NV Karas Muscat Sweet Sparkling, Armenia, Armavir, Wine Review

Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from Armenia made from the Muscat grape.  The secondary fermentation happens in tanks not bottles which is a pretty successful process used in Eastern Europe and Asia to make inexpensive sparkling wines.  Tasted with a group, lots of comparisons to Asti Spumante or Martini & Rossi wines which is fair, but this beats most of those in price.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  A nice froth of larger bubbles which leaves the glass quickly.  The nose has nice peach notes with some minerality.  On the palate, there is some carbonation.  Slightly sweet but not

2017 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Every time I drink Epoch wines I wonder why I don't buy more.  They are expensive but given the quality, they are appropriately priced to the competition.  They are also outstanding!  This one is a blend of 36% Petite Sirah, 30% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre, and 12% Grenache.  It is very young and would be well served by further cellaring.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, char, black pepper, spice and roasted herbs and meats.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Chunky black raspberries and black cherr

2017 Clos Mogador 'Manyetes' Vi de Vila Gratallops, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$77.00USD

This is 100% Carignan from Priorat on the east coast of Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, anise and slight char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  Medium tannins.  Loads of cherry fruit with underlying char and anise.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  It should get better with a few more years of ageing, but either way, it should drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this needs big food such as roasted lamb.  

2016 Mauro Molino Barbera d'Alba Legattere, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Everytime I drink a Barbera likes this I think I need to drink more Barbera.  This is outstanding and while this vintage is mostly gone, newer vintages are good and sell for under $40.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, anise and baking spices.  Medium bodied.  A nice backbone of acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, fresh pure black cherry fruit with some spice.  Long finish.  This is made for food and will work great with pasta, mushrooms, and especially pizza.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Esola Vineyard, USA, California, Amador, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Another winner from Bedrock.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, brambles, black pepper, and an interesting beef stew note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, fresh black cherry fruit (almost but not quite pie filling) with some black pepper and just a hint of bramble.  Lots of energy and lights on its feet.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should conitnue for seven to ten more years.  Nice on its own, this would work with lots of comfort foods; pizza, man and cheese, and burgers.  

2014 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Méntrida Cantos del Diablo, Spain, Madrid, Sierra del Gredos

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

From one of the more interesting vineyard areas anywhere, just to the west of Madrid and at around 3,000 feet in altitude with sandy soils  over granite, come some of the more interesting Garnacha (Grenache) wines to be found.  This one is amazing.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose with cherries, cranberries, but also black raspberries and blueberries with baking spices, slight floral note (rose hips?) and slight earthiness/fresh mushrooms.  Full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries with underlyi

2004 Pax Syrah Walker Vine Hill, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

From a different time, back when Pax Mahle was making really big wines in really big bottles.  The label lists 15.5% ABV.  For those who questioned how well a wine like this could age, at 17, this is doing just fine with years left.  Purple in color with ruby around the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, slight black raspberries, spice, slight root beer note and a wisp of smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, blueberries, spice and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  No sign of alcohol in the wine.  This is fresh and vibrant.  It seems like it could

2016 Mercer Petit Verdot Small Lot Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is interesting.  My understanding is that is mostly a tasting room only wine although there is some limited distribution.  Its unclear if this is 100% Petit Verdot, a grape mostly utilized for blending purposes.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, vanilla and slight baking spices.  Also a bit of a "Bourbon" note on the end.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with firm tannins.  Some slight spice and vanilla.  Moderate finish.  One of those wines that is perhaps more interesting than great but worth checking out and en

2018 Mossback Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a really pleasant Cab for a pretty good price considering its from Chalk Hill.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, dark chocolate, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is straightforward with nice cassis fruit, some black cherries with some underlying spice.  Medium tannins.  Nice finish.  This will improve with a couple more years in the cellar.  It should drink well for seven to ten more after that.  It drinks great on its own but would certainly work well with a nice steak or even Mac and Cheese.  

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