2012 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This was drinking quite well although it has years left.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, cedar, chocolate and cigar box.  On the palate, this is youthful but ageing well.  Layers of cherries, black cherries and tobacco.  A nice back bone of acidity.  Good finish.  This can be drunk along but shines with food.  Obviously Italian food but really a wide variety.  Probably about 5 years from peak and should be there for 8 to 10.  

2017 Guy Saget Sauvignon Blanc La Petite Perriere, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
83
Grade: 
B-

This is an under $10 Sauvignon Blanc from France.  It is made in the style of a Loire Valley wine, that is more mineral based with some fruit and good acidity.  Light golden in color.  The nose is fine with minerals, and slight grapefruit.  On the palate, this is slightly bitter.  An underlying minerality.  Slightly flabby.  Innocuous.  For the price, it is fine, but don't expect magic.  

1958 D'Oliveiras Madeira Boal Reserva, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1958
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

A birthday/birth year wine.  Iced tea in color.  The nose is nice with nuts, orange peel, and slight chocolate note.  On the palate, this is a bit nutty with some alcohol showing.  Good acidity.  Complex layering.  Long finish.  Like all 1958's, this is not quite mature but doing quite well.  ;-)

2013 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+

From Magnum.  Consumed over 4 days, it was probably best on day 3 and day 4.  100% Grenache.  16.4% Alcohol and not noticeable.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dark cherries, some coffee grounds, spice and slight floral notes.  On the palate, this is not as big of a wine as expected.  Wonderful seamless texture.  Delicious.  Dark cherries, cherries, spice along with light tannins.  Long finish.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  This is still quite young and has a few more years until maturity and a good decade or more after that.  One of the top examples of California Gren

2014 Sine Qua Non Syrah Piranha Waterdance, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano.  Inky purple in color.  This is very different for an SQN wine.  It does have 15.8% Alc but there is no sign of that.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, some roasted meats and herbs and black pepper.  On the palate, this is almost elegant.  It has a refined quality but also the intensity and concentration one expects.  Black raspberry and blueberry fruit on the palate with underlying coffee grounds and char.  Great texture.  Long finish.  This is still quite young and has some upside even as good as it

2014 K Vintners Syrah Powerline Estate, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and violets.  On the palate, this is almost seamless.  Black raspberry fruit, some black pepper.  Great juicy but lush texture.  Complex.  Long finish.  Needs big or spicy foods but there is enough acidity to handle them.  This is delicious and so easy to drink now, but should continue to mature for another 5 to 7 years and be good for at least a decade after that.  

2010 Quintessa, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cherries, cassis and chocolate.  Also some dustiness.  On the palate, this is very elegant.  Not the big fruit bomb I was expecting.  Cassis, layered with chocolate and char.  Great texture.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Seems to still be youthful.  There might be some upside but it is delicious now.  

1997 Viader Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with cassis, tobacco, and slight cherries.  On the palate, this has cassis and cedar over some tobacco and clay.  Nicely layered, this wine is drinking great right now.  Another Napa Cab that drinks like older Bordeaux with some years.  If you like mature wines, this is at peak, if you like fruit powerhouses, this is past.  It is balanced and very food friendly.  Drink up.  

1997 Opus One, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, it is slightly dusty and cedar.  On the palate, this still has some tannins left and plenty of fruit but is fully mature.  Cassis with some black olives.  This seems like a good bottle.  There is a nice complexity to it.  Very smooth.  Very food friendly.  Blind, i think most people would guess mature Bordeaux.  Of course, with a wine of this pedigree, there is always a lot of anticipation, but I think this is probably the wine producers were trying to  make back in 1997.  It succeeds at that if a very different wine from most 1997's.  

Pages

Pages