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This is very nice take on a California Chard.  It is more mineral driven than I expected and doesn't show much sign of malo (butter).  There is a fair amount of oak showing, but that will likely subside as it matures.  Golden in color.  The nose has a nice peach quality along with a bit of vanilla and slight toasty oak.  On the palate, this is full bodied but enough acidity to give it a bit of crispness.  Nice mouthfeel.  The peach flavors come thru.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now, but should improve for a few years and be good for seven to ten years at least.  It drinks well on i

Opened for our 27th Anniversary.  At age 27, this wine is doing well.  Of course, when a wine gets this old, every bottle is different.  This was a good, if  not great bottle.  Opened an allowed to breathe for 30 minutes, then enjoyed over the next couple of hours.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, rust, and slight brown sugar.  The last two suggest a slight oxidation and slight exposure to heat.  It was better, however, on the palate.  Deep and complex with slight layers of cassis and earth.  There was a hint of oxidation on the palate as well but the fruit was still youthful enou

Time has been quite kind to this wine.  On release, this was a bit disappointing after the stellar 2001 and 2002's.  At age 16, however, it has put on weight, aged slowly and is a terrific Merlot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has milk chocolate, cherries and just a bit of raspberry.  On the palate, this has nice layering of fruit and earth.  Tannins are all resolved.  Easy drinking.  Good finish.  This won't get better and should be drunk in the next few years.  It will go well with roasts and casseroles of all types.  

Torrin makes some of the best Rhone styled wines anywhere.  This is 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Tannat, so not completely a Rhone styled wine.  Close enough.  There wines are big and generally need at least five years to start to be approachable for my tastes.  This one is just getting there.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, slight black cherries, blueberries, slight dust and spice.  It's great.  On the palate, this is big and wide.  Great texture.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with some blueberries and a bit of black cherries.  It's d

This is a classic example of how well these high octane Syrah's from Paso Robles can age and mature given the chance.  The bottle lists this at 16.5% ABV.  On release, many naysayers said it would fall apart after five years.  They complained about the heat and taste, many without even tasting it first.  Now, I will admit that I liked this wine young.  And, at age 17, I liked it even better.  Of course, if you didn't like it young, you probably won't like it now I suppose.  But, it clearly has not fallen apart.  It is delicious, complex and has years left.  This wine was made by Justin Smit

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, and spice.  On the palate, this is a bit thinner than the Heritage Selection (but still a big wine).  A bit more complexity if not depth.  On the palate, black cherries continue thru over a smokey (not fire related) base.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This needs five to seven years to peak and should be good for ten to fifteen after that.  It does drink well now on its own and will work well with grilled foods.

Heritage School is what used to be known as Harris Estate Wines.  David and Linda Jenkins purchased the property in 2014 and renamed the winery and the three vineyards on the property.  Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker.

Heritage School is what used to be known as Harris Estate Wines.  David and Linda Jenkins purchased the property in 2014 and renamed the winery and the three vineyards on the property.  Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker.  I was able to taste a couple of these wines and both were excellent.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, cassis and baking spice.  Maybe a touch of soy sauce.  On the palate, this has a pretty texture.  Cassis and black cherries over an interesting chalky base along with some baking spices.  Good balance.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish.  This w

This was my first time trying a wine from this vineyard.  It is excellent.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, slight coffee, and spice.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Firm tannins.  Lots of cassis, some blueberries with underlying minerality and dry earth.  Good finish.  This needs seven to ten years and should be good for a decade after that.  It will work with medium and heavier meats and fowl.  

This is the basic (non-single vineyard) wine from Rivers-Marie.  To me, this is usually only a notch or two behind the amazing single vineyard releases and priced a bit better.  It probably doesn't get the respect it deserves because of that.  Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, slight blueberries, spice and slight fresh lumber.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Good cassis fruit with underlying minerality and spice.  Good finish.  This needs time of course to develop.  About five to seven to get close to peak and should have ten to fifteen after that.  Nice f