2018 Shannon Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel High Elevation Collection, USA, California, Lake County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a value priced Zinfandel that makes easy drinking.  Darker ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has nice cherries with some spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit.  This goes down easy.  Ever so slightly sweet.  This should be drunk in the next couple of years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with burgers or ribs.  

2017 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Another example of why Rhys is one of my favorite Chardonnay's from anywhere.  Light golden in color with slight green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose is gorgeous with lemon curd, minerality, and vanilla.  Full bodied.  Solid acidity.  On the palate those flavors carry thru.  Lemon curd and vanilla with great minerality.  Just delicious.  The bottle is drained quickly.  Long finish.  These drink so beautifully young, they do shut down a bit after a few years and then re-open at around age 7 to 10 for another decade.  Great on their own, these work great with crisp or lighter foods.  

2016 Waypoint Proprietary Red Kenefick Ranch, USA, California, Napa, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a very nice fruit forward Napa Cab.  Purple/ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is ripe cassis fruit, some oak showing and slight dry earthiness.  Nice finish.  This is easy going and will make nice drinking over the next ten years.  A great choice with a burger off the grill.  

2017 Henry's Drive Shiraz/Cabernet, Australia, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Wine Review

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

This is a blend of 72% Shiraz, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is a lot of black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  Some alcohol is noticeable.  It is very tasty but somewhat one dimensional.  A throw-back to the Aussie Shiraz of twenty years ago.  Good value if you like this style.  

2016 Mending Wall Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is the basic Cab from Mending Wall whose winemaker is Thomas RIvers Brown.  A delicious Cab that is drinking very well right now.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, gravel and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, solid cassis fruit over a gravelly base.  This should continue to drink well for the next decade or so.  A nice match with grilled or roasted meats or veggies.  

2010 Fattoria La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Great showing for this.  In a really nice place right now.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice, dust and tea leaves.  Medium to full bodied.  Great acidity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with forest floor underneath.  Long finish.  This is delicious but also has plenty of complexity.  It is pretty close to peak but should provide another ten to twelve years of great drinking.  A nice match with pasta with a meat based tomato sauce.  

2018 Flora Springs Trilogy, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot and  always one of the stars of the Flora Springs portfolio.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, a wet, rich earthiness and a sort of tree bark note that is intriguing.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, and a lush chocolate milkshake with a touch of underlying earthiness.  This is a decadent wine that while still young is delicious.  Give it a few more years until maturity and the score should rise even higher.  Drink's great on it own, this will

2018 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

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

This is their Napa (not from a single vineyard) wine.  Again, 2018 is proving to be a great vintage and this wine is no exception.  This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that sees 70% French oak and 30% American oak barrels.  It has a deep ruby color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate and cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the cassis comes thru but the coffee is more espresso.  Some underlying char.  There is a lot of vibrancy and energy here.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  This needs about three to five more years until maturity although it is drinking well right now.  Ple

2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an excellent value in Napa Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with slight green hues.  The nose is pretty with lemons and grapefruits with a slight smoky char.  Medium bodied with a lovely, slightly oily, but creamy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Just a  whisper of oak showing.  Nice minerality with underlying chalk.  Nice lemon/lime fruit with good acidity.  Solid finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for five to seven more years.  It drinks great on its own, but will work well with lighter food, but also salmon or shark.  

2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is the Robert Mondavi Winery's version of a Sauvignon Blanc.  It is actually 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon.  It is also a great value in California Sauvignon Blanc.  Light golden with some green hues in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows a slightly grassy note with plenty of tropical fruits.  Also a bit of citrus.  It has a very creamy texture which is nice and enough acidity to come off as crisp.  On the palate, mostly guava and papaya fruits.  Ripe and delicious.  Drink this over the next few years.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  A

Pages

Pages