2006 Domaine René Leclerc Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Champeaux, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

About ten years ago, a west coast retailer dumped these on the market.  And, I mean dumped.  About $15 a bottle.  Never knew why but bought some anyway as did lots of others.  It seems that has tainted the perception of this wine as every time people open one, the story is told and the comments factor in the price.  Frankly, that does this wine a dis-service.  At age 13, from a solid vintage, this wine is drinking quite well and appears to be at peak.  Pale ruby in color.  The nose is earthy, slightly dishwater with good fresh cherries as well.  On the palate, this is clean with cherries, m

2005 Gérard Raphet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Well, this was one of the better values I have had in Burgundy in a while.  It was $70 on release with current vintages retailing for $110 or so.  Pop and pour, this seems to be at peak or just getting there.  It improved in the first thirty minutes and then held until the bottle was empty.  Light ruby in color.  A bit pale.  The nose is strong though with cherries and a slight earthy funk.  Maybe just a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has nice layering of fruit (cherries) and earth.  Good balance.  Persistent finish.  It went very well with food.  Delicious but also contemplative.  

2015 Eral Bravo Malbec Urano, Argentina, Lujan de Cayo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a relatively inexpensive and widely distributed Malbec that show up on a lot of wine lists.  I prefer their Syrah but the Malbec is functional and not a bad choice when looking to not spend a lot of money.  Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with some plums and a bit of sweet alcohol.  On the palate, the plums come thru with some black cherry notes.  It is a touch warm.  Nice finish.  Works well with pastas, meat and pizza.  These drink well for about five years from vintage.  

2015 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

My first time trying this and it was excellent.  Pop and pour and enjoyed with a shishito pepper dish that worked quite well.  Pale silvery/gold in color.  The nose has a salinity that is nice with minerals and slight green apples.  On the palate, this is not as austere as I had been led to believe.  In fact, it is very round and full bodied.  Nice apple fruit with underlying minerality.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious wine that is drinking well today but probably has a decade left.  It seems like it has the stuffing to mature and gain in complexity so probably still some upside.  

2016 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Shifflett Ranch, USA, California, Napa, Oak Knoll District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

My first time trying this wine.  William Segui works closely with Thomas Rivers Brown at Rivers Marie, Outpost and other TRB projects but this wine is he and his wife's own project.  The vineyard has been in his wife Mary's, family for 70 years.  The wine itself is excellent and for their first time at bat, they hit a home run.  Inky purple in color, magenta at the rim.  Pop and pour, this took some time to open and was still getting better when the last drop was consumed a couple hours later.  Bright and opaque.  The nose is really unique.  Sure, it has cassis and a bit of blueberries, but

2015 Maison Champy Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes, France, Burgundy, Wine Reviews

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$78.00USD

Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with lemons, slight vanilla, and a bit of grapefruit.  On the palate, this is nice but a bit more depth would be nice.  Decent acidity.  Some lemon and grapefruit.  Went well with a vegetarian pasta dish.  This cost $70 and that is the biggest thing.  Hard to justify that unless one lays it down the cellar.  But, with white Burgundies, that raises the risk of premature oxidation.  I am not sure what the answer is, but I find myself buying less White Burgundy.  That said, if you have this, it should be cellared for at least five more years.  

2013 Familia Zuccardi Tito Zuccardi Altamira, Argentina, Valle de Uco, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Ancellotta.  It is a big wine made from Estate grown fruit in Paraje Altamira.  It is a big wine that clocks in at 14% Abv although it seems a bit higher.  It is also delicious and makes a great drink when sitting around with friends.  Deep purple in color.  The nose has plums, some black raspberries, spice and slight coffee bean.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  It is thick and voluptuous.  Plums and cassis flavors with some oak.  Slightly ripe/sweet on the finish.  A fun wine that should be consumed in the next few yea

2016 Boen Wines Pinot Noir, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a bigger styled RRV Pinot Noir but the fruit seems a bit less ripe.  It makes for an interesting wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose shows rhubarb, slight cherries, a hint of cola and plenty of oak/spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  It feels high in alcohol without having any heat.  It is smooth and easy drinking with a ton of rhubarb and some cherry flavors.  Slight tannins.  This probably makes a better drink on the deck than at the dinner table.  Probably best drunk over the next couple of years.  

2015 Burrowing Owl Merlot, Canada, Okanagan Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

From the Pacific Northwest in Canada, this is a very nice fruit forward styled Merlot.  It is interesting that they were able to get this wine ripe that far north.  14.8% Abv on the label.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, cherry preserves and slight dark chocolate.  On the palate, this is a big wine, slightly viscous.  Jammy cherry fruit.  Probably better to drink on its own.  Tasty.  Good finish.  This will be a love it or hate it wine for many people.  I enjoyed it very much.  

2014 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Always a top Chardonnay known for its richness, this does not disappoint.  Light golden/green in color.  The nose has tropical fruits, melon, and a bit of a vanilla/floral note.  Very pretty.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Enough acidity to make it lively.  Melons with a touch of butteryness.  Long finish.  It is a delicious wine and drinks well without food.  It will work with richer foods or even a lighter salad.  Drinking at peak right now, no hurry but probably should be consumed in the next five years.  

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