2021 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$47.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petite Sirah, and 5% Malbec from Napa.  It is a big wine (15.5% abv) but not over the top.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, boysenberries, char, chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance despite the alcohol.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries, some milk chocolate, char and spice.  Some depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  Great on its own, this would work well with a steak or burger.  

2018 Buoncristiani OPC Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$51.00USD

This is a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 18% Malbec and 16% Merlot from Napa.  The grapes are fermented separately and then blended for further ageing.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, cassis, black pepper, black cherries, chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  It has some depth and (varietal) complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, cassis, black raspberries, chocolate and char.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with lots of foods.  A nice steak wine but also

2021 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Drouhin has been making wines in Oregon for a long time now and they really make some excellent wines.  This is their basic version.  Medium ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with sour cherries, cherries, slight sandalwood, slight cranberries and slight coffee.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It's classic Oregon in style.  Flavors of cherries, sour cherries, cranberries, spice and slight char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Still on the young side, this should add complexity with age.  Its drinks great on its own and better with f

2021 Seghesio Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is a blend of 87% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 1% Alicante Bouschet from vines averaging 75 years old.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, brambles, gravel and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a middle of the road Zin.  Not a monster, but not a claret either.  It has depth and some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, slight cherries, spice and slight bramble.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would be great with a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Rhys 2021 Pinot Noir, Mt. Pajaro Vineyard

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

For nearly 25 years, Rhys has been quietly making wine out of the underappreciated Santa Cruz Mountains. There is a delightful, earthy quality to this Pinot suggesting subdued fruit, green and black tealeaf and pomegranate. The acidity is spot on supporting the fruit along with the mild use of oak and the wines’ inherent tannic structure. However, this deviates from a lot of traditional bright-fruit-dominate California Pinot Noir because the Santa Cruz Mountains brings forth a brambly, earth equality that most other regions cannot attain. Their Mt.

Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains

2019 Durigutti Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec Cinco Suelos, Argentina, Mendoza, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

One of the better Argentinian Malbecs that I have had.  Made from very old vines and brought up in concrete eggs.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, boysenberries and slight strawberries along with a nice minerality.  Great plush texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate black raspberries, with a tart acidity.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but also delicious.  Great on its own, it will need bigger foods to work with.  A great choice with a grilled steak.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2021 Schuchmann Wines Saperavi Vinoterra, Georgia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is from the country of Georgia and made from the Saperavi grape.  The grapes are fermented in Kvevri (amphorae) and then matured in French barrels.  The result is an interesting and fantastic wine.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black cherries and black raspberries.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and complex with black raspberries, spices and slight char.  Long finish.  This wine demonstrates what a quality wine can be utilizing both ancient and modern techniques.  It is great on its own, but also very fo

2018 La Sirena Pirate TreasuRed, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a fun wine from a "pirate" themed bottle.  It is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Cab Franc.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, some plums, gravel, vanilla and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Plush texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has some varietal complexity.  Some depth.  Easy drinking.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries and plums.  Good finish.  A nice wine on its own, this worked well with a variety of home made pizzas.  Seems at peak right now

2020 Otronia Chardonnay III & VI, Argentina, Patagonia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Light golden in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruit, slight chamomile and slight spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Tart acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, grapefruit and granny smith apples.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Seafood would work but so would fried chicken.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.

2020 Otronia Pinot Noir, Argentina, Patagonia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$79.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from Argentina.  Pale Ruby in color, clear at the rim, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight blueberries and a bit of dried herbal notes.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, cherries with a touch of sandalwood.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but would be even better with food.  A nice wine to serve with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next five years.  

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