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.  

2007 Vietti Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is always one of the best values out there in red wine.  It drinks like a mini-Barolo.  Ruby, clear and bright.  The nose has roses, slight earthiness and cherries.  With air, some sour cherries emerge.  On the palate this is complex and layers of sherries, earth and tobacco are found.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  At eleven years from vintage, this seems at peak but has at least five or six years left.  Current vintages are still available all over for under $25 per bottle.  Great with food.  

2016 Tulip Winery White Tulip, Israel, Upper Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Israel now has a vibrant wine culture.  Despite a history going back for centuries, wine production is really rather recent as little wine was made during the period of Arab control.  Tulip is one of the better wineries making a wide range of international varietals.  A blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Gewurztraminer, this is green/gold in color.  The nose has some initial lemon notes followed with some canned white grapefruit juice qualities.  On the palate, this is round but retains a nice acidity.  Grapefruit.  Slight sour lemon candy notes.  A bit clipped and warming on the finish. 

2013 Keplinger Caldera, USA, California, El Dorado County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is made by one of the superstar winemakers of California.  This is Helen Keplinger's eponymous label.  It is a blend featuring Mourvedre as the primary grape.  While this is young and won't reach peak for a decade, it is delicious right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, plums, spice, slight earthiness and slight char.  On the palate, this has great fruit; dark cherries and plums with strong tannins.  Great mouthfeel.  

 

2007 Finca Sandoval Manchuela, Spain, Manchuela

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

76% Syrah, 13% Monastrell, and 11% Bobal.  This is a blend coming from central Spain.  It is a more modern take despite being from an almost forgotten wine region.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some plums, black pepper, roasted meats and herbs.  On the palate, this is at peak.  No hurry but I would drink in the next five to ten years.  Layers of black raspberry fruit with earth and pepper.  A nice complexity.  Good balance.  Good on its own or with food.  This was a powerhouse in its youth but has matured nicely.  When you drink them really is more of an issue

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