2014 Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a $30 Napa Cab.  While perhaps a good price point for Napa, that is not a cheap bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, spice and fresh cut lumber.  On the palate, this has one dimensional fruit but a fair amount of it.  Lots of oak showing as well.  Medium tannins.  Not much acidity, this is made to enjoy on its own on the back deck.  It is a solid wine for that purpose and for those who like fruit and oak, this is one to look for.  

2015 DuMOL Pinot Noir Finn, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Beautiful Pinot Noir.  Ruby with some purple swirls.  The nose is great with bright cherries contrasted by an earthy, damp forest floor note.  Also some spice.  On the palate, this is tight but quite good.  It needs at least five years or a long decant.  Cherries, macerated cherries, layered tightly with damp earth and spice.  Complex.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Went quite well with food.  

2005 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Flor de Pingus, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Wow.  This is smoking right now.  Probably at or very close to peak but should stay there for a decade.  Ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, sandalwood, dust and a bit of dry earthiness.  On the palate, this has great balance.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  Complex with layers of cherries, slight dried cherries, spice and earth.  It does have a slight roasted quality but not in the fruit just a sort or arid quality (terroir?).  Absolutely great with food.  This wine is not inexpensive but worth buying 2 bottles; one to drink soon and one to lay down.  

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

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is the first bottling by Kutch from this AVA.  Perhaps not quite the focus as the Santa Cruz mountain version but still quite nice.  That may be to being a different vintage or AVA.  This is golden in color.  The nose has pears, slight vanilla, some lemon and a slightly sweaty note to it.  On the palate, this is of course young.  The pears and slight lemons come thru.  Some acidity but not a lot.  It will be good to revisit this and see if it comes more together.  That said, it is delicious now with depth to it.  Worked very well at the dinner table.  

2002 Luneau-Papin Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Excelsior Clos des Noelles, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a top of the line Muscadet.  It was $25 back on release and I doubt it costs much more than that today.  Muscadets are some of the best values in the wine world.  At age 16, this one was gorgeous.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has crushed shells and a salinity to it.  Very nice.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Its all about the minerals.  Complex and deep.  Great with lighter foods.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  

2009 Olson Ogden Syrah Unti Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

My last bottle from this now defunct winery.  Too bad as they made very good wine.  This bottle certainly was.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted herbs and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black raspberry fruit.  Light tannins.  Some black olives.  Good finish.  Seems close to peak now.  Works well with food.  

2002 Kaesler Shiraz Stonehorse, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

First these were super popular and then you couldn't give them away.  The fact is, there are some excellent Australian Shiraz and many of the cellar just fine.  If you liked them young, you will probably like them with some age.  At age 16, this one is humming along and drinking great.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries.

2008 Scherrer Winery Syrah Calypso Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this is mature.  Some amount of depth with layers of earth, black raspberries and bacon fat.  Nice acidity.  Very food friendly.  Good finish.  Very good wine.  Drink in the next five to seven years.  

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