2001 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

Always one of my favorite wines from the Châteauneuf.  They have a more elegant style.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, garrique, licorice, and meaty notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries with underlying earthiness and some pepper.  Long finish.  This drinks well alone but really deserves a nice meal, perhaps some meaty stew.  This bottle seemed at peak at age 20 but could go another five years at this level.  

2012 Amor Fati Grenache Murmur Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Maria Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

The is 100% Grenache from California's Central Coast.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, herbal notes and moist forest floor.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry and cherry fruit with underlying earthiness.  Seems to be fully mature and at peak.  Tannins all resolved.  Nice finish.  This is a food friendly wine that went well with Pasta Primavera with summer vegetables.  Drink over the next few years.  

2018 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 704 Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is part of the new lineup of Penfold's wines that are from other than Australia.  This one is from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, baking spices, and smoke.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is nice cassis fruit, spice and some underlying char/smoke.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now.  It will make great drinking over the next five to seven years.  It is probably better on its own but will work with bigger flavored foods.  The big question is if this improves with bottle age or not.  Time will tell.  

2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

This is quite young but still delicious.  It is a blend of 64% Grenache, 16% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan.  Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, some black licorice, floral notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Vibrant with lots of energy.  On the palate, loads of black raspberries and black cherries with medium tannins.  It takes some time to open in the glass but then shows a nice minerality.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to hits its peak but is delicious today

2013 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Another amazing Syrah from John Alban.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is complex and beautiful with black raspberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, slight dark chocolate and a slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Great plush texture with more than enough acidity to tie everything together.  The palate has flavors of black raspberries, roasted herbs with a nice earthiness underneath.  Long finish.

2016 Robert Foley The Griffin, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is a blend of 38% Merlot, 18% Petite Sirah, 17% Petit Verdot, 11% Syrah, 9% Charbono, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% other reds.  It is a very approachable, easy drinking red wine.  15.1%ABV.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some char, and bit of black cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Black cherry and black raspberry fruit with a great texture.  Good finish.  This should drink well for the next ten years.  A nice wine for burgers or ribs off the grill.  

2010 Alban Vineyards Syrah Seymour's Vineyard, USA, California, San Luis Obispo, Edna Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

Another gorgeous Syrah from John Alban.  Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, chocolate, slight black olive and leather.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a huge wine.  Lush black raspberry fruit, chocolate, slight black pepper and baking spice.  A nice bit of acidity works well.  15.2% ABV but not noticeable on the palate or nose.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This still shows quite young and will calm down a bit with age.  This can do another twenty years but those who don't like big wines probably won't like this.  It drinks great on its own and will

2010 Château Le Gay Pomerol, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$169.00USD

Very impressive showing and while just a bit tight, this opened nice with air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Black currants, plums, baking spices, graphite and char on the nose.  Full bodied with a lush texture.  On the palate, this unwinds in the glass to show depth and layers of fruit (plums and black currants), spice, slight forest floor, and smoke.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is not yet at peak but well worth opening now and letting it breathe.  Drink over the next twenty years.  It drinks great on its own but will work better with food.  Roasted duck or eggp

2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

From Magnum.  Very nice showing.  Light golden with green hues.  The nose is nice with slight lemon curd, vanilla, a bit of lemon rind and smoke.  Full bodied.  This is crisp and clean.  On the palate, plenty of depth  The lemon and lemon rind come thru with some underlying char.  The oak is there but deftly used.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This worked well with assorted cheeses, potato chips, and even a salad.  A 750ML will be more advanced but it seems like it easily has another eight to ten years.  

1999 Scarpa Barolo Tettimorra, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Another really nice treat.  1999 was an excellent year and the better wines are in great shape.  This had a surprisingly deep purple color to it, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries and slight forest floor.  Medium bodied.  No real tannins.  On the palate, there is vibrant black cherry fruit.  Not a lot of complexity for a 22 year old Barolo but still drinking well.  Drink over the next few years, it certainly won't get better.  It will work better with food.  Pasta with mushrooms and a cream sauce would be good.  

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