2012 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$220.00USD

Mike Smith is the winemaker here and produces some of the top wines in the world.  This is an interesting vintage.  Initially, it looked like it would be amazing, but many of the wines seemed to get almost to that point and just stopped.  Still outstanding, but not quite the overall quality of say 2013 or 2014.  I think that is true for this wine although that is clearly nit-picking and most wineries only dream of getting to this level of quality.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spices and char.  A really great, plush texture.  Tannins are mostly resolved but

2012 Bevan Cellars EE Cuvée, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

Rusell Bevan is a superstar winemaker who has many projects going.  The EE Cuvee is consistently one of my favorites.  This vintage is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet France from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, spice, tobacco and char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture; lush with firm tannins.  This is a big wine that is still drinking young.  It will take another ten to fifteen years to reach maturity.  Once there it should last for another twenty.  That said, it

2012 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Nice to revisit this (last tasted in 2017) as it showed good if not up to expectations.  This was a much better showing for whatever reason.  Pale golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is smoky with lemons and bigger than expected.  On the palate, this has medium body with good acidity.  Lemons and lemon cream.  Nice minerality.  A long finish.  This is drinking well if fully mature.  It should continue to drink well for another eight to twelve years.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with grilled trout or other fish.  

2012 Littorai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Light golden with a touch of green, clear and bright.  The nose is smoky with lemons and minerals.  Clean.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, a bit leaner of a texture.  Lemony with slight grapefruits and some smoke.  A bit clipped on the finish.  Good acidity.  This is drinking well and should continue to do so for another eight to twelve years.  This will drink well on its own but better with food.  Lobster Bisque would be a nice match.  

NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée 007 James Bond No Time to Die, France, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is a commemorative bottle for the release of the James Bond movie, No Time to Die.  Golden in color, clear and bright, with a steady stream of tiny bubbles.  The bubbles disappear quickly in the glass though.  The nose is toasty with a bit of nuttiness and brioche.  Also some smoke and slight apple.  Tart green apples on the palate.  Some depth.  Easy drinking with a long finish the begs another sip.  This is a fun wine and for a James Bond themed party would be great but at the same time, this is $20 more than the regular version and really not as good.  It is very food frien

2010 Château Suduiraut, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

From a 375ml bottle.  Amber/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Pineapples, honey and an herbal note.  Slightly sweet (but less than expected).  Good acidity.  Viscous.  On the palate, oranges and honey.  Long finish.  Very tasty.  This went well at the end of the evening all on its own but will work well with citrus or less sweet baked desserts.  Drinking great now, this will drink well over the  next twenty years.  

2011 Torrin Law Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 73% Syrah, and 27% Grenache from Paso Robles in California's central coast.  While this was a difficult vintage, Torrin seems to have no issues obtaining ripeness.  The label lists 16.1% abv.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, iodine, tar, with a rich earthiness.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  The acid seems a bit on the lower side.  On the palate, pure black raspberries fruit with underlying char and earth.  Long finish.  This is very tasty and probably easier to drink on its own than to match with food.  If trying

2010 Torrin Akasha, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$122.00USD

Nice to try these wines with some age on them, but honestly, they were bit young and are still big.  For my tastes, that is just fine.  95% Syrah with 5% Grenache from Paso Robles.  Purple in color, ruby at the rime, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries with a slight dishwasher note (often found in wines that may have seen some heat at some point) but that minimized as the  wine opened with a nice earthy note.  Full bodied.  On the  palate, much cleaner.  Black raspberries, smoke and earthiness.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  While perhaps not a pristine bottle, this was st

2017 Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$126.00USD

This is a blend of  41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Pop and pour, this took about twenty minutes to start opening and then drink very well.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, baking spice, slight chocolate, a hint of iron and roasted herbs.   Full bodied although certainly not over the top.  Rich texture.  On the palate, this has firm tannins that integrate somewhat with air.  Nots of cherries and black cherries with some underlying tobacco and a bit of chocolate.  Som

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