California

• Amador County
  • Shenandoah Valley
• Carmel Valley
• Carneros
• Central Coast
  • Edna Valley
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Paso Robles
• Contra Costa County
• El Dorado County
• Lake County
• Lodi
• Mendocino
  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
• Monterey
• Napa Valley
  • Atlas Peak
  • Best of Napa
  • Calistoga
  • Conn Valley
  • Diamond Mountain
  • Howell Mountain
  • Mt. Veeder
  • Oak Knoll
  • Oakville
  • Pope Valley
  • Rutherford
  • Spring Mountain
  • St. Helena
  • Stags Leap
  • Yountville
• North Coast
• Santa Barbara
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Maria Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
  • Bennett Valley
  • Best of Sonoma
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Fort Ross/Seaview
  • Moon Mountain
  • Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak
  • Russian River Valley
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah from various vineyards across California.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The e nose has black cherries, black raspberries and some smoke.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is ripe but short of cloying.  It has a balance to it that makes it easy to drink and very tasty.  Black raspberries with underlying char.  Alcohol is noticeable on the finish.  This probably drinks better on its own than with food but would work with a burger.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles but it does have some Petite Sirah blended in.  Purple in color with magenta hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries and confectionary sugar.  On the palate, this is sweet and syrupy.  Lots of sweet black raspberry fruit with some confectionary sugar notes.  This is a bit too much for what I like but I am sure many will love this wine.  The kind of wine to enjoy with BBQ ribs off the grill on a summer evening.  Drink over the next few years.  If you like this style, then add a few points.  Cheers.  

This is a very nice wine.  It is made in a reticent style and more elegant that bombastic.  Very pale pink in color, almost no color at tall.  The nose is nice with watermelon rind, cherries, and strawberries.  Slightly oily texture.  Plenty of watermelon on the palate.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own but will work better with lighter foods.  A fruit salad would work well.  Drink over the next year.  

From one of the premier producers of Cabernet Franc in California.  The vines are part of what was historically To Kalon vineyard.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cigar tobacco and cedar.  Wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lots of black cherries, some cassis with underlying spice.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should last another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, better with food.  Roast duck or chicken would be great.  

I am a big fan of this (and the regular bottling) and find it some of the best values in high end Cabernet from California.  This is still young and tight and in need of some air or better, cellar time.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and char.  Just a lovely texture hinting at a bright future.  Tingly acidity.  Firm tannins.  Lots of fruit.  Cassis with underlying char.  Deep.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This will drink well for the next fifteen, maybe twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work great with a really great burger

A classic Napa Bordeaux blend with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose is complex and great.  Cassis, black cherries, earthy, hay, char and slight milk chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Slightly sinewy texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries cassis, carob, with a touch of eucalyptus on the long finish.  This is still young and a few more years in the cellar ought to up the score by a couple points.  Either way, this should drink well over the next twe

Gorgeous wine that needs a bit of cellar time.  This is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.  Inly purple in color, magenta at the rim, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with air opens to cassis, chocolate, cedar and a scent best described as sauteed onions (unusual but very nice).  Firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate cassis, chocolate, char and a slight chalky note.  Great almost seamless texture.  A bit of tart raspberries make a delightful finish.  This needs a few more years in the cellar or a long decant and the score will undou

This is a really nice Pinot Noir from Carneros. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice. Earthy with cherries and slight sandalwood. Medium bodied. Light tannins. Good acidity. On the palate, cherries with slight sour cherries over char and earthiness. Long finish with a touch of menthol. Some depth and complexity that will increase with cellar time. This drinks well now and should continue to for the next ten to twelve years. Very nice on it own, this will work well with roasted duck or chicken.

Nice to try this from a "lesser" vintage but with some nice age on it.  It is in a very good place right now.  It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and a slight herbal notes.  Also a but of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis with underlying char.  Lots of depth.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but it is drinking very nicely and should continue for another eight to twelve years.  It works on its own but worked great with mushroom ravioli.  A great example of great

This is made by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the top winemakers in the world. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is huge with cassis, cedar, baking spice, anise and char. Full bodied. Almost seamless texture. Juicy acidity. On the palate, loads of cassis with nice minerality and underlying char. Long finish. This is delicious. This is still quite young and will mature and probably get even better. Drink over the next twenty years. Great on its own, this will work with bigger meat dishes or even roasted veggies especially root vegetables.