California

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Another great showing for this Chardonnay.  There is a deft use of oak that is noticeable here, but well done and well within reason.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon curd, vanilla and hint of grapefruit.  With air a nice minerality emerges.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is still young but drinking well.  It improves in the glass showing lemon curd with slight vanilla and spice.  Nice balance and structure.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily do another decade or more.  Great on its own, this will work well with duck, salmon or just a s

There are not a lot of great producers of Grenache in California, but there are a few who excel and at the top is Manfred Krankl and his Sine Qua Non wines.  At age 13, this is just hitting its stride and just outstanding.  A blend of 82% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 2% Viognier and 2% Roussanne.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, roasted meats and spices.  Full bodied.  15.8% abv but no heat.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries over a bit of char.  Deep and powerful.  Delicious.  Long finish.  The kind of wine that

This is a Pinot Noir from the new Orin Swift Cellars.  Like many of his wines, there will be a subsection of people who won't like it because it is too big and too ripe.  Those people will also dismiss those who do like it as being "the masses".  The thing is, "the masses" are not buying $50 Pinot Noir's.  It is a matter of style and preference.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, baking spices, slight chocolate and figs.  Full bodied.  On the nose, this has raspberries, slight confectionary sugar notes, a hint of black pepper with some cherries on the finish. 

This winery really stepped it up after the first couple of vintages and are producing some great wines.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, slight cedar and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is juicy with great cassis fruit.  A bit of underlying graphite and char.  Some complexity but more delicious than contemplative.  Nice finish.  This would match well with roasted or grilled meats or veggies but worked great with vegetarian chili.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

My wife's favorite winery!  Hard to argue with her on that.  This was stunning and still young.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, cedar, slight coffee grounds and slight floral notes.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  Deep and complex; it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  Wonderful texture.  Cassis with char and slight oak notes.  Long finish.  Just fantastic but another few years of ageing will be even better.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  

I just love this vineyard (across multiple producers) and Jamie's take on it is excellent.  Light golden in color.  The nose is beautiful with lemons, vanilla, a noticeable (but not overdone) note of toasty oak and slight almond flour note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is on the bigger side but no bomb.  Great acidity.  Lively with energy.  It is delicious.  Lemon fruit with a touch of toast and vanilla.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily go ten to fifteen more years.  It went wonderfully with a chopped veggie salad that included asparagus and drinks great on its own.  

From one of the top producers of Zinfandel, this is made from their younger vines.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, slight bramble and spice.  Medium bodied.  Light on its feet.  This has a lot of energy and drinks really easily.  The cherries and black cherries come thru on the palate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  It will work well with pizza, pasta and burgers.  

Opened by a friend after a Lodi Zin tasting as an example that Zins last.  We all wondered if it were alive and, it was.  Purple in color, a bit flat but not really looking like it was 27 years old.  The nose is dusty with a bit of bramble and woodiness left but also some cherry fruit.  On the palate, there is still cherry fruit and some dried fruits.  Good balance.  Now, this was probably better twenty years ago, and I doubt ageing improved it much, but it clearly has lasted (stored in a wine fridge).  A real treat to try now.  

As I said in a prior review. Sandlands makes my favorite US Chanin Blanc.  Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice  with wax, orange peel, minerals and slight lemon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a nice depth.  The orange peel comes thru with a slight waxy note.  Good energy.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This drank great on its own after a tasting of 12 different Lodi Zins.  It really cut thru and cleaned the palate and was delicious.  drink over the next seven to ten years.  This is one mailing list I highly recommend that you join.  

Nice to try this with a bit more age on it.  Purple in color with some dark brown mix, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show some black raspberries, dust and just a touch of cider.  On the palate, this has prunes along with a bit of green tomatoes although it is much better than that sounds.  It probably should be drunk up.  This works on its own and would work with a meat based stew.