2022 Jaffurs Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

One of our go to value wines (especially when buying on futures), this continues to impress even after the sale of the winery.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with some complexity.  No doubt, this could last fifteen years, but we tend to drink these young and age the single vineyard wines.  Great on its own, this went well with a Butternut squash curry.

2020 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

If you look around, this varies in price from $35 to $70 typically.  At the former, that is a tremendous value in California Cab.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has spice, cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, ripe cassis (not over ripe) with some underlying char.  Long finish.  Very tasty on its own and makes a great wine with burgers or meatloaf (or a steak).  Drink over the next ten years.  

2021 Domaine Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Saussots, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

A really nice value in French Chardonnay.  Gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red apples, good minerality and a touch of spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, no hard edges.  Very smooth with apples and minerals.  Long finish.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Pepper crusted Tuna steaks would be nice.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2018 TH Estate Wines Syrah Three-Four, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

From what used to be known as Terry Hoage Vineyards.  It is 96% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, plums, spice, black pepper and Roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Concentrated.  On the palate, this is big and slightly jammy, but so delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black pepper and spices.  Long finish.  Great on its own.  Foods will need to be able to stand up to it.  Roasted Lam Chops would work.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Calla Lily Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a household favorite every vintage, but this one may be the best yet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is young but accessible.  Big fruit but not overblown.  Good energy.  Cassis, leather and spice.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this would be nice with grilled Portobello Mushrooms.

1996 Château Calon-Ségur, France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux.  purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and fully mature.  It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux).  Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

2019 François Villard Côte-Rôtie Le Gallet Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is a delicious Syrah from the Northern Rhone value.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries with some funk/Brettanomyces.  Also a slight lavender note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cleaner with black raspberries, minerality an char.  Nice finish.  Obviously young, but drinking well, it will mature and improve.  That said, drink over the next twenty years.  A nice match would be Lamb stew. 

2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and showing just a bit of bricking on the edges.  The nose is a bit musty but I didn't think TCA  (although some did), with cigar and some cassis.  The mustiness did not blow off completely but did not get stringer so I am going with a bit of bottle age.  There is some depth to the wine.  The palate has some cassis and some tertiary notes of leather and dust.  Good acidity.  Most 2000's are slow to mature, but this bottle, at least, seems past prime.  Drink up.  No rating as not sure how representative this bottle is.  

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

Wow, this is a tannic beast. At age 19/20 this is young and difficult if excellent.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cigar box, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  On the palate it is complex and layered.  Layers of cherries, dill and vanilla.  Long black cherry finish.  Great balance.  It seems like it could easily go another twenty years.  Will the fruit  outlast the tannins though?  In any event, very enjoyable on its own and will work better with food.  A Mushroom Risotto would be great.  

2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is one of the best values in Syrah.  It is also one of the best Syrahs.  it ages so beautifully, it is a pleasure to drink one at age 18.  Perfectly mature but not showing any age.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is great with black raspberries, a hint of barnyard, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Lovely texture.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Long finish.  great on its own but perfect with dinner.  It will work with most fowl, meats or pork.  It raised a veggies

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