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

2023 Kutch Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Santa Cruz has become my favorite spot for Chardonnays from California.  And, Jamie Kutch and Trout Gulch Vineyard are a perfect match.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.   The nose is great with slight lemon, lemon cream, char, spice and a hint of grapefuit.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  The lemon and lemon cream come thru with a touch of oak and minerality.  Long finish.  This is still young and will develop but is delicious now.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It will be perfect with Grilled Salmon.  

2014 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a classic, old school Napa Cab that has not gone crazy on pricing and now it is a relative value.  At age 12, this bottle is mature and drinking beautifully (if well stored).  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, earthiness/forest floor, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Complex.  On the palate, flavors of cassis with slight black cherry.  Good finish.  This will drink well for another decade but it should start heading south in the next few years, so maybe drink well.  A nice choice for Roasted or BBQ meats.  

2022 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  Pale golden in color with some green flecks, clear and bright.  The nose is deep with lemon cream, vanilla, and baking spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex and deep if still young.  Flavors of lemons, lemon cream, vanilla, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would also be a lovely match with with grilled prawns or other sea food.  drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

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