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

2018 Qupé Syrah, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

 Excellent value.  A blend of 82% Syrah, 13% Grenache, and the rest is Tempranillo and Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries with a slight char base.  This is a nice wine that should drink well for the next five to seven years.  It drinks well on its own and would work with roasted chicken.  

2017 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Nice showing by this stalwart of Santa Barbara County.  Purple in color with garnet swirls.  On  the Black raspberries, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit, some alcohol notes and a bit of earthiness.  Long finish.  Very tasty.  It took a few minutes to open.  This will improve a bit over the next five years and drink well for eight to ten more after that.  

2018 Melville Syrah Estate, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Sta. Rita Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherry fruit and roasted herbs.  There is some depth on the palate.  Full bodied.  Black cherries, black raspberries with underlying char and pepper.  This comes across more cooler climate, that is (for Syrah) lean, sinewy but with power.  No doubt this will get better as it matures.  Maybe another five years to get closer to peak and drink for ten after than.  A nice match with Indian food.  

2018 Fess Parker Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries with slight bitter cherries on the finish.  Long finish.  This improves with a bit of air.  Obviously young, this might still improve but either way, it should drink well for the next five to eight years.  A nice quaff on its own, it will work well with (veggie) burgers off the grill.  

2016 Halcon Vineyards Pinot Noir Oppenlander Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$34.00USD

Nice to revisit this again.  It has done nicely in the last couple of years.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has black cherries and sour cherries with a bit of earthiness.  Wonderful texture.  On the palate, lots of cherries and black cherries and some sour cherries.  This still has a bit more maturing until peak.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted chicken.  

2015 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is 100% Syrah with a 15.3% ABV.  That said, the alcohol isn't noticeable.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with some spice and black pepper.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char and ash.  Light tannins.  Good finish.  At age 7 this may yet improve a bit but it just about at its prime drinking window.  It should drink well for another ten to twelve years.  This will go well  with roasted meats, fowl or veggies.  

2017 Toad Hollow Merlot Richard McDowell Selection, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
80
Grade: 
B-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Purple in color with some Ruby swirls.  There is a ton of volatile acidity on the nose (nail polish).  Some mulberries.  On the palate, this is tart and tannic.  More sour cherries on the palate.  It is better on the palate than the nose.  Past its optimal drinking window.  Drink up.  Probably better without food as it might over power most foods.  

2014 Mahoney Vineyards Pinot Noir Las Brisas Vineyard, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with some cedar and alcohol.  Just a hint of cherries.  On the palate, just a touch of cherry cough drops.  Firm tannins.  Shorter finish.  Certainly drinkable if at a wedding but this seems past prime.  Drink now.  Better on its own than with food.  

2018 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petite Sirah.  It is a nice value in California Cabernet.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis and a bit of coffee.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherry pie filling, but also some tart cherries.  With air, some dark chocolate and spices.  There is oak on this but that will integrate with time.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with bolder foods.  As it ages, it will be more

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