Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.
This is an outstanding value in Cabernet.
Another nice value Cab from Sonoma. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, slight iodine and baking spices. On the palate, this has a sour cherry quality to it. Baking spices come thru to the palate. Medium tannins. Moderate finish. This is easy drinking Cabernet. It should probably be consumed over the next five to seven years. A nice wine on its own and will work well with burgers.
This is a lower alcohol wine (12.5% abv). It was tasted with other Cabs which is probably a disservice to it. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black cherries along with a brine note. Medium bodied. On the palate, black cherries come thru. Medium tannins. Slight mint on the finish. It will benefit from some air at this point but should make nice drinking for the next decade. A nice match with chili or stews.
Purple/ruby in color. The nose is tight at first but opens with some air. Cassis and dust. On the palate, this is more cherry cough drops with some underlying charred wood. Short finish. This might be in a bit of a dumb phase as it kept opening up over the evening. If drinking soon, a three hour (or more) decant would help. It should hit maturity in another five to seven years and be good for another ten after that. A nice wine with roasted veggies or meats.
Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black cherries with a lot of fresh cut oak. Also some clay and baking spices. Full bodied. Juicy fruit on the palate. The heavy oak carries thru to the palate. Thick tannins. Nice black cherry fruit with slight chocolate notes. Moderate finish. This needs some time to sort out but should come together in about three years and drink well for ten more after that. If drinking now, give it a nice decant. A nice wine for a steak or roast. Nice value.
We had two bottles of this. The first was just amazing while the second was merely quite good. At age 16, bottle variation happens. The first bottle actually appeared and tasted older, so perhaps we just caught the second one in a dumb phase. Purple in color, a bit of bricking at the rim. The nose has cassis, camphor, slight cigar box and a sweet perfume. Full bodied. Tannins resolved. This is mature and at peak. Notes of cassis with underlying tobacco and slight char. Nice finish. This won't get better and should be consumed over the next five years. It will work great with gri
One of my favorite Cal Rhone White wines. I really need to let one of these age. At age 5, this one is singing right from popping the cork. It is a blend of 30% Roussane, 25% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 15% Picpoul, and 10% Vermentino. Light golden in color. The nose has peach, melon, slight vanilla candle, minerals and lime pith. Full bodied. This has a big mouthfeel. Not quite viscous, but a strong presence. Notes of peach, vanilla and wax with great underlying minerality. A nice touch of acidity to keep things bright. Depth and complexity. Nice finish. This is drinking you
This is a huge, dark Pinot Noir. Lovers of Burgundy should at least be forewarned if not directed away. That said, to those looking for a bit dark, fruity wine, this is delicious. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, baking spices and a bit of licorice. Full bodied. Juicy texture. On the palate, juicy black raspberry fruit. Very primary although it will no doubt develop over the next five to seven years. Light tannins. This drinks nicely on its own and would work with bold spicy foods. Drink now thru 2028.
This is a sparkling wine from northern California. Light golden in color with a lot of very small bubbles. The nose is interesting with ginger, figs, toasted nuts, and nutmeg. Full bodied. Crisp. On the palate, notes of figs and red apples. Some ginger. The finish is very long. This is very lively. It should continue to drink well for another five to seven years before slowly turning into a mature sparkling wine. This will pair well with almost any food or on its own.
This is 84% Petite Sirah, 13% Syrah and 3% Viognier. It is probably my favorite wine in the Keplinger stable. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, gravel, anise and black pepper. Full bodied. Juicy acidity. On the palate, black raspberries, blueberries over char and gravel. Long finish. This is open and drinking well now but will undoubtedly continue to develop and improve over the next seven to ten years. It should drink well for ten to twelve more after that. A nice match for burgers or ribs off the grill.
