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.  

2018 Rhys Chardonnay Mt. Pajaro Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This is a newer wine from Rhys.  It has some similarities to the Rhys style, but it should take a few vintages for Kevin Harvey to zero in on what he is looking for.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons and vanilla along with spices.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is young, but drinking well.  Lemons and vanilla comes thru.  At this stage, it will be a difficult food match but as it ages it should go nice with salmon or other "steak" fish.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2017 Sineann Pinot Noir Wy'east, USA, Oregon, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Deep rub y in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit with some baking spices.  With air, black cherry fruit emerges.  Full bodied (especially for a Pinot Noir).  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Some depth.  It keeps opening with more and more air.  Light tannins.  This is accessible now but should continue to mature and evolve for the next fifteen years.  It just depends on how you like your Pinot Noir.  Great on its own, this would work great with roasted duck or chicken (or turkey).  A really nice value in Pinot Noir.  

2016 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This was a couple of steps better than the 2017.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some raspberries, a bit of bramble and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is drinking youthfully but delicious.  Light tannins.  Black cherries and some cherry fruit with a bit of baking spice and a bit of black pepper on the finish.  Great on it own, this would work well with grilled meats or fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2013 François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos du Breuil, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with minerals, orange peel and crushed shells.  Medium bodied.  Slight sweetness.  Lots of minerality with some salinity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Drinking quite well now.  Nice on its own and will work with lighter salads.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

One of the best Cooperatives making wine is the Produttori del Barbaresco.  Always good, but a few times every decade they nail it and 2006 was one of those.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, tar and spice.  Medium bodied with lighter tannins.  On the palate, this is complex, with good acidity and delicious.  Lots of cherry fruit and a nice earthiness.  At age 15, it is mature but with time left.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This is nice on its own but will be better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce will be great.  

2016 Château Greysac, France, Bordeaux, Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This has always been one of my favorite value Bordeaux wines almost always hitting above its weight class.  This is no exception.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has some nice funk with black cherries, and slight green bell pepper.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries with just a hint of bell pepper and black pepper.  Nice balance.  Nice finish.  This needs some time and food to shine.  Give it a nice decant or a few years in the cellar.  Drink over the next ten.  It will work well with a beef stew or cassoulet.  

2018 J. Lohr Pure Paso, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is another great value from Paso Robles.  A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah and 2% Malbec, this is tasty and a nice value.  Sure to be a crowd pleaser.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty, gravelly with black raspberries and slight black cherries.  Medium tannins.  Some complexity.  Lots of big fruit on the palate - black raspberries and black currants.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next three to six years.  Nice on its own, it will work well with pizza, (veggie)burgers or ribs.  

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