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

2015 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

A beautiful wine.  This was shut down on opening but within about 30 minutes it opened and kept improving all night long.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, slight cigar box and baking spices.  On the palate, this has a medium to full body with a lovely texture.  Lots of energy.  Cassis over minerals and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This still needs a few more years to reach peak and should be good for ten to fifteen more after that. Plenty of upside on the score.  

2017 Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Served from Magnum.  This was stunning.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has smoke, vanilla, lemons and marzipan.  A bit tight but opens with air.  On the palate, vanilla and lemons with a slight melon note and a charred base.  A beautiful backbone of acidity that makes this very food friendly.  Long finish.  This wine should continue to mature and develop for a few more years and should easily be good for fifteen years, depending on how you like your Chardonnay.  It is also fantastic right now.  Very food friendly with all but the meatiest of dishes.  

2012 Linne Calodo Problem Child, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$78.00USD

This is a Zinfandel blend of 74% Zinfandel, 14% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre.  This is a big wine but it is drinking quite nicely right now.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, a bit of bramble, plums and black pepper.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  A nice varietal complexity.  It goes down (too) easy.  Although there is no alcohol on the palate, it is 15.3%.  Lots of black cherry and raspberry fruit with some char and spice.  Good finish.  This drinks great on it own and would work well with a burger.  It probably should be consumed in

2013 Peter Michael Les Pavots, USA, California, Sonoma, Knights Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet France, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot.  This is a gorgeous wine but it will need some time to reach maturity.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Cassis, black cherries, dark chocolate, char and baking spice on the nose.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the cassis and black cherries carry thru though concentrated.  Firm tannins.  An underlying char.  Long finish.  This needs about five to ten years until peak and will be good for ten to twenty years after that.  It drinks well on its own and will work with bigger foods especially roasts

2014 Holman Ranch Pinot Noir Kelly's Press Estate Grown, USA, California, Carmel Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
68
Grade: 
D
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has rhubarb and slight cranberries with a touch of asparagus.  On the palate, this has cranberries.  Not much depth.  Biting acidity.  A thankfully short finish.  Not sure where this goes from here.  I tried a few different bottles but poured out all my glasses and switched to beer.  

2015 Jarman Sparkling Wine, USA, California, Carmel Valley

Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$98.00USD

This comes in 1.5L bottles.  It is a Sparkling Brut Rose.  Very pale pink in color.  A light mousse with smaller bubbles.  The nose has a cherry red pop quality to it although much lighter along with a bit of fresh baked bread.  On the palate, this has decent acidity.  Light cherries with some Fuji apples.  Moderate acidity.  Medium finish.  This drinks easy and will work better with food. A nice touch for hors d'oeuvres especially if salty.  Drink now.  

2018 Holman Ranch Rosé of Pinot Noir Susan's Saignée, USA, California, Carmel Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
82
Grade: 
B-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

Very pale pink in color.  The nose has slight strawberry notes.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this has some strawberries.  Very light.  Served quite cold (at a wedding at the ranch), this was refreshing.  It should be consumed this year.  It lacks a lot of acidity, so keep the food light or serve on its own.  Serving ice cold was probably a good idea.  

2018 Holman Ranch Chardonnay Virgin Chardonnay Holman Ranch, USA, California, Carmel Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

I attended a wedding recently at Holman Ranch and this was served.  Of the three wines I tried, this was the best one.  Pale gold in color.  The nose has some peach and melon.  Nice.  On the palate, this is nice.  Easy drinking with a bit of melon.  Clean.  No bite. This should be consumed in the next year or so.  It will work with lighter foods or on its own. 

2013 Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$165.00USD

This is the top wine that Duckhorn makes.  It is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, spice and slight chocolate.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  It is not a monster wine, but has a nice elegance to it.  It is younger-ish with firm tannins.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some underlying sandalwood and slight forest floor.  Good finish.  This will work well on its own but also with a wide variety of meats and fowl.  It should be close to peak but should be here for at least another

2014 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This is a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.  It is a delicious wine that while still young is drinking well.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, cigar box, plums and baking spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Lots of black cherry and cassis with forest floor.  Thick tannins.  Long finish.  Obviously young, this will continue to improve for another seven to ten years and then be good for at least ten to fifteen after that.  It drinks well on its own and will work with roasts or casseroles.  

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