2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This was really special.  One of the best Pinot Noir's I have had in a long time.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and a bit on the flat side.  The nose has sour cherries, cherries, spice with loads of minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has layers of complexity.  Black cherries, sour cherries, minerals and earthiness.  Delicious.  Lively acidity.  Long finish.  At age 15, it still has some youth but starting to show good development.  This would be great with a bean casserole.  Drink over the next ten years.  This bottle was bought on

2003 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Found this lost in my cellar.  From an historically hot vintage, I had little hope for this wine, but opened it anyway.  I was wrong again.  What a lovely CdP.  This is not their luxury cuvée, so perhaps that helped get the less ripe grapes, but at age 21, this bottle was excellent.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, "purple" flowers, slight barnyard and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy tannins.  lovely, juicy texture.  On the palate, black cherries with depth and complexity.  Good finish.  The bottle

2012 Christophe Pichon Côte-Rôtie Promesse, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and slightly flat.  The nose features black raspberries, black pepper, bacon fat, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has some complexity and depth.  Black raspberries with black pepper and spices.  Nice finish. This seemed to be close to peak but should have another five to seven years at this level.  It went very well with a black olive tapenade and flat bread.  

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. 

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