2017 Edmunds St. John Gamay Bone-Jolly Rose, USA, California, El Dorado County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a rose wine made in California from Gamay grapes.  So, to start, a bit untypical.  It is made by veteran winery owner Steve Edmunds.  The wine is doing fine at age two from vintage and this year, graced our family's Thanksgiving table.  It worked out quite well.  Salmon pink in color, slightly electric.  The nose has watermelons, strawberries and slight cranberries.  On the palate, this has a lot of energy to it.  Clean with good fruit; strawberries and slight cherries.  An underlying salinity which is nice.  Long finish.  This worked well with a wide variety of foods.  It probably

2017 Sineann Pinot Noir "TFL", USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

TFL is a cuvee of some of the best barrels of Pinot Noir in the cellars.  This is deep ruby in color.  The nose has sour cherries, dust, cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Sour cherry fruit.  This is young, of course, but delicious.  It will work well with fowl or heavier sea foods.  It is only bottle in a 375ml format, so ageing is not a long term option.  Still, these will certainly last another five to seven years and probably more.  

2017 M Cellars Chardonnay Reserve, Ohio, Grand River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Ohio used to be one of the top winemaking spots in the US.  While it no longer has the reputation it once had, there are some very good wines being made in Ohio.  This is especially true for the whites and the dessert wines.  Chardonnay, however, is not typically one of the more successful whites, but this is one of the best!  Light golden/green in color.  The nose is nice with melons, vanilla and slight spice.  On the palate, this has a creamy texture.  Light acidity.  The melons and vanilla come thru along with some tropical fruit.  Very refreshing and better if served cold to bring out m

2005 Sineann Pinot Noir Schindler Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is drinking very well right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, a damp forest floor and slight baking spices.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a juicy texture.  Black cherry fruit, slight sour cherries with a bit of forest floor.  Deep, complex and layered.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is at peak and this will be there for the next five to seven years before slowly fading.  It goes well with roasted fowl and vegetable dishes.  

2015 Christopher Tynan Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Tynan makes a top cab for which he is probably better known for.  This was my first time trying this wine and it is impressive.  Inky purple in color.  Opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat and roasted herbs.  With air, a slight lavender/violet comes out.  Wonderful lush but energetic texture.  Delicious.  Firm tannins.  This is still young but drinking wonderfully on its own.  Black raspberries layered with pepper and charred earth.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This will continue to improve for the next five to seven years and be at peak for a

2016 Sineann Cabernet Franc Phinny Hill Vineyard, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

A few months ago, we reviewed the Cabernet Sauvignon from the vintage and vineyard, so it was nice to go back and taste the Cab Franc.  While not quite at that level, it is quite good.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cigar tobacco and cedar.  On the palate, this has a lush but sinewy texture.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Good balance.  Medium tannins.  Nice length.  This should continue to mature and may improve a bit.  It works well on its own but better with food.  Roasts or casseroles go well.  

2017 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

Rafanelli followers are some of the most devoted in the Zin world, and rightly so.  They make some of the best Zins.  In style, the wines are middle of the road.  They have a lot of fruit, but are not bombastic.  They have an elegance but are not in a claret style.  They also age nicely.  This one is purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, black cherries, slight bramble and spice.  On the palate, this has a lot of energy.  Good acidity.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with a bit of raspberries over a char/smoke and spice.  Medium bodied with a lovely texture.  Good fini

2016 Tzora Vineyards Judean Hills, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a modern style of Chardonnay from the center of Israel.  It is 90% Chardonnay with 10% Sauvignon Blanc added.  This is a very nice white with energy and some verve to it.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons and minerals.  Slight oak but no butter.  On the palate, this is clean with nice minerality and slight lemon/citrus.  Good length.  It is drinking well now and probably should be drunk up in the next year.  It will go well with lighter foods, salads and sea foods.  

2015 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This bottle was a gift from my wife's cousin.  A very nice gift indeed.  This is reasonably priced, very enjoyable, and a winery that I don't recall trying before.  Ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, green tobacco, and tea leaves.  On the palate, this has fresh cherry fruit with underlying earl grey tea and just a bit of anise.  Nice texture.  Great acidity.  This wine has a nice energy and a certainly elegance to it that is not often found by me in Chianti.  Light tannins.  It is very food friendly and will go with almost anything but light seafood.  It should be good for the

2017 Verget Pouilly-Fuissé Les Combes Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

I don't buy much white Burgundy anymore, but this one was reasonably priced and meant for short term drinking so I tried.  Glad I did.  Light golden in color.  The nose is slightly buttery with red apples and slight smoke/minerality.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is crisp with red apples and slight lemon.  Good finish.  This is enjoyable if not really showing a "sense of place".  It will work well with sea food and fowl dishes or buttery pasta.  Assuming no pre-mature oxidation, this should last for ten years at least.  

 

 

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