2016 Penfolds Shiraz RWT Bin 798, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$158.00USD

Purple/garnet in color, magenta at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, sandalwood, slight black pepper and roasted herbs.  Firm tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with spice and some char.  Long finish.  Still youthful although progressing right along.  Drink over the next ten or fifteen years.  Great on its own, this worked well with roasted veggies.  Expensive but not crazy for the quality.  

2014 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Purple in color, magenta at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with cassis, blueberries, baking spices, slight char and a hint of graphite.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is still youthful and quite large.  I should continue to develop for another ten years.  No harm opening now either.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this would also work well with big fatty dishes from a steak to stuffed cabbage.  

2010 Maison Ilan Chambertin, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

Red/brown in color, mostly clear and bright.  It does look slightly older than expected, but just a bit.  The nose shows fresh strawberries, some cherries, slight clay.  It is a persistent nose although much more "feminine".  Soft texture.  On the palate, cherries and sour cherries.  Plenty to depth and complexity.  Good energy.  Nice finish.  This is drinking very well and at age 13 it seems very close to peak.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  It is nice on its own but better with foods.  It went well with assorted flat bread "pizzas".  

2017 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$549.00USD

One of the hottest wines in Napa right now, and it is scarce, so it is always a pleasure to open a bottle.  In most vintages, this is a lay down for ten years minimum, but 2017 is a bit more ready to drink young.  Pop and pour, this was singing from the start.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate, black licorice and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Slightly softer texture but with great balance.  On the palate, juicy black cherries, cassis and slight cocoa notes.  Deep and concentrated, it unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  This is you

2019 Ceritas Chardonnay Trout Gulch, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$64.00USD

Wow.  What a great young Chardonnay!  My kind of Cal Chard.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is crisp with chalk, slight lemon, floral notes and a hint of "ocean air".  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is crisp and refreshing but also deep and complex.  Lemons and minerality.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will be very food friendly.  It would be great with Chinese food.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Some of the best Chardonnay's anywhere come from Santa Cruz!

2010 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$266.00USD

A very nice, moderately priced (on release) Barolo.  With 13 years from vintage, this one is in a great place.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has hot tar, cherries, spice and char.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with some complexity.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This will work better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce was perfect.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Another winner from Carlisle.  I am sure these will age nicely, but I just can't keep my hands off of them young.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, blueberries, and cedar.  Full bodied.  Lovely, almost lush texture.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries, with slight char underneath.  Long finish.  Just delicious.  This is great on its own and will drink well for another ten years.  It also will work well for spicy and bigger foods.  Besides pizza, this would be great with ribs off the gr

2010 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is in a great spot right now.  Still youthful but drinking well.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Also some black pepper.  Deep.  Long finish.  This is near peak but should go another eight to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would also work well at the dinner table with slow cooked meats or veggies.  

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

The winemaker's notes indicate that "the finished blend is 85% Zinfandel with 7% Carignan, 4% Cinsault and bits and bobs of Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and other field-blended varieties." Overall, this is pretty consistent with prior years.  Purple/garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, char and slight bramble.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is middle ground between claret and bombastic styled Zin.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with good balance, slight tannins and some char.  Nice finish.  This is a great c

2022 Sigalas Assyrtiko Santorini, Greece, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is all about minerality with a touch of peach, lemon and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is focused (piercing minerality) with good acidity.  Long finish. This begs for food; maybe some Hummus and Pita, or some oysters.  Drink over the next few years.  

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