2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Rhys makes some of the most "Burgundian" Pinot Noirs in California.  This one, however, seemed more California in style.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has dark cherries and a slight cola note I don't remember getting before.  On the palate, black cherries with a slight dark chocolate note.  Tight but quite complex.  It unwinds in the glass.  Still drinking quite youthfully.  Delicious now, but I suspect it will evolve and mature for a decade or two.  Wonderful wine with plenty of upside.  

2006 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc North Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Bought on release ($26) and cellared well.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice earthy with cherries.  Hints of green tobacco drying in a barn.  On the palate, black cherries and minerals with a nice, slightly bitter streak.  This is at peak now and I would drink in the next few years.  Complex.  Food friendly.  Nice showing.  

2009 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Light golden in color.  Nice mousse with lots of small-ish bubbles.  The nose has toast and lemons.  On the palate, there is a nice tart apple quality.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  Very pleasant way to start.  

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

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