2013 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc Oakville, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is from the To Kalon vineyard in Napa.  Truly one of the best and certainly historic vineyards on the valley floor.  One of the best Cab Francs made in Napa.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight cigar tobacco.  Nice.  On the palate, this is ripe and avoids the green pepper that sometimes is in Cab Franc (for better and worse).  It has great black cherry fruit, some black raspberries.  Depth though still quite tight.  This is young and needs a decade IMO.  Long finish.  

2016 Domaine de la Pépière (Marc Ollivier) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine La Pépiè, France, Loire Valley, Muscadet, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

As I have said many times, Muscadet, from the best producers, is the single greatest value in the wine world today.  Pépière is certainly one of those producers.  This costs around $15.  It can be stored in a cellar for a decade or more, but is great right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose is all about sea shells and minerals with a whiff of salinity.  On the palate, this is light bodied.  Dry.  The minerals carry thru.  Of course, great with shell fish but just about any other lighter summer fare as well.  It works well with anything that a White Burgundy would work with only this is

2001 Weingut Hirsch Riesling Gaisberg, Austria, Kamptal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Medium/dark golden in color.  Very pretty.  The nose has nice minerality, slight petrol, and a hint of dried lemon.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Flavors of lemon, minerals and slight wet rock.  Nice finish.  This is drinking just find but showing its age.  Certainly not over the hill, however.  It has a nice complexity and depth at this point.  Worked well with cheeses and breads.  

2005 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Pop and pour.  Gorgeous wine for $15.  One of the great wine values in the world.  Can it age?  At age 13, I think it is a bit improved but certainly it has been harmed by cellaring.  Light golden in color.  The nose has great salinity.  Sear air, crushed shells/minerals and slight lime.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Crushed shells and minerals with some citrusy notes.  Nice finish.  Worked great with food.  should have bought more but the new versions are great as well.  

2012 Weingut Rosi Schuster Blaufränkisch, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Opened sitting outside on the first warm evening of the springtime and drunk with my Austrian neighbors.  Pop and pour.  Ruby with purple swirls.  The nose has sour cherries.  A bit deeper than say a Pinot and a bit more minerality.  Also a Mercurochrome medicinal note to the nose.  On the palate, this is clean with nice sour cherry flavors.  A hint of complexity if not a lot.  I don't drink a lot of this wine but the lack of tannins and development lead me to believe that this is about as good as it will get.  It had a nice back bone of acidity and really begged for food.  Worked well with

2000 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Hungary, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Opened by a friend and neighbor.  I think he said he brought it back from Hungary.  A 500 ml bottle which is a nice size for this.  Light brown/gold in color.  The nose is interesting with an apple cider quality to it.  Also an orange peel and slight honeyed note.  On the palate, the cider note continues.  Very interesting sour element added to the sweetness of the wine.  Not a ton of sweetness but just enough to make it for dessert.  Enough acidity to carry the sugar.  Long finish.  Very distinct from other Tokaji's I have had before.  In some ways, like from the soviet era with the less s

2014 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This was pop and pour and probably could have used a bit more air.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, slight bramble, a bit of pepper and iodine.  On the palate, this is quite juicy.  A bitterness at first which turned more to a sour cherry note.  I preferred the later.  Nice finish.  This is a big wine and while a bit jammy, in no way over the top.  A crowd pleaser.  

2001 Château de Malle, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Opened late in the evening (probably should have skipped it) but it was a nice treat.  Drinking great right now.  Golden in color, but not that dark for an 01 (purchased on release).  The nose is gorgeous with apricots and honey and a bit of burnt sugar.  On the palate, not quite as expressive but still quite nice.  Burnt sugar and apricots carry thru.  Viscous but not cloying.  Sweet but not overtly.  Ok acidity.  Long finish.  This was from a 375 and even in that format, has a long life left.  

Update. 

2007 Kunde Estate Syrah, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This was brought by one of our guests.  Pop and pour.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is nice.  Very much a cooler climate, lighter styled Syrah.  The nose has lots of red berries.  Some licorice and a bit of pepper.  Medium bodied.  Cherries and dark cherries on the palate.  Good acidity.  Sinewy tannins.  Not a block buster but a fine wine.  

2010 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Always a star.  This is is still young.  This bottle was opened at 9:00 am and served at 11:00 pm.  It was served with dessert; a bittersweet chocolate tart and it worked wonderfully.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has chocolate covered cherries, black raspberries, slight floral qualities and spice.  On the palate, this has a lively quality to it.  Juicy acidity. Lush.  This is a big wine but smooth with no signs of alcohol.  Delicious.  Ripe but not overtly or sweet.  Long finish.  Upside for sure and development.  No harm in drinking now but will continue to evolve for a while.  

Pages

Pages