2015 Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is the basic Cab from this winery.  It is still expensive ($70 on release) but it is an outstanding wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, graphite and slight chocolate.  Full bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, licorice with underlying char/graphite.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This is still young but drinks great on its own.  It should continue to develop for another five years and be good for another ten after that.  A nice drink on its own and will work great with a steak or burger off the grill.

2018 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

For fans of the Viognier grapes, no appellation is better in my opinion than Condrieu.  When allowed to express itself and not over burdened with oak, this is a gorgeous yet delicate wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is so pretty with white flowers, quince and peach.  On the palate, this dances across the tongue.  It is delicious with the quince and peach coming thru along with underlying minerality.  While this should drink well for another five years, this is a wine that rewards drinking young.  The freshness and energy fade in the bottle and while still good, it loses a bit.  Great

2006 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

A tremendous Chateauneuf year in and year out.  This is drinking great right now.  80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Vaccarese and miscellaneous grapes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, plums, spice/garrique, slight bacon fat and dried flowers.  On the palate, this is just approaching prime.  Lush black cherry fruit with plums and underlying spices and earthiness.  Great texture.  Complex.  Vibrant.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and works well with a diverse set of roasted foods.  It should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  

2019 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This was the wine that put New Zealand wines on the worldwide map.  That was twenty or thirty years ago (the winery was actually founded in 1985), and it had been a while since I have tried this wine.  And, it is still excellent.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose has tropical fruits and limes.  Very nice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Just a hint of sweetness.  Tropical fruits with slight citrus.  Enough acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easily on its own.  It will work well with lighter foods, maybe a fruit salad?  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2001 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$350.00USD

This is a desert wine from one of the world's great winemakers.  At age 19, this is fresh and drinking great.  Tasted from a 375ml bottle.  Purple in color with ruby hues.  The nose is pretty with black cherries, dried red currants, slight mint and milk chocolate.  Full bodied and viscous.  Sweet but nowhere near cloying.  On the palate, this is rich with cherries, black cherries, slight simple syrup, dried herbs and slight alcohol.  Long finish.  This is complex, contemplative and also delicious.  It should easily go another decade or more.  This is one to sip a small glass with on its own

2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache.  The name comes from the period of non-compete after Orin Swift sold the Prisoner Wine label before he could create his own wines.  The wines are, in fact, very similar.  That is to say, they are big, bold and fruity wines that people will mostly love or not.  For me, they are delicious and serve an important reason to drink wines.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, blueberries, slight baking spices and slight chocolate.  Full bodied.  Moderate tannins.  The palate has the same black fru

2016 Andremily Syrah No. 5, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$122.00USD

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Syrahs.  This is a blend of 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black olives, chocolate and char.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  A lush texture but precise.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying charred earth.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is delicious.  Firm tannins.  This will continue to mature for another seven to ten years and be great drinking for another ten to fifteen after that.  It drins great on its own now and will work well with roasts of all

2016 Martinelli Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is a big, fruit styled Pinot Noir.  It is full of California sunshine and ripeness.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has bright cherries, baking spices and slight cedar notes.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Cherries and sour cherries.  Very clean.  Nice energy.  Right now, this probably works better on its own than with food, but with time, this should mellow a bit and work well with swordfish or even past dishes.  depending how you enjoy your Pinots, drink this over the next ten to twelve years.  

2008 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

Tasted from a Magnum.  This old guard of Napa is doing just fine thank you.  Delicious at age 12.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, mushrooms, and dust.  With a bit of air, it wakens up showing some chocolate and black cherry notes as well.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sweet cassis fruit with some dark chocolate and slight spice.  It has a nice depth to it.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  This got better all night long.  This should continue to drink well for ten to twelve years.  It works on its own and went very well with a veggie pizza.  

2012 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$525.00USD

This was from Magnum.  Just a gorgeous, if young, wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee, gravel and spice.  What a wonderful texture.  Lots of energy, lush but precise.  Almost understated at first on the palate, it just keeps its presence.  Not a fruit bomb but a lot going on.  Light to medium tannins.  Cassis, chocolate over a gravel base.  Long finish.  This needs a few more years until maturity and should be good for fifteen to twenty years after that.  Great on its own, it will work well with bolder food, say, ribs off the grill or roasted veggies

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