2014 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Made by Thomas Rivers Brown at his eponymous winery.  This is the basic Napa bottling and not the single vineyard wines.  It is still a great Napa Cabernet.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cedar and spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Cassis fruit with some spice.  Firm tannins.  This will continue to improve for a decade but is delicious now with a long decant.  There is some oak but it works deftly with the fruit.  Deep.  Great finish.  At $6, it is well priced for a higher quality Napa Cab.     

2016 Sineann Pinot Noir Oregon, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is actually one of the better values in Oregon Pinot Noir from year to year.  It is a blend of what is left over after the single vineyard bottlings.  It is a great way to check in on a vintage and the fact that it is available in a 375ml format makes it great from a lot of purposes.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has sour cherries with some black cherries.  Light tannins on the palate.  Juicy, black cherry fruit.  Finishes a bit sour.  These are on the larger size for Oregon Pinot but age quite well and after a decade drink much more mature.  

2014 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

7% Syrah, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 3% Sangiovese and 2% Viognier.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some black pepper, spice and slight floral notes.  On the palate, this has some depth with a nice varietal complexity.  Good mouth feel.  Works well with or without food.  I don't know if this improves but should last a decade or so.  It is basically, the "leftovers" for the Jonata single varietal wines.  That doesn't mean it is not excellent in its own right.  A nice alternative to their expensive bottlings.  

2011 Keplinger Lithic, USA, California, Amador County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose is nice with leather, plums, black raspberries, pepper, dark cherries and spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Very nice texture.  Lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit.  Depth.  Drinking quite well now but still youthful.  Worked well with spicy food.  This is ripe but not over ripe.  Possibly some upside but easily has another decade or more of life left.  

2015 Donelan Vénus, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a white Rhone blend of grapes; Rousanne and Viognier.  Golden in color.  This was served at red wine temperature which for me was ideal.  It really cut down on the acidity and brought out the aromatics.  YMMV.  The nose is really nice with candle wax, slight peach, floral notes and minerals.  On the palate, this is dry and full bodied.  A bit of honey nevertheless along with peach and vanilla.  Lovely texture.  Good finish.  This worked quite well with food.  There is a nice depth to this.  It drinks very "red" like.  

 

2012 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fact, black olives and slight violets.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Not yet at peak, but getting there.  Some depth.  Great balance.  Black raspberries, slight char and a bit or earthiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This has a bit more fruit than a "typical" St. Joseph but still shows a nice sense of place.  Should be good for a decade or more.  Around $25 on release, a great value.  A Fass Import wine.  

2013 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Wow.  One of the great wines in the world.  This was a 100 point wine.  And it's still young!  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, cedar, floral notes, spice and licorice.  Intoxicating.  On the palate, it is deep and complex.  Seamless.  Silky tannins.  Juicy acidity.  Cassis, blueberries, slight leather, dry/burnt earth in layers.  Long finish.  This easily as a few decades and will no doubt evolve, but will it get better?  Perhaps, but it is fantastic right now.  This was about $200 on release, but for a wine this good, this is reasonable.  

2011 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Saxum did quite well with their 2011's, a difficult and cooler vintage than most.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight roasted herbs, white pepper and roasted meat.  On the palate, this is full bodied with a nice texture.  Pure black raspberry fruit.  Deep but opens in the glass.  Normally, I think ten years is about right to wait but this one is a bit ahead of that.  Getting closer to peak.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Works with food or delicious on its own.  Really a great Syrah.  

2014 Saved, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

A blend of Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Zinfandel, and some other stuff too.  Ruby in color, purple at the rim.  The nose is nice.  Cherries, dark cherries, spice, chocolate and pepper.  Also some leather.  On the palate, there is some varietal complexity.  Not a ton of depth but width.  Easy to drink.  Firm tannins.  Probably better drunk in the next few years to enjoy its vibrancy.  It retails for under $25 and that is a fair price.  This is one of those fruit forward, kitchen sink wines that are popular right now and this competes with them and beats most on price.  Attractive, silk screened l

2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice with wet stones and slight peach.  Clean and without diesel.  On the palate, this is mineral drive.  Delicious.  Some peach.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Food friendly.  Showing some complexity as it opens in the glass.  The wine is drinking great now but should continue to evolve and probably improve over the next five to ten years.  

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