2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

I used to drink a lot of this wine and earlier vintages back in the day.  Its been a while, but when a friend popped the cork, it was fun.  Still a great wine.  Ruby in color.  The nose is earthy with slight barnyard.  Cherries, slight dill, and slighter vanilla.  On the palate, cherry fruit with a bit of cherry cough drops.  Good acidity.  Very food friendly.  Softer texture.  Nice depth.  Seems to be drinking at or near peak but no hurry.  

2009 Donelan Syrah Walker Vine Hill, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Inky purple in color.  The nose is bright black raspberry fruit with some char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Black raspberry fruit.  Works well with food.  This is an outstanding wine, but at age 9, it is not showing the depth and complexity that might have been expected.  The question is whether it will develop.  2009 had heavy rains at harvest and pick dates often separated the great from the almost great.  It will be interesting to see where this goes over the next five to ten years.  Regardless, this is at a minimum, still a great wine.  

2008 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill, USA, California, Sonoma, Bennett Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, char and black pepper.  With air, a chalky quality emerges along with more concentrated black raspberries.  Good acidity.  Deep, still young and complex on the palate.  At ten years of age, this is ageing quite slowly.  Delicious and complex.  It slowly unwinds in the glass.  Still plenty of fruit and firm tannins suggesting much more room for development.  Long finish.  Worked great with hearty food.   

2015 Kutch Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Light golden in color.  The nose is clean with lemon peel, and slightly herbal notes (in a good way).  This is lean but persistent.  Tart green apples on the palate had me thinking of Chablis.  Although this is tight, it seems more open, especially with air, than a prior bottle.  Long finish.  This still needs more time to develop.  Very crisp and worked well with food. 

2015 Rivers Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Light gold green in color.  Great nose of lemon cream with integrated streaks of vanilla.  Slightly oily texture.  The lemon cream and vanilla carry thru.  Great acidity works in balance.  This is a big wine but so deft it handles the oak wonderfully.  Great with a wide variety of foods.  Plus, it is delicious.   One of my favorite Cal Chards.

2015 Kirkland Signature Zinfandel Old Vine

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is the Costco home brand.  My first time trying this and it was served to a group of people blind.  Everyone enjoyed this and for $17, there is some real value here.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, bramble and spice.  On the palate, this is middle of the road in style.  A nice backbone of acidity should make it friendly with a wide variety of foods.  Good finish.  Is this amazing?  No.  But it is quite solid and as good as quite a few California Zins costing twice as much.  

2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Somewhat of a disappointing showing for this.  It drank fine, but a lot more was expected based on a bottle consumed just a few weeks ago.  Hopefully, the wine is just shut down at the moment.  A second bottle was opened and most of it is left, so it can be watched over the next couple of days.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries and some char.  On the palate, this is tight with black raspberry fruit.  No obvious faults but just lacking anything interesting or complex.  The texture is good but not what has become a staple of this wine.  Given its history, hopeful

2007 Four Vines Zinfandel ZinBitch, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From Magnum.  Ruby in color, opaque and flat.  The nose is dusty with cedar and black cherries.  On the palate, this is older and starting to get tired.  There is a tart acidity.  Black cherry fruit and slight dried cherries.  Not sure what this was like in its youth but now it is more claret in style.  Drinking well right now with fruit and complexity.  That said, drink up as this will start to slide soon.  Works with a wide variety of foods.  

2015 Ghost Block Zinfandel Pelissa Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a big, forward style Zinfandel but stays just shy of being over the top for that style.  Purple in color.  The nose has blueberry pie, slight fruitcake spice and black pepper.  With air roasted herbs come out with a bit of bramble.  On the palate, this is delicious with black raspberries, blueberries and cherries.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  Would go well with bold flavored food especially cooked over a grill.  

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