2006 Hundred Acre Vineyard Shiraz Summer's Block Ancient Way, Australia, Barossa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

One of the better Shiraz out there.  At 12 years from vintage, this was in a beautiful place.  It is still youthful and will easily go another decade or more.  Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, iodine, black pepper, violets and slight grilled meats. On the palate, this has a lovely texture; glycerin and full bodied but with good acidity that cuts through.  Lots of black raspberry fruit, light tannins and underlying minerality.  Worked well with food.  Nice finish.  Proof that at least some of the huge Shiraz bombs will stand the test of time.  

2011 Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Atlas Peak, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is a blend of 97.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.5% Petit Verdot from Heidi Barrett.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, slight smoke, bell pepper and tobacco.  On the palate, this is nice and everything is in proportion.  Not a lot of depth.  Tannins mostly resolved.  Worked well with vegetarian stuffed mushrooms.  A fine wine but its price tag on release was $250.  Granted 2011 was a difficult vintage, but that is a lot of money for this wine. 

2017 Sineann Pinot Noir Phelps Creek, USA, Oregon, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple/ruby in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries with slight sour cherries and sandalwood.  On the palate, this is a big Pinot on Oregon standards.  Sour cherries, some underlying char.  Full bodied.  Slight tannins.  This should work well with medium bodied and heavier foods.  Think Salmon, game, etc.  Screw capped.  It is still young and should improve a bit.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2014 Treasure Hunter Cabernet Sauvignon Full Quiver, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Treasure Hunter wines have made a nice name for themselves buying excess juice that was not wanted and repackaging it and selling it at a lower price.  Some offerings are, of course, better than others.  This one is quite good.  It retails for around $20 which is an excellent value for a quality Washington sate Cabernet.  Purple in color.  The nose has nice cassis with leather and some cedar spice.  On the palate, this has nice Cassis fruit.  Some underlying spice.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  Will work with heartier foods.  Very solid and actually, better than just solid.  

2013 El Escoces Volante Garnacha Es Lo Que Hay Viñas Viejas, Spain, Calatayud, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is an inexpensive Spanish Garnacha (Grenache) from Spain.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has dusty black cherries.  Sweet and slightly candied on the palate with black cherry fruit as well.  Clean.  This sells for around $20.  It will work with heartier foods.  This should be consumed in the next few years.  A fun wine that should be a hit among non-wine geeks.  

2013 DFJ Vinhos PAXIS Bulldog, Portugal, Lisboa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B-

A blend of  Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca. This is an easy drinking red from Portugal.  It retails for around $10.  Ruby in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with candied cherries.  On the palate, this is sweet, jammy and candied.  This retails for around $10, so its fine, but this is a wine, for casual wine lovers.  It's not meant to be cellared or contemplative.  

2017 Maurice Martin Saint-Veran, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Green gold in color.  The nose has nice minerality with slight lemons.  On the palate, the lemons carry thru along with a slight bitterness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This retails for $23.  It will works nicely with sea food and salads.  Should be drunk in the next few years.  

2017 Ottella Lugana Le Creete, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a wine made from the Trebbiano grape on the shores of Lake Garda from the Lugano DOC.  Light golden in color.  Lovely nose of tropical fruit, slight grassiness and underlying minerality.  Very Sauvginon-like.  On the palate, this is round and slightly oily.  Velvety.  Very nice texture.   NIce acidity.  Just a bit of lemony fruit with good minerality.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly and a crowd favorite.  

2015 K Vintners Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard, USA, Washington, Wahluke Slope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is quite good but needs a bit of cellar time to hit its potential.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, leather and slight white pepper.  It seems tight and tannic on the palate.  With air it has pretty sweet black raspberry fruit with some charred meat and an underlying mineral streak.  Good finish.  This has plenty of upside but if drinking before 2020, give it a nice decant.  

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