2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Yowza!  This is drinking wonderfully right now.  Still a tad on the young side but oh, so good.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, anise, baking spices, cherries and leather.  Full bodied.  Lush texture but lots of precision.  Depth and complexity.  On the palate, plenty of cassis, some black cherries with underlying leather and slight char/earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work with bigger dishes of roasted meats or fowl.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2008 Canto Petirrojo Toro El Curato Old Vines, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is made from 100% Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo) grapes in the Toro D.O. in Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, some anise and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strong acidity.  Cassis and black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is drinking a bit past prime it seems but still nice.  It works better with food,  A nice wine for Taco Tuesday.  Drink up.  

2008 Lagier Meredith Syrah, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Excellent showing.  At age 14, this is just about at peak and showing nice maturity with some youth as well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has boysenberries, slight black cherry, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  The firm tannins of it's youth are mostly resolved at this point but present.

2005 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$240.00USD

One of the early wines from Lou Kapcsandy (RIP) back when these were (barely) affordable.  In a great place right now.  This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, dark chocolate, slight cigar box and char.  Full bodied.  Deep with layers.  On the palate, cassis and slight black cherry with underlying tobacco and earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is just about at peak but should be there for ten or fifteen years.  A nice wine on its own but probably

2018 Owen Roe Red Wine Yakima Valley, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a blend of 49% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, slight floral/perfume note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has nice black cherry and cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks well with lighter tannins.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  It will also work with food.  Grilled ribs or burgers would be a nice choice.  

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$54.00USD

This is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec from a single vineyard in Washington.  Purple in color, a bit flat and opaque.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, tobacco and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries with underlying spice.  Long finish.  A bitter cherry note on the finish.  This still seems to need some time or air; maybe a few more years.  It should improve and then drink well for another seven to ten after that.  It drinks well on its own and would work well

2018 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This producer makes wine in Oregon, New Zealand, and for Bordeaux varietals, in Washington.  It is a lighter styled Cab that makes for easy drinking.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show dust, cherries and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is clean with cassis and a slight sweetness to it.  Moderate finish.  It would work better with food.  Roasted chicken would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2016 J. Bookwalter Conflict Conner-Lee Vineyard, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 48% merlot and 2% malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries and an herbal note that a friend called pickle juice.  I found it more like sage.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some cassis and some cherries.  Moderate depth.  Shorter finish.  It's a nice wine if not profound.  It probably would be better with some food.  Roasted chicken or duck would work well.  Drink over the next five years.  

2017 Lobo Hills Right Bank Blend, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is mostly Merlot with  18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc.  This is a very accessible and easy to drink wine that has nice ripeness to it.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, chocolate and a slight char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Easy to drink.  Moderate depth. Nice texture.  Cassis and black cherries.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with foods with a tangy/sweet BBQ sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

2015 Basel Cellars Merriment, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 12% Cabernet Franc.  Medium deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries, spice, slight tobacco and slight milk chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cassis with some black cherries with underlying spice and slight char.  This drinks nicely on its own but will work better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to seven  years.  

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