2017 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

This is the top bottling from this winery.  This is a gorgeous Napa Cab that should get even better with about five to seven years of cellaring.  Purple in color, deep ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, spice and char and slight touch of fresh cut lumber (that should fade quickly).  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Firm tannins at the moment.  Nice juicy acidity/fruit - black raspberries over a bit of char.  Long finish.  This is delicious and really demands ones attention.  If opening before 2027, give it a good decant.  This will work with gril

2017 Jones Family The Sisters Jones Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries and an interesting iodine note.  This is of course young with firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries over a bit of charred wood.  A very long finish with some warmth.  This wine should start opening up around 2023 and be good for around ten years after that.  If drinking before, give it a good decant.  It will drink well on its own but will need bigger food for now.  Think roasted meats.  

1999 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is the first year that this wine was made.  It is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah.  At age 20, this seems to be at peak.  It is drinking great with no signs of being over the hill.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the rim (a nice sign of youth).  The nose is all about boysenberries along with hints of black pepper and some charred wood.  On the palate, this is slightly soft with no tannins left.  It is almost seamless.  Deep and complex.  Boysenberry fruit over a bed of char and dry earth.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This will go with a wide range of medium and heavier fo

2009 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is a blend of 87% Syrah and 13% Petite Sirah.  At age ten this is just starting to come into its own.  We drank this side by side with a 1999 which was illustrative.  Deep ruby in color with some purple swirls.  The nose is big with black raspberries, char and minerals.  A wonderful, full bodied texture.  Black raspberry fruit over a char/mineral/earthy base.  Tight layering with moderate tannins.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This does have some upside as it mature and comes together.  If opening now, give it a few hours in a decanter.  This drinks great on its own and will work well wit

NV Graham Porto Six Grapes Reserve, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a great value in Port wines.  Is it an amazingly complex Port?  No, but its also less than $20.  It is a tasty and warming beverage that is a crowd pleaser.  Purple in color.  The nose has chocolate, raspberries and slight raisins.  On the palate, this is more like chocolate covered cherries.  It is viscous and slightly sweet.  There is some depth and complexity.  Warming on the finish.  This is great on its own, but use a small pour as there is a lot of alcohol.  It will also work great with a chocolate dessert.  

2016 Cooper and Thief Cellarmasters Select, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

It was nice to revisit this wine that I had tried twice about a year ago.  At the time it was a love it or hate it wine, so I was curious what a year of ageing had done.  It really hadn't done much.  The wines was still about in the same place.  Served to a crowd, it was indeed, love it or hate it.  That was fun.  Magenta in color with some purple swirls.  The nose has cassis, bourbon barrels and is dusty.  On the palate, I found it sweet although others did not.  Loads of black cherry fruit and char.  It is smooth and certainly different.  Probably better on its own than with food.  It doe

2015 Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvée Marcel Lapierre MMXV, France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is the top cuvee from one of the top producers in Beaujolais.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has a significant amount of barnyard on it.  While I enjoyed it, this may be off putting to some.  Also, plenty of cherries, black cherries, and charred wood.  On the palate, the cherries come thru along with some sour cherries, and a bit of earthiness.  Plenty of depth.  Great acidity.  Still showing very young with light tannins.  Nice finish.  This probably needs another three to five years if well stored.  It will work well with casseroles and stews as well as roas

2016 Sosie Syrah Vivio Vineyard, USA. California, Sonoma, Bennett Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

The first bottle of this I tried had likely been exposed to heat during shipping.  It is great that I was able to try a proper bottle.  Much better.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Interesting nose.  It is smoky with a scent that reminded me of a really good corned beef sandwich at a Jewish deli.  That is meaty, slightly salty, a bit of yeast, and slight roasted meats.  Very proper and welcoming.  This is a cool climate Syrah and it drinks very well.  There is some bacon fat too, but that wouldn't go at a Jewish Deli.  ;-)  There also is some boysenberry fruit lurking in the background.

2017 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

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

Hess is an excellent winery with a long track record.  This wine is one that is a consistently good value every vintage and reasonably easy to find.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose is tight at first, but opens to black cherries, some cassis and some baking spices.  On the palate, the black cherries carry thru.  Light tannins.  Easy drinking.  It might get a bit better with a couple of years of age but should be drunk in the next few years.  This will go great with grilled or roasted foods.  

2017 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Ribera del Duero Bela, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This was quite popular at our Intowine.com tasting.  It is a young wine from Spain made from Tempranillo.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, sea air and just a bit of woodiness.  On the palate, this has a nice balance.  Light with silky tannins.  The wine flutters on the palate.  Soft with black cherries and just a bit of anise. It is very tasty with some depth and complexity.  It won't get better than this and should be consumed in the next few years.  

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