2013 Samsara Pinot Noir Turner Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

Another disappointing wine from this winery that has since changed ownership and winemakers.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and a whiff of bay leaf.  On the palate, this is thin and simple.  Not much body or depth.  Certainly drinkable but for this kind of money (about $50 on release), one expects more.  Drink now.  It probably should be served with lighter salads and with a chill.  

2016 Lyric by Etude Pinot Noir, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a very nice value wine from the Etude Winery.  It retails for about $20 (less in some places) and it very good.  Light to medium ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries with slight saline notes.  On the palate, this has juicy cherry fruit.  A slight salinity carries thru.  Nice finish.  It can be easy to dismiss a wine at this price range, but consumed blind among 10 Santa Barbara Pinots, this finished in the middle of the pack.  It probably should be consumed over the next three to five years.  Nice on its own, it would be a nice match with grilled salmon.  

2014 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is a bigger wine.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has fresh black cherries.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Lots of depth.  Turns slightly bitter on the finish.  Still drinking youthfully.  This should continue to drink well for the next decade.  It drinks well on its own, and will work with heartier fowl or meat dishes.  

 

2014 Samsara Pinot Noir Las Hermanas, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

The Samsara wines in our tasting did not perform well.  I am told that since about 2017, they have new owners and new winemakers, so I look forward to revisiting their wines.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with some cinnamon.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Cherry candy and red licorice notes.  Not a lot of depth but a glass is tasty.  Shorter finish.  This is drinkable and solid, but no more.  Drink up.  Probably better on its own than with food.  

2014 Siduri Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Very impressive showing in a recent tasting.  The kind of Pinot that pleased everyone.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, macerated cherries, slight brine.  On the palate, the cherries and black cherries come out.  This is big and bold.  A bit of sour cherries on the finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for the next five to seven years.  It works well on its own and will work well with roasted fowl.  

2011 Lafond Chardonnay SRH, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Golden in color, clear.  The nose has lemons and slight apple cider.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the apple cider notes are stronger.  Nice texture.  Some acid.  Mature if a bit past.  These should be consumed sooner than later.  It will work better with some lighter but rich foods.  Crab or lobster would work.

1997 Fonseca Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Decanted for about 6 hours prior to drinking.  This is a good if not great declared vintage.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has milk chocolate, cherries, and raspberries.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet with chocolate covered raisin notes.  Very tasty.  Some complexity.  Solid finish.  This is drinking very well now and should probably be consumed over the next decade though it will certainly have something ot offer after that.  Drinks well on its own, it would work well with a chocolate cake.  

2014 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

From Magnum.  This is a blend of 30% Mourvedre, 22% Zinfandel, 13% Syrah, 13% Tempranillo, 12% Grenache, and 10% Petite Sirah.  The bottle was opened for air for around 24 hours prior to serving.  Drank over two nights, it was consistent both nights.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums, black raspberries, cherries, gravel, black pepper and floral notes.  Crazy good and complex.  Full bodied and full throttle.  On the palate, all of those purple and red fruits seem to come out with underlying minerality and gravel.  Juicy acidity.  15.9% ABV but no s

2012 Sine Qua Non Syrah Stock, USA, California, Ventura, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
96
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$218.00USD

Another delicious wine from SQN.  It is a blend of 84% Syrah, 7% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah, 1% Mourvèdre and 2% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, slight black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Serious, fruit forward and intense wine.  On the palate, there are some tannins left.  Lots of black raspberry fruit over an earthy, meaty base.  Juicy acidity.  15.5% ABV but no heat.  Long finish.  In short, everything you could expect from this winery.  It is still young and should evolve over the next decade and drink well for ten mo

2013 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$260.00USD

This has really opened nicely since I last tried it.  Still young, but delicious.  Perhaps the best wine from Washington that I have had.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, boysenberries, black cherries, black olives and tarragon.  No burnt rubber that sometimes shows up in Washington Syrah.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the black and purple fruits dominate.  Black pepper.  Slight black olive with underlying minerals/rocks.  Wonderful lush but fluid texture.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is still maturing and should be great drinking for t

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