Vineyard.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, some black olives and smoke.  Full bodied.  Great, rich texture.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is still youthful but starting to open a bit. Black raspberries, plums, black cherries with underlying scorched earth.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This may still improve but it will make great drinking for another ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this will work well with braised meats or roasted vegetables.  

2018 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is 70% from the Napa side of Pride Mountain and 30% from the Sonoma side.  Very young but an excellent wine.  Long gone are the days of Bob Foley's full throttle wines from Pride.  Different, but just as good.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose shows cassis, spice, fresh tobacco and slight char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis and black cherry fruit with some tobacco and underlying earthiness.  Deep and complex if tight.  This will need about seven to ten years to develop to get near peak and then should drink for ten to fifteen

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