2003 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Demi-Sec, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

2003 was an extremely hot vintage across all of Europe.  The heat had two different effects on the vines.  Some of the grapes got withered and raisened from the heat.  Other vines just shut down an the grapes never got fully ripe.  And, a few places thru a combination of luck, micro-climates and hard work in the vineyard made good wines.  This wine seems to have a bit of all three of those.  Still, at age 15, it is drinking very well.  Medium deep golden in color.  The nose is sugary with apricots.  On the palate, this has nice apricot fruit.  Slightly sweet.  Not a lot of depth or complexi

2016 Lobster Point Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

This was tried from Magnum.  A Magnum retails for $15.  That is crazy.  And, you know what, it's not bad at all.  Silvery green in color.  The nose has grapefruit and slight crushed shells.  On the palate, this is clean with grapefruit notes.  Very solid and refreshing not much depth but good energy.  Food friendly.  Amazing value.  

2007 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, Ohio River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

About 150 years ago, the Ohio River Valley was one of the top wine producing spots in the United States.  These days, the wine industry is more tourist based, but a decade ago, Kinkead Ridge was producing some excellent reds and 2007 was a great vintage (something that only happens maybe once a decade).  This one is drinking just fine right now at age 11.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim.  The nose shows some tobacco, cherries, and slight spice.  Slight tannins on the palate.  Cherries with some depth and layering.  Nice balance.  In short, this drinks like a ten year old Brodeaux f

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cola and a bit of roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Very clean.  Still not yet at maturity, it may still have some upside.  Good balance with nice acidity.  Would work great with steakfish or fowl.  Rhys started commercially in 2004 and there wines have gotten better over time, but even the earlier ones seem to age quite well.  

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Just a beautiful wine.  Drinking youthfully but showing some development.  Open for business.  Purple in color.  The nose has leather, bramble, black raspberries.  Very deep.  With air, some graphite.  On the palate, black raspberries with an underlayer of charred earth.  A lovely texture; both velvety and intense.  great finish.  This would pair with heartier foods and certainly spicy foods.  This may not get better but has five to seven years left at peak easily and probably more as it morphs into more of a claret styled Zin.  So good right now though.  

2014 Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey 1er Cru Clos Tonnerre, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Light ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight dust and slight funk.  On the palate, this is open and drinking nicely.  Some depth.  Cherries with slight minerality.  This might have a bit of upside with good cellaring but won't make old bones.  That's fine as it will make enjoyable drinking over the next 7 to 10 years.  

2003 Walter Hansel Winery Pinot Noir The South Slope Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Purchased on release, this is holding up and in fact, drinking quite well at age 15.  It did need about 20 minutes to shed some bottle stink though.  Purple in color.  The nose has nice cherries, slight sour cherries, and some barnyard funk.  There is some Brett on the nose and palate showing as barnyard and slight band-aid.  On the palate, drying tannins.  Slightly sweet cherries.  And a bit of barnyard  comes through.  This is not drinking old, but probably never was a top level Pinot Noir.  Still, it has a nice complexity right now and seems in balance.  Would work well with fowl.  There

2015 Cantine San Silvestro Dolcetto d'Alba Primaio, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
82
Grade: 
B-

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Plenty of volatile acidity on the nose.  Some cherries and bitter cherries.  On the palate, more generic "red" fruit.  The VA carries over.  Drying on the finish.  I fear this wine is past prime.  It was being closed out at $12.  This wine begs for food (it is Italian) and strong flavors would work well.  

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