2015 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

One of my favorite Alsatian wineries and my favorite bottling of theirs.  This vintage is no exception.  Light yellow god in color, but also quite intense.  On the nose, this is pretty with peaches, baking spice and a nice minerality.  On the palate, this is just slightly sweet.  A bit viscous.  The peaches carry thru but also also a steely quality.  Consumed over two nights, it was better on the second night.  More complex and deep, but still very lively and little oxidation.  Long finish.  This should continue to improve for the next seven to ten years and be good for ten to fifteen after

2016 Sebastien Dampt Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

From an excellent producer who is still affordable in Chablis.  These are not what I think of as "traditional" wines, but they are quite good and certainly not "modern" if that would be the opposite of traditional.  Light golden in color.  The nose has some green apples more of a lemony quality.  There is a slight chalkiness to it, but more spice.  Good not great acidity.  On the palate, this is more about lemons with some underlying spice.  Nice finish.  Still young, this may yet improve a bit more.  Presuming no oxidation issues (and I have not run into any with this producer), this shoul

2013 Hobel Wine Works Cabernet Sauvignon Engelhard Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

Nice to revisit this wine.  It is still young but has opened up a bit (as have many 2013's).  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, spice, slight hay note and a bit of toast.  On the palate, this took about an hour or so and then was drinking well.  Cassis with underlying dry earth.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This may still improve a bit more.  It has fifteen to twenty years of great drinking.  Think grilled foods or roasts, but also drinks well on its own.  

2013 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Kicu'me, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This was interesting.  Pop and pour and there were light notes of what might have been TCA.  Very intermittent.  I decided to let the bottle sit over night (closed with a neutral cork) and check back the next day.  If the bottle was off with TCA, it would be worse the next day.  On the other hand, the next day, this bottle was clean as a whistle and drinking quite well.  Not sure what was going on, but glad I waited and gave it a chance.  Dark purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose had cassis, char, and spice.  Just a hint of pencil lead and slight earthiness.  On the palate, this has

2014 Jaffurs High Tide, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$46.00USD

A blend of 57% Mourvèdre, 29% Grenache and 14% Syrah.  Deeper ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, some floral notes, black pepper and spice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Black cherry fruit with some black raspberries over a slight char and a slight dried lavender note.  Good balance.  Lots of energy.   Good finish.  This is drinking well now and while it might not get better it should morph a bit darker with age.  It will work well with stews and casseroles.  It should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  

2012 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Very solid Napa Cab that is drinking quite well.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight cassis, baking spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  The black cherry fruit comes thru over the oak/spice.  Nice balance.  This is very food friendly but not for the lightest of foods.  It worked great with some spicy chili.  This should continue to drink well for the next five to seven years at least.  

1994 Warre Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Oporto, Port, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is drinking quite well.  Opened (it needed a Durand) and poured.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight coffee grounds and dark chocolate.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Chocolate covered raisins with raspberries and black raspberries.  A touch of char.  Full bodied.  Deep and complex but most of all delicious.  Slight warmth on the finish.  It went quite well with a brownie.  No hurry, this has at least a decade.  

2013 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Reviews

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

The 2013 Napa Cabs were released with a lot of fanfare, and justifiably so.  It seemed, however, that they shut down very quickly and hard.  Now, at age 7, they are starting to open back up and while, as a general rule they have lots left, many are drinking quite well.  I don't remember a Napa Cab vintage that shut down so hard so quickly and reopened so quickly as well.  In any event, this was opened and allowed to breath for 30 minutes and then served.  It was beautiful.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  On the nose, there is cassis, slight black cherries, roasted herbs, nice minerali

NV Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Cream Sherry is a specific style of Sherry that is sweet.  Harvey's Bristol Cream is a blend of Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso, with some Pedro Ximénez.  At one point, this was the largest selling Sherry.  While it might have fallen out of favor in recent years, it still has a large set of devoted fans.  Tawny in color.   The nose has a nice caramel covered apple quality to it with just a bit of toffee.  There is little oxidation showing on the nose.  On the palate, this is nice.  Sweet but less than expected.  Caramel and nuttiness, with a slight salinity.  No hint of heat or alcohol.  This

2017 Tablas Creek Esprit Blanc de Tablas, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Picardan, and Clairette Blanche.  From a 375ml size bottle which is a great format for early drinking or when one wants just another glass or two.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pears, spice, slight wax, and slight honey.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  The pears come thru along with the baking spices.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  White Rhone varietals can be tricky to age, but this seems like it should be good for five to seven and probably more.  It will work well with sea

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