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.  

2011 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A+

Golden in color.  The nose is classic Rhys and gorgeous.  Lemon cream and vanilla with an underlying rocky minerality.  On the palate, this is almost seamless in a creamy texture.  Lemon and vanilla notes.  Bright fruit.  It is not as big as some vintages but this is not reticent either.  Delicious.  Still youthful.  It opens in the glass and improves in the bottle.  So good right now it might not be worth risking holding, but it should still get better.  One of the best California Chardonnays I have had.  

2009 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Les Poruzots, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light golden in color.  The nose has some lemons, a bit of hay but a touch of oxidation as well.  Not too much though.  On the palate, the lemons carry thru with nice acidity.  Slightly candied on the finish.  This kept improving all night with air and the bit of oxidation seemed less obvious as other elements were more present.  Nice finish.  This worked quite well with a funghi pizza.  It may improve a bit with more storage, but it seems like it should be drunk sooner than later at this point.  Of course, one always worries with oxidation and white Burgundies.  

2015 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Lower East, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  This was tight but opened quickly to show black raspberries, slight roasted meats and a bit of pepper.  On the palate, this has a silky texture.  Black cherries.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is probably as good as this gets but should be nice drinking for five years.  At $25 retail, this is fairly priced.  Will work with medium and heavier foods.  

2015 Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a great value for around $20.  Having had it in multiple vintages, it is very consistent.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, black pepper and some cedar.  A bit of roasted meat as well.  On the palate, this is big and fruity but there is also depth and complexity.  Bright acidity.  Good finish.  This will work with big or spicy foods.  It should last for 5 to 8 years but probably won't get better.  That's ok, it is really good today.  

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