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

2020 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

If you look around, this varies in price from $35 to $70 typically.  At the former, that is a tremendous value in California Cab.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has spice, cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, ripe cassis (not over ripe) with some underlying char.  Long finish.  Very tasty on its own and makes a great wine with burgers or meatloaf (or a steak).  Drink over the next ten years.  

2018 TH Estate Wines Syrah Three-Four, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$190.00USD

From what used to be known as Terry Hoage Vineyards.  It is 96% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, plums, spice, black pepper and Roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Concentrated.  On the palate, this is big and slightly jammy, but so delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black pepper and spices.  Long finish.  Great on its own.  Foods will need to be able to stand up to it.  Roasted Lam Chops would work.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Calla Lily Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a household favorite every vintage, but this one may be the best yet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is young but accessible.  Big fruit but not overblown.  Good energy.  Cassis, leather and spice.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this would be nice with grilled Portobello Mushrooms.

2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is one of the best values in Syrah.  It is also one of the best Syrahs.  it ages so beautifully, it is a pleasure to drink one at age 18.  Perfectly mature but not showing any age.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is great with black raspberries, a hint of barnyard, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Lovely texture.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Long finish.  great on its own but perfect with dinner.  It will work with most fowl, meats or pork.  It raised a veggies

2012 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

This is a blend of 51% Syrah, 31% Grenache, and 18% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Plush but silky texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Some complexity but perhaps not as much as other bottlings from this vintage.  More powerful though.  Black raspberries, jammy with some blueberries.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and should continue to for another decade.  Better on its own than with food, but maybe some big roasted meat di

2017 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon HãLo Hillspring Vineyard, USA, California, napa, Oak Knoll, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

This is the top wine from the historic Trefethen winery in Napa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis with a touch of leather and smoke.  Long finish.  This is a pretty classic cab from good not great vintage.  It is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with Lamb chops.  

2014 Saxum Broken Stones, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$155.00USD

This is a blend of 41% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Tempranillo and 3% Roussanne.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, black cherries, char, white pepper, floral notes and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this has shed it baby fat but is still youthful.  it took a couple of hours to really open up.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with black pepper, black cherries, some blueberries and a bit of char.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own but may overpower most foods.  I

2018 Neyers Sage Canyon Red Wine, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a blend of Mourvedre, Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.  This is a quite good expression of Rhone varietals from California.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, black pepper and slight nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty with bright acidity.  Black raspberries and black cherries with some underlying char.  Black pepper note on the finish.  Drinking well now, this should go another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work nicely with a good (veggie) Burger.  Nice value.  

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