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

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$69.00USD

I had meant to open this with food, but we were starting to drink reds, and I wanted to open this earlier.  And the food was still being prepared, so we drank this as a cocktail.  It was very good that way, but luckily, there was a glass (or at least a few ounces left) to try with food.  Even better.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with lemon cream and slight vanilla.  It took a few minutes and then really picked up.  On the palate, this is crisp with good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Lemon cream and slight vanilla again.  Good finish.  This is young and probably could use more air

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

California makes some mighty fine Sparkling wines.  Sometimes they get dismissed as do many wines not from Champagne.  The truth is that there are great sparkling wines being made all over the world.  Light golden in color.  A nice bead of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with some yeast, a bit of ginger and slight strawberries.  Also some muskiness.  On the palate, this is fresh and lively.  It has a nice depth and complexity.  Decent acidity.  Worked great to start the evening but would also work great with food.  It would be interesting to watch this develop and mature over the next few

NV Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

Light yellow/silvery gold in color.  Slight froth with smallish bubbles.  No real nose, but with air a slight pine note comes out.  On the palate, this is sweet and not cloying though very sweet.  Nice minerality.  Long, long finish.  This will work as a cocktail or as a dessert wine.  Salty foods would probably be best.  

2014 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Vineyards, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This wine was stunning.  Seemingly in a great place right now.  Drunk alongside some their more higher priced wines, this seemed to be everyone's favorite.  Part of that was that the other wines need time but this was fantastic.  For $60, that is a great price for mountain fruit in Napa.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood, blueberries, and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice juicy texture.  Medium tannins, but not rough.  Notes of cassis and blueberries over a nice mineral base.  Great finish.  This will work with medium and heavier foods.  Not sure if this gets bett

2013 Burgess Mountaineer Estate Vineyards, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$119.97USD

This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Verdot and it is delicious.  Drinking very well right now, it will change over time as different varietals take more of a lead.  Right now, the Syrah is dominant.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, blueberries and char.  On the palate, this is a big wine and full of fruit.  It also has plenty of depth and complexity.  Juicy texture.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This wine has great acidity that will work well with roasted meats.  Indian dishes should match quite well.  

2013 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Estate Vineyards

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

Opened this and it was ok but very tight.  Checked in on day 2 and it was a bit better but not quite.  Finally on Day 3, this opened up and is drinking well.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, plums and tea along with a bit of spice.  On the palate, this is deep but will need some time to develop.  Still needs a bit more cellaring.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Hold for three to five more and then cellar for a decade or two after that.  This will drink great on its own or work with grilled meats.  Should be some upside.  

2016 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Lake County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is from one of the premier kosher wines in the US.  It retails for around $45.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  The nose has cassis, slight soap and cedar.  On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with a bit of dusty earth underneath.  Light tannins.  This probably should be consumed in the ext five years or so.  It will work well with meats and roasts.  

2014 Elvi Wines (Bodegas Castillo de Sajazarra) Rioja Herenza Crianza

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

A very nice bottle of Rioja that also happens to be Kosher.  This vintage is still available for around $25, but younger vintages can be found for under $15.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight dill.  Still has some firm tannins, but the overall texture is soft.  Lots of cherries and some sour cherries on the palate with some underlying dry earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  For those looking for Kosher wines, this is a nice alternative and will go great with seafood but also chicken.  This bottle is 5 years from vintage and drinking great, b

2016 Vitkin Carignan Old Vines, Israel, Sharon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This was a quite a nice surprise.  No idea as to how old the vines are but the first vintage this wine was made is 2002.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red berries; cherries, elderberries and red currants.  There is a slight, slight celery note as well which is there but hardly a distraction.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep with a nice complexity.  Soft texture but firm tannins.  Enough acidity.  Good cherry fruit with a slight red currant note.  Nice finish.  This seems like it is young and has some upside.  It should be good for five to ten more years.  Very

2016 Burgess Cellars Chardonnay Burnside Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

This is drinking great at pop and pour though it seems like it will do five more years easily and probably ten.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some grapefruit with a very slight vanilla.  Very clean.  On the palate this has ripe grapefruit, minerals, slightly chalky, with slight green apples.

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