2013 San Biagio Barolo Sorano, Italy, Piedmonte, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This was a relatively inexpensive Barolo on release ($30) from an excellent vintage.  Solid showing although not as good as a bottle a couple of years ago.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust and slight tar.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Moderate finish.  It works better with food and would make a nice meal with pasta.  Probably best to drink this sooner than later.  

2006 Jaffurs Syrah Verna's, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is in a great spot right now.  At peak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted herbs and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Ripe but not overt.  On the palate, nice black raspberry fruit with great acidity.  Deep and complex.  It opens beautifully in the glass.  Also, delicious.  Long finish.  This won't get better but should drink well for another five to seven years.  It works well on its own and would work with Thai or Indian food, or just a burger.  

2007 Lillian Winery Syrah (Gray Label), USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

A beautiful Syrah from this Oregon based producer (although the fruit is Californian).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, roasted herbs, gamey meat and black pepper.  Full bodied but not over the top.  14.8% abv.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberry fruit, ripe, but not sweet with a touch of black pepper.  Lively.  Good energy.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Drinking really well right now, at or close to peak.  This should drink well for another ten to twelve years.  This drinks great on its own and went well with a roasted veggie sandwich

2017 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Another great showing for this Chardonnay.  There is a deft use of oak that is noticeable here, but well done and well within reason.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon curd, vanilla and hint of grapefruit.  With air a nice minerality emerges.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is still young but drinking well.  It improves in the glass showing lemon curd with slight vanilla and spice.  Nice balance and structure.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily do another decade or more.  Great on its own, this will work well with duck, salmon or just a s

2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel, Eleven Confessions Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$365.00USD

There are not a lot of great producers of Grenache in California, but there are a few who excel and at the top is Manfred Krankl and his Sine Qua Non wines.  At age 13, this is just hitting its stride and just outstanding.  A blend of 82% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 2% Viognier and 2% Roussanne.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, roasted meats and spices.  Full bodied.  15.8% abv but no heat.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries over a bit of char.  Deep and powerful.  Delicious.  Long finish.  The kind of wine that

2015 Orin Swift Equinox Edition 6 - No Vacancy

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a Pinot Noir from the new Orin Swift Cellars.  Like many of his wines, there will be a subsection of people who won't like it because it is too big and too ripe.  Those people will also dismiss those who do like it as being "the masses".  The thing is, "the masses" are not buying $50 Pinot Noir's.  It is a matter of style and preference.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, baking spices, slight chocolate and figs.  Full bodied.  On the nose, this has raspberries, slight confectionary sugar notes, a hint of black pepper with some cherries on the finish. 

2002 Château Gaudrelle Vouvray Clos le Vigneau, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

An interesting wine.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has almonds, grapefruits, slight chalk and a hint of salinity.  medium bodied.  On the palate, those qualities came out as well.  Very nice acidity.  Overall, a bit reticent but refreshing.  Perhaps because it came in a 500ml bottle, but I presumed it would be at least semi-sweet.  Not to be, but it did work well with home made vegan ginger snaps.  Well made Vouvray can last a long time as this showed no real signs of age.  I wouldn't worry about another five or ten years.  

2009 Futo Oakville, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

This winery really stepped it up after the first couple of vintages and are producing some great wines.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, slight cedar and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is juicy with great cassis fruit.  A bit of underlying graphite and char.  Some complexity but more delicious than contemplative.  Nice finish.  This would match well with roasted or grilled meats or veggies but worked great with vegetarian chili.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

1990 Parusso Barolo Bussia, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1990
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

This bottle was bought at auction although there were no overt signs of poor storage.  Tasted over two days.  It was good, but we had hoped for more.  Garnet in color, mostly clear.  The nose has cherries, slight tar and dust.  Not very big on the nose.  Medium bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved although slight tannins remain.  On the palate, there are cherries and slight sour cherries.  One dimensional.  On Day 2 a brown sugar note emerges.  This can often mean heat damage in its life or in this case, maybe just old age.  Moderate finish.  This is drinking fine but was probably better ten ye

2016 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

My wife's favorite winery!  Hard to argue with her on that.  This was stunning and still young.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, cedar, slight coffee grounds and slight floral notes.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  Deep and complex; it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  Wonderful texture.  Cassis with char and slight oak notes.  Long finish.  Just fantastic but another few years of ageing will be even better.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  

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