2014 Gregory James Pinot Noir Patchy Fog, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This was offered at a local wine store.  They listed the price at $20 which is a good value for a Pinot of this quality.  It is lighter in style, especially for California and that seemed popular with the crowd.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is slightly earthy with a macerated cherry quality.  Very nice.  On the palate, there are slight tannins.  Cherries with a pretty silky texture.  A slight bitter note on the finish.  All in all this is a very pretty wine.

2016 Rudi Wiest Dry Riesling, Germany, Rheinhessen, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

Light green gold in color.  The nose has a "sweet" quality to it with wet rocks and pineapple.  That is not meant to say the wine is sweet.  It just seems like it will be when sniffing it.  On the palate, this has a nice minerality.  Some tart pineapple is a good way to describe it.  It has some depth to it.  Very food friendly, it will go with all but the heartiest and maybe even then.  It would be great with spicy Asian foods.  This was selling for $12 which is a great value.  

2017 Domaine de la Bretonniere Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

Muscadet's are some of the best values in the wine world.  This one sells for around $13.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a nice minerality along with crushed shells and some sea air.  A slight hint of lime peel.  Om the palate, there is a nice tart acidity.  Some green apple notes and a long finish. The classic pairing would be with oysters but this will work with a wide variety of lighter foods.   These are best drunk in their youth, i.e. Now!

2017 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas, USA, California, Adelaida District Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is basically the second wine of Esprit de Tablas from Tablas Creek although they make a lot of different wines, not all available without being in their wine club (highly recommended).  This sell for around $30 and can often be found at retail shops.  It is young and will likely improve a bit over the next few years.  Screw capped!  Grenache, Syrah, Counoise and Mourvedre.  Whereas the Esprit can be compared to a Chateauneuf du Pape, this is more like a better Cotes du Rhone or even a Gigondas.  It has a deep ruby color with some purple swirls.  The nose has black cherries, slight eart

2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Coast to Foothills California, USA, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is the new basic Syrah offering from Bedrock.  It is from multiple appellations thus carrying the California designation.  It is recently released and (hopefully) will improve a bit.  It sells for around $28 delivered from the winery.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, white pepper, slight floral notes and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this seems a bit restrained.  Nice black raspberry fruit and easy drinking.  Not showing a lot of depth or complexity at this point.  Nice finish.  Easy drinking, this will be a nice wine with BBQ or pizza.  Will it take that

2017 Jaffurs Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is their basic bottling (not vineyard designated) and is a tremendous value.  It is a warmer climate styled Syrah but not over the top.  Sporting a newly revised label and under new ownership, this wine is every bit as good as those released by Craig Jaffurs.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black pepper and roasted meats.  On the palate, this has a nice juicy acidity.  Delicious black raspberry fruit.  Nice depth although still young with medium tannins.  Nice finish.  This is a gulpable wine that goes down quite easily.  It will work with bigger and or s

2007 Sineann Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

2007 in Oregon was a love it or hate it vintage.  The wines tended to be thinner and less ripe.  Whether this is good is up to the taster.  While I have had some lovely wines from that vintage, for the most part, it is not one of my favorite vintages.  Sineann tends to make bigger styled Pinots (on an Oregon scale), so it was interesting to see how this was drinking at 12 years from vintage.  For my tastes, this was not up to the usual level of enjoyment.  Ruby in color.  The nose has some cherry juice, a bit of spice and slight herbaceous quality.  On the palate, this is light bodied.  Lig

2009 Torrin The Maven, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Torrin makes some of the best Syrahs.  They are starting to get more respect from the major critics but they still don't have the buzz of some other wineries.  That is good for those people looking to get on the mailing list or not pay three figures for a bottle.  If there is a "complaint" it is that the wines are concentrated and backward and in need of cellaring to get the most out of them.  That is difficult because they are so good on release.  Somehow, however, I managed to make this one last.  75% Grenache, 25% Syrah.  Purple in color.

2009 Sineann Pinot Noir Reserve Schindler, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

To my knowledge, no one uses this vineyard any longer which is a shame as it produced some outstanding Pinots.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, macerated cherries with a nice funky earthiness.  Gorgeous texture.  Deep and complex but still youthful.  Ripe cherry and black cherry fruit with slight tannins.  Long finish.  Just a gorgeous Pinot that at age 10 still has some upside.  Drink now with air or hold for at least a decade.  Worked well with pizza!

2015 E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is always a great value.  Just a step up from the Cotes du Rhone and a bit deeper and darker.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, slight violets, cedar and pepper.  On the palate, this is juicy with bold black raspberry fruit.  Slight tannins.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  2015 was a great year in the Northern Rhone and value wines like this are a great play.  It should be good for the next five to seven years at least.  Great with stews, meats and spicier foods.  

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