Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2019 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$73.00USD

Probably my favorite in the excellent lineup of Rivers Marie Chardonnays and this vintage is no exception.  Light golden/silver/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep and strong with green apples, lemon peel, minerality with slight chalk, slight spice and vanilla.  Full bodied.  Crisp but rounded edges.  Great racy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of green apples, lemon juice and minerals.  Long finish.  This is drinking beautifully, if young on its own but will work well with the right food.  Calamari would be a great choice.  Drink over the next ten to fif

2018 Ferren Wines Chardonnay, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is their basic offering (not a single vineyard) that is supposed to be a bit more approachable in its youth.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, slight lemon citrus, spice and salinity.  Nice texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is round with no hard edges.  Good minerality.  Apples with some spice.  Good finish.  It is drinking well now and should be for another seven to ten more years.  Good on its own, this would be nice with baked Trout.  

2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$104.00USD

There is always a question as to how well white wines age in general and the Rhys chardonnays specifically.  This one, anyway, is ageing quite well at age 12.  Light gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, vanilla and minerality.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  No tannins.  On the palate, this is nearing peak but not really showing any signs of old age.  Flavors of lemon curd, some citrus, vanilla and char.  Long finish.  This is deep and complex.  Great on its own, better with food.  It would be great with sea food, but was also great with Pasta Primavera.  I would t

2011 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, USA, California, Napa, Stags Leap District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$230.00USD

There is an old saying that great wineries make great wine even in off vintages.  That is undoubtedly true and this is yet another example.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, slight leather, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is deep, complex and delicious.  Perhaps maturing a bit quicker than better vintages.  At age 13 it is nearing peak.  Loads of cassis with some tobacco and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with most non-seafood dishes.  It went great with a P

2019 Faethm / Fingers Crossed Grenache Two Become One, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$225.00USD

This is a blend of 76% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, and 11% Syrah from the central Coast (although carries a California AVA designation).  This is a very impressive full throttle, ripe California Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, black cherries, leather, floral notes, spice, leather and coffee.  Full bodied.  Plush texture.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is deep but accessible.  Lots going on.  Delicious.  Black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, with a bit of gravel and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  Great on its

2019 Levo Syrah 22 Tango, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Graciano from the Central Coast of California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Flavors of black raspberries with some pepper.  Good finish.  This is riper in style but not to an extreme.  It should drink well for another ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with hearty foods such as Roasted Acorn Squash.  

2018 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon HãLo Hillspring Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oak Knoll, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$210.00USD

This is Trefethen's top wine.  Trefethen, as a winery, dates back to 1973.  The wine is middle of the road in terms of style for a Napa Cab.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slightly woody, spice and slight roasted coffee.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of black cherries, cassis and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly (probably not seafood).  It went well with a couple of homemade veggie pizzas.  Drink over the next ten years.

2014 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$270.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  Tench vineyard shares a border with Screaming Eagle (a bit of name dropping).  This wine was huge on release and while still fruit forward, at age 10, it is drinking wonderfully.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and complex with cassis, blueberries, sandalwood, slight soy sauce with earthiness and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will drink beautifully for another twenty years.  Great on its own, t

2011 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 8% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, fresh herbs, cedar, leather and char.  Nice texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is nice.  Good fruit.  Black cherries, cassis, with some earthiness.  Good finish. This seems about at peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work with most (non-seafood) foods.  

2019 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet "Soul of a Lion", USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

While not their "top" wine, this is an ultra premium Cabernet that is on par with Napa or any other Cabernets at this price level.  It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is open and enticing.  Cassis, black raspberries, cigar box, chocolate, spice and char.

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