2016 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

This is the best selling Chardonnay in America and has been for 25 years.  Almost three million cases are produced annually.  While it's ubiquitous, some times wine geeks are too easy to dismiss it.  This is an excellent value in Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with specks of green.  The nose has vanilla, apples and a bit of honey.  On the palate, this is ever so slightly ripe/sweet.  No bitterness.  Easy to drink with apples and honey coming thru.  Clean.  Moderate acidity.  Moderate finish.  It worked well with a variety of garden and fruit salads and was certainly drinkable on it own.

2017 J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco Monterey, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

An inexpensive Chardonnay that is a pretty good value for the money.  Light golden in color.  The nose offers up some melon and tropical fruit and just a touch of spice.  On the palate, this has a bit of crispness.  The melon carries thru.  Creamy texture.  Slightly bitter/woody on the finish.  Worked well with assorted salads.  Drink now.  

2017 Les Portes de Bordeaux Bordeaux Rosé, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This is a Trader Joe's wine made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is an easy drinking rose that is easy on the budget.  Deep pink/orange in color.  The nose has some watermelons and strawberries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, a bit of clean strawberries.  Drank well enough on its own and worked with a variety of garden and fruit salads.  Drink up this summer.  

2015 Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a Bordeaux blend with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc.  It is a bit more understated than the Cabernet from the True Vineyard.  Drinking well now, this improved with a bit of air and really needs a few more years in the cellar.  But it is fantastic right now.  People who prefer Bordeaux will probably prefer this to the Cab and visa-versa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight blueberries, milk chocolate, cigar box, vanilla and spice.  Yes, there is a lot going on.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Compl

2016 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is a very nice value in Napa Cabs.  Of course, it is still an expensive wine, but that happens in Napa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood and other spices, and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is big but not over the top.  Lots of cassis with underlying earthiness/tobacco.  It is delicious.  Still young, this should easily mature for the next decade and probably two.  Drinking quite well now though.  It will go well with roasted meats or veggies.  

2017 Sineann Abondante, USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Sineann gets grapes in Oregon and Washington and makes quite a few different wines.  This one is a blend of grapes that did not get bottled as a single varietal.  It is always a great wine and a better value.  This vintage it contains Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel.  By the way, Abondante means "generous" in Italian.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, slight chocolate and forest floor.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  This is medium to full bodied.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with some cherry over a forest floor quality.  Good finish.  This is very fle

2014 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

This is the base bottling from one of the better producers of Napa Cabernet.  The grapes come from Larkmead Vineyard.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, spice, and a bit of floral notes.  On the palate, this is lush.  Medium tannins.  Lots of cassis over a bit of dry earth and slight vanilla.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature and improve for another five to ten and be good for another decade and a half after that.  It is delicious right now on its own and will need bolder foods.  As it matures it will offer a broader array of possibilities.  

2017 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Cabernet Sauvignon Los Vascos, Chile, Colchagua Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This is an inexpensive Cabernet from Chile made by the same family who makes such great wines in Bordeaux, France.  This is a wine that is meant for people who like wine and don't want to spend a ton of money with a goal of finding something drinkable.  This meets that goal.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has some dusty black raspberries.  On the palate, this has black raspberry fruit.  It is a bit sweet.  Clean, short finish.  It presents a fine alternative on restaurant lists with high markups as well.  It is not meant to age.  It would be good with a burger or other grilled foods.  

2018 14 Hands Rosé, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$5.00USD

This is from a can although it appears they also sell this in bottles.  It is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Grenache.  It has a reasonably deep pink/ruby color.  The nose has cherries and raspberries.  On the palate, this is easy drinking and refreshing.  Flavors of cherries and strawberries.  No tannins.  Ready to drink now.  Worked well with salty fried food but should go with a wide variety of foods.  The trend of wine cans is catching on.  For wines that are made for now, this is a convenient, non-breakable alternative.  I hope more wineries go this route.  

2014 Blankiet Estate Merlot Prince of Hearts Rose, USA, California,

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is interesting.  I normally prefer a Rose to be young (with a couple of important exceptions) but this still tasted youthful at 5 years from vintage.  It is made from Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc.  Orange/salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has watermelons, strawberries and slight hay.  On the palate, this is clean with just a touch of acidity.  Cherries and strawberries.  Nice finish.  This will go with anything from a light salad to a burger or fowl.  

Pages

Pages