2017 Dark Horse Wines Chardonnay The Original Dark Horse, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

A nice compliment to their Cabernet.  This is an inexpensive Chardonnay that strikes a mostly middle ground.  It is a good choice for large parties or the casual wine lover.  Light to medium golden in color.  The nose has vanilla, caramel, and slight baked apples.  On the palate, the apples are a bit fresher while the vanilla and caramel remain.  Broad with an acidic bite.  Just a bit of butter.  Easy to drink on its own.  Made for immediate consumption.  

2017 Dark Horse Wines Cabernet Sauvignon The Original Dark Horse, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This was served recently at a party that I attended.  It was a chance to try a wine that I normally would not taste.  Full retail is around $13 but it can usually be found for a lot less.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose has black cherries, dust and slight sawdust.  On the palate, this has a lot of black cherry fruit.  Slightly drying tannins.  A bit of warmth going down.  Overall, it is a nice party wine that is great for crowds that are standing around a nibbling.  It is made for immediate drinking but probably good for another few years.  Distinctly better than I expected a

2016 Carlisle Compagni Portis, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Mike Officer makes some really nice wines at fair prices.  His whites might even be better values than his reds.  This is a field blend of Gewürztraminer, Trousseau Gris, Riesling and other white grapes.  Pale silvery gold in color.  The nose is great with lychees, peaches and floral tones.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Dry and refreshing.  Peaches and slight pears with good minerality.  Nice finish.  This is drinking quite well now and it probably should be consumed over the next couple of years.  It will go well with salads, sushi or even Thai food.  

2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is one of those bottles that is both good and disappointing at the same time.  It is a very good bottle, but considering the vintage, the region and yes, the price ($60 on release), it should have been better.  Still, it was good.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, mushrooms/earthiness and spice.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit.  A bit of depth.  No tannins.  Decent acidity.  OK finish.  This will work better with food and fowl would be a particularly good match.  No real signs of development but no real sign of age either.  

2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

A friend opened this bottle for me.  I believe this was their first release of this wine.  Although I believe Outpost is making better wines now than they were then, it was a pleasure and an insight into how well these wines can age.  This is drinking beautifully and still on the youthful side.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice and slight dried floral notes.  On the palate, this is concentrated.  It has a wonderful texture.  Juicy black cherry fruit.  Long finish.  It still has some lighter tannins to resolve.  This will go well with medium and heavier foods.  It

2014 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$390.00USD

This is showing to be the equal of the 2007 and the best wine ever made by Thomas Rivers Brown which is no faint praise.  An exceptional bottle of wine that while young now is incredible and may still improve.  It will certainly evolve.  One can debate if a 100 point wine can get better on a philosophical basis.  There is no question that this is a 100 point wine now, so what happens if it does improve?  In any event, this is a shimmering, bright, opaque purple in color.  The nose has cassis, graphite, blueberries, cedar and starting to show a charred earth note.  On the palate, this is sea

2012 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

Bevan Cellars makes some of the best wines anywhere but his Napa Cabs are very expensive.  So is this one, but it is half the price of the others and that makes this a great value in the rarefied air of top Napa Cabs.  On release, this was $95.  This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

2014 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is still youthful but opens nicely in the glass and as we drank it.  Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice with lemon custard and nice minerality.  Like most Rivers Marie Chardonnays, there is some oak showing but is used deftly and not at all a problem.  On the palate, this is crisp and focused.  Lemon cream and minerals.  Long finish.  This works quite well with food and also will work on its own.  It won't get better but should easily cruise thru the next decade.  

2015 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Sta. Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a winery that I have found to be hit or miss for my personal tastes.  Sometimes the oak can be a bit much and other times the wines are wonderful.  This one was quite good although it pushed my tolerance for oak.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has vanilla, lumber, peaches and floral notes (white?).  On the palate, this has a nice creamy texture.  Lots of peach fruit.  Spice and oak are present but not over bearing.  This is a rich and voluptuous style but not a caricature.  At the end, I found it quite good.  It will go well with rich see food and similar salads.  This should la

2006 Clos des Papes, France, Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  It won't get better although it will continue to mature.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is gorgeous with Black cherries, garrique, violets and tapenade.  On the palate, the texture is incredible.  Soft yet structured.  The wine just glides down the palate.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries layered with a bit of earth.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This will go great with meat dishes and anything roasted.  No hurry, it should be at this level for a decade and even then some.  

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