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

2018 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Petite Sirah Pierce Ranch, USA, California, San Antonio Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is an excellent value in wine that comes from south of  San Francisco.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, the black raspberry fruit comes thru.  Some complexity.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and works well with meat, pork or fowl dishes.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

2018 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Jonata makes some spectacular wine that also have spectacular prices.  Todos (which means all in Spanish) is the blend of the rest of the wines that didn't get bottled individually and it is an excellent wine at a more down to earth price.  This vintage it is a blend of 45% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Verdot, 9% Petit Sirah, 5% Merlot, and the rest an assorted 6%.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, chocolate, black cherries, gravel and cassis.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It may get better but wit

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

The base Bedrock Zinfandel is an amazing value.  Year in and year out, it is delicious and affordable.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black cherries and bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some char and black pepper.  Nice balance.  Good mouthfeel.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A great wine with a burger or spaghetti.  

de Négoce Petite Sirah OG N.179, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Another winner from de Negoce.  While this wine will undoubtedly get better and mature over time, this drinks nicely now and for the money, it is hard not to open a bottle now.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Deep.  Tight.  On the palate, this took an hour or three to really open.  A decant would be a good idea.  Very tasty with boysenberry fruit and underlying char.  Not crazy wild but not shy either.  Very nice on its own, but this will work well with a burger or other foods off the grill.  Drink over the next t

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is the base Syrah from Bedrock.  A tremendous value that delivers way above its price point.  If there is a problem with it, due to its low price, I don't seem to lay enough of these down to mid and long term cellaring.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, some char, a bit of black olives and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries with some underlying earthiness and char.  Nice finish.  This should make good drinking for the next ten to twelve years.  It will go well with burgers, ribs or a corn

2018 Faethm / Fingers Crossed Grenache Off The Record, USA, California, California

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

This is a blend  of 75% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah, and  3% Roussanne.  One of the best Grenache wines from California.  This is concentrated and intense, but not over the top.  Deep garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, game meats and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, some black raspberries, roasted herbs  and slight beef notes.  Long finish.  Almost seamless texture.  This is drinking well but will no doubt improve over the next couple of years.  It should drink well for an

2021 Wente Vineyards Riesling Riverbank Central Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is pretty Riesling grown and made in a certified sustainable vineyard and winery.  Screw capped.  Silvery gold in color with some green hues.  The nose is nice with seltzer, lemons and minerality.  Full bodied with a very nice, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this has a tart acidity that is balanced against a semi-sweet wine.  Notes of pineapple and honey dew.  Very tasty.  Good finish.  This will be a very popular wine at summer parties and events.  It drinks great on its own but worked well with a wide variety of foods including a roasted veggie and eggplant spread on Pita.  V

2019 Miller Lux Chardonnay, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

An interesting tidbit from the American Vintner's Website"  "Miller and Lux went from small time New York butchers to the largest cattle owners in California, and one of the largest land holders in the United State in the late 1800’s.  At the height of their partnership, Miller and Lux boasted nearly 1.4 million acres of grazing land and one million head of cattle. They would come to be known as the “Cattle Kings of California”. Fast forward to current day, and much of the Miller and Lux land holdings is now the fertile ground of California’s Central Coast wine country."  

2019 Stolpman Trousseau Combe, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is a Trousseau from California.  Pale ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, some confectionary sugar but also a bit of aquarium water.  Think bodied.  On the palate, cherry fruit with a soft texture.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  This had many similarities to the 2016 Frédéric Lambert Côtes du Jura Trousseau consumed along side.  It is fine on its own but worked better with an assortment of cheeses.  Drink over the next few years.  

2016 Torrin Syrah Shadow Canyon Vineyard, USA, California, York Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper and slight black olives.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with some underlying char.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  Good finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another eight to ten years.  A nice match for Indian food.  

 

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