2014 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas, USA, California, Mendocino - Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Great example of a cooler climaate northern California Syrah.  This is tight and young and has a couple of decades left, so if opening now, give it some air.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries and black cherries with black pepper, violets and charred meat.  On the palate, there is plenty of boysenberry fruit and a nice underlying earthy note.  Great sinewy tannins with plenty of structure.  Good finish.  Very enjoyable.  

2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay White Hill, USA, California, Sta. Rita Hills - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

I love this bottling and vintage.  The oak treatment is perfect for the fruit.  Golden in color.  The nose is clean with peach and slight ginger.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, apples, peaches and just a bit sweetness.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  Great acidity.  Worked great with food but was delicious on its own.  Very impressive.  

2014 Carlisle Zinfandel Old Vines, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley - Wine Reivew

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is such a tremendous value.  Around $30.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with raspberries, dark cherries, spice, bramble and char.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Juicy and full.  Lots of fruit, mostly raspberries, blackberries but also some sandalwood notes.  Great balance.  DELICIOUS.   Long finish.  I think these will age for a decade if only I could keep my hands off of them.  

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

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

An excellent value in Oregon Pinot Noir.  Under $30, for a complex Pinot Noir that is only a step behind the single vineyard designated wines.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, slight sour cherries, spice and slight char.  On the palate, dark and sour cherries predominate now.  These wines tend to be fruit forward for Oregon, but they cellar better than one might think.  With age, they get an earthy funk that is nice.  Good finish and food friendly.  

2014 Domaine de l'Ecu (Guy Bossard) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Gneiss, France, Loire Valley - Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Nuscadets represent some of the best values in the wine world.  This producer is so consistently good and the wines are ubiquitous it seems.  Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice with crushed shells and a nice sea air salinity.  On the palate, great minerality.  There is some lime fruit, but this is about the minerals.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Perfect with sea food.  Usually found under $20.  

2015 Garage Wine Co. Cinsault The Soothsayers Ferment, Chile, Secano Interior - Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is very good.  It should be available for around $25 or perhaps a bit less in your market.  Quite unusual.  Ruby in color.  The nose is cherries, with a slight botanical note.  interesting.  On the palate, it has a nice complexity to it.  Cherries, candied cherries, earthy and slight vermouth notes.  Nice texture.  Good acidity.  Works better with food.  Good finish.  Looking ofr something that's not the same old, same old - this is perfect.  

2015 Woodwork Wines Chardonnay, USA, California, Central Coast - Wine Review

Score: 
83
Grade: 
B

Plenty of value here for under $10.  First, the label tells you this has a vanilla and butterscotch oak profile with apple and pear fruit notes.  Both of those are pretty spot on.  The wine is deep golden in color.  The nose is red apples, with vanilla and slight butterscotch.  On the palate, this is simple and to the point.  Plenty of oaky notes; vanilla and some butterscotch with a bit of apples.  This is made for easy drinking and at that price, just fine for casual drinking or at a party.  

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