2019 Sbragia Family Chardonnay Russian River Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Expecting huge oak on this (a trademark of sorts for Ed Sbragia) and it wasn't over the top.  Still some oak, but not crazy.  The nose has some lemons, toast, and a bit of spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, slight lemon with a hint of vanilla and baking spices.  Medium finish.  There is certainly oak on this but it drinks easy and not too overblown.  It is nice on its own and would work with soft cheeses.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2020 Cantine Giacomo Ascheri Roero Arneis Cristina Ascheri

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

Light golden/straw in color.  The nose is nice and mostly mineral driven but also a bit of pears and slight almond note.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this has strong acidity.  It begs for some food to pair with.  The minerality comes thru with some pear.  Medium finish.  Pasta with a cream sauce would work well.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

This is a really special vintage from a special winery.  In fact, this is arguably the best wine that Saxum has ever made.  A real treat to be able to try it again at age 14.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight black cherries, black olives, roasted meat and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has that lovely lightness of being while still packing a wallop.  Black raspberries, char, some black olives and slight roasted meats.  Great acidity and balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This seems to be at matur

2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

This is a blend of 92% Syrah, 6% Grenache, and 2% Viognier.  It has really been helped by some cellar time (although it has always been great).  Inky purple in color, slight ruby rim, but showing some slight age in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, char, slight bacon fat, black olives and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Black raspberry fruit.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  Some anise on the finish.  This seems to be at peak.  It is still a big wine but less raucous than in its youth.  No hurry as it can do another ten years.  It

2014 Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Surprisingly open and drinking well with just a bit of air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some blueberries, slight char and a bit of black pepper.  Full bodied.  Juicy texture.  On the palate, this is deep with some complexity.  Certainly, it will gain complexity with more ageing.  Delicious black raspberry fruit with some boysenberries and underlying char.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This will likely get better but no harm drinking now with a couple hours of air first.  It should drink well for another twelve to fifteen years.  This drink

2017 Ceritas Cabernet Sauvignon Peter Martin Ray, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

This is an interesting wine.  Much more about being refined and still expressing Santa Cruz Mountains than being boisterous.  Of course, some of that may also be the vintage.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with cassis, black cherries, spice and graphite/char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a bit of a bell pepper/herbal streak to go along with nice cassis fruit.  Some underlying char.  Medium tannins.  This has the feel that it needs more time to develop and come together.  It drank better on day 2.  Hold for another

2019 Flora Springs Malbec Ghost Winery, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is a 100% Malbec from the Napa Valley.  The term Ghost Winery refers to the fact that the grapes come from an old 19th century winery that is no longer in use as a winery.  The building is now a residence but there are still vines growing.  These Malbec vines are on that property.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose took about an hour to open and then showed plums, black cherries, figs, baking spice and some milk chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to really hit first gear.  Give it some air if opening now.  Flavors of plums,

2019 Flora Springs Cabernet Franc All Hallows Eve, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

What a great bottle for Halloween!  Cool label front and back and really good wine.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc from Rutherford.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose takes about 30 minutes to open then shows nice ripe Cab Franc, that is to say, black cherries, some black raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, just a bit of cigar tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying coffee and tobacco.  Long finish.  Gives this some air if opening this Halloween, it really got going after being

2018 Château de France, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

A new winery for me to try.  Purple in colo9r, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cassis, smoke and gravel.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with underlying smoke and gravel.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  This should go well with Roasted or Charred Portabellas and Root Vegetables.

2018 Pichon Comtesse Réserve, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is the second wine of Pichon Longueville.  It is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate and a bit of leather.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, light tannins.  Tart, black raspberry fruit.  Some black cherries and a bit of chocolate.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This should improve a bit over the next five to seven years but either way should be great drinking over the next twelve to fifteen.  A Chicken and Cheddar Sou

Pages

Pages