2016 Treasury Wine Estates emBrazen Red Blend, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a series of new wines honoring "Brazen" women.  This one honors Josephine Baker whit was a 1920's showgirl and spy.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with tart cherries.    It is better on the palate.  Dark cherries, some cassis.  Easy drinking but some depth.  Sour cherries on the finish.  Some alcohol shows despite it being listed at 13.5%.  This is a solid wine that needs some hearty food.  It will benefit from a bit of air.  

2017 7 Moons Dark Side Red, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache.  It is a very drinkable wine that lists 13.5% Alc.  It retails for around $10 and this is a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cocoa and plums.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  A nice varietal complexity.  Tart acidity. Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Easy drinking and fun.  

2016 Miriam Alexandra Cabernet Sauvignon Napa County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, slight tobacco and slight cocoa.  A bit drying on the palate.  Nice cassis fruit.  Some depth, there may be some upside to cellaring this wine for a few years.  Light tannins.  Not a huge wine at all.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.   Available at Nakedwines.com.  

2016 Rabbit & Spaghetti Shiraz Iconic Shiraz, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Revview

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This was a very popular wine among friends.  Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs, slight roasted meats and black pepper.  On the palate, juicy black raspberry fruit.  Slightly jammy.  A bit sweet.  "Old school" Australian Shiraz but within reason.  Not over blown for the style.  This will need big and/or spicy food.  It also works very nice as a cocktail wine.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

2016 Camille Benitah Cabernet Sauvignon Foncé, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, dust and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Slightly tart acidity.  Plenty of cassis fruit with an underlying grittiness which is interesting.  It is a big and easy to drink Napa Cab but should have some upside over the next few years.  Plenty of fruit and not over ripe.  Will work with medium and heavier bodied foods.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

2013 Benjamin Laroche Chablis La Manufacture 1er Cru Vau Ligneau, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Hay gold in color.  The nose is filled with green apples and some chalk.  A bit of underlying minerality.  On the palate, sour green apples which get stronger with air.  Good acidity, but not great (especially for Chablis).  Long finish.  Lots of fruit here.  This will go with a wide variety of light and medium weight foods.  Not quite what I think of for Chablis, but very much a nice Chardonnay (if that makes sense).  Available at Nakedwines.com.

2017 Jacqueline Bahue Sauvignon Blanc Carte Blanche, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Screw capped.  Pale silvery/green/gold in color.  The nose is a mythical combination of New Zealand and old school California.  That is to say, lots of tropical fruits (guava and pineapple) and also a grassiness to it.  Very pleasant and easy.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  The tropical fruit carries thru.  Nice acidity to counter.  Dry.  Slightly oily texture (a good thing).  Long finish.  This is an easy drinking wine, but has some depth.  Works with lighter and medium bodied foods.  It probably won't get better but should drink well for a few years.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

NV Jean Philippe Moulin Champagne Brut Rosé, France, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Pale salmon/orange in color.  There is a nice mousse with lots of medium and small bubbles.  On the nose there are strawberries, cherries and oranges.  Not too pronounced but persistent.  On the palate, the cherries carry thru along with some orange peel (bitter in a good way).  There is a lot of acidity on this wine.  That is a great thing for working with food and waking up the palate.  Of course, palate's vary as well.  An very long finish that really lasts.  This is not a big wine.  There is persistent fruit but it won't overwhelm food and in fact, it works great with a wide variety of

2013 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This was quite good.  Not as big or expressive as expected.  In fact, it drinks very Northern Rhone-ish.   Purple in color.  On the nose there is black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight violets and underlying minerality.  Nice texture.  Layers unwind in the glass.  Though still tight, there is a nice complexity with black raspberry fruit and crushed dusty rocks.  Nice acidity as well.  Should continue to improve for a while and be good for a couple of decades after that.  

2006 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Wow.  Great wine.  Pop and pour, this got better or at least kept opening up all night.  Purple in color with a ruby rim.  Gorgeous nose of cassis, cigar box, nutmeg, and cherries.  On the palate, this has great layering that unwinds in the glass.  Cherries, cassis, earth and tobacco.  A nice backbone of acidity helps it work well with foods.  Delicious but complex.  If still youthful, not too far from peak but at least a couple of decades of life left.  Long finish.  

Pages

Pages