2018 Buehler Vineyards Chardonnay, USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Green gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight grapefruits and baking spices.  Light bodied.  Thin.  On the palate, slight grapefruits with no oak showing.  Clean.  Refreshing.  A bit clipped on the finish.  This is solid with no faults but not particularly exciting.  However, an RRV Chardonnay at this price point is rare.  It drinks better on its own.  Drink over the next year.  

NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Always a nice value in sparkling wine.  Approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  Frothy with lots of small bubbles.  The nose is less toasty than I remember with more green apple.  Very clean.  On the palate, the green apple is present with slight minerality.  This is crisp and tasty.  Nice on it own, but also quite food friendly.  Fried foods would match easily.  Drink over the next couple years.  

2005 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 85% Grenache and then 5% each of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Vaccarese.  At age 16 it is just about at peak and drinking beautifully.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, raspberries, licorice, slight roasted herbs and spice.  Medium to full  bodied.  This is the elegant side of Chateauneuf.  On the palate, its about red fruits with some underlying spice, char and herbs.  Complex and layered, it unwinds in the glass.  Lots of energy and precision.  Nice finish.  Drinks great on its own but will work well with food.  It will work well with Chinese or simila

NV Fondo Bozzole Lambrusco Mantovano Giano, Italy, Lombardy, Provincia di Mantova, IGT Vino Frizzante, Wine Review

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

This is a fizzy, dry, red wine from central Italy.  At first it seemed like light TCA, but that blew off, so it must have been the odd scent in the bottle.  Purple/ruby in color, a light amount of fizz to it.  With some air, the nose has some plums, a bit of forest floor and a bit of clean compost notes.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has a bit of fizz to it but not overwhelming.  It is interesting but a little taste goes a long way.  It would work better with salty foods.  Drink now.  

NV Ayala Champagne Brut Majeur, France, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Light golden in color, lots of tiny bubbles, clear and bright.  Nice mousse.  The nose is toasty with some green apples.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is very nice.  Toasty with apples.  Nice acidity.  The finish is a bit clipped.  Overall, a fine, less expensive Champagne that would be nice for parties.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with canopies.  Drink over the next year or two.

2006 Sineann Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is drinking well and at maturity (although no hurry).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, iron, slight tobacco and slight iodine.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and a bit of that iron note.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work better with food.  Roasted chicken or vegetables would work well.

2018 Dominus Napanook Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is the little brother of Dominus (which was the Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year), so it was nice to try.  It was tasted completely blind.  My guess was a California GSM blend which I found interesting.  Not for being wrong, that happens a lot, but for how it tasted.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black licorice, black olives and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry fruit, some black raspberries, black licorice and a bit of earthiness.  Good balance in a new world way.  Nice fin

2016 William Kavney Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Sonoma County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This was a new wine for me.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is cassis, char and dist.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cassis with slight herbs.  This is an easy drinking Cab that seems to be at peak.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with pulled pork.  Drink over the next five years.  

2015 Ferraton Père & Fils Crozes-Hermitage La Matinière, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is a nice Syrah from the Northern Rhone that is not expensive and drinking well now.  Garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens quickly showing black cherries, char, slight black raspberries and slight black olive.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with char and good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  A nice wine with pizza or a (veggie) burger.  

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