California

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  • Alexander Valley
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Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, vanilla, sandalwood and slight blueberries.  On the palate, there is a fair amount of oak on this.  Spice and some burn from fresh cut lumber.  But, also some excellent fruit showing as cassis and blueberries.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  Right now it is a good wine especially for those who don't mind a bit of oak.  I would hold these as there is plenty of fruit to integrate with the oak over the next five years.  

Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons, vanilla, fresh cut lumber, slight tropical fruits and butter.  On the palate, this has a fair amount of oak showing.  Perhaps with some age it sheds some of it.  There is plenty of lemon fruit and it is a bit buttery.  Decent acidity.  It presents a style of Napa Chardonnay that seems people either love or hate.  It is a well made wine and if you like a more buttery and oaked Chard, add a few points.  

Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, spice, cedar, dark chocolate and a bit of cedar.  On the palate, this is intense fruit.  The wine itself gives an impression of being broad and easy, but the fruit is piercing.  This still needs some time to develop and unwind.  Give it some air.  Flavors of cassis and dark chocolate with firm tannins.  Drunk over two days, this was markedly better on day 2.  Long finish.  

Light gold in color.  The nose has lemon chiffon and vanilla and a bit of spice.  Wonderful mouth feel.  Creamy texture.  Lemon chiffon with some vanilla.  Good acidity.  Deep.  This drinks well now but should age for a decade or more depending on how you like older Chardonnays.  Delicious wine.  

Looking for a new winery to follow.  If you like American Rhone wines, this is one to check out.  Purple in color, deep and inky.  On the nose, black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meat and spice/vanilla.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Medium tannins.   Good balance.  This is a big wine.  It is delicious now but if your prefer a little more restraint, I think this has the stuffing to age for another decade, perhaps two.  

Sometimes when in a restaurant in can be challenging to find a wine that is priced fairly and good.  Often, I just turn to beer.  Last night, this one was on the menu for $45 at a nice restaurant.  This retails for about $26 in a limited release, so the price is a bit high, but not bad for a downtown restaurant.  sadly, it was served quite warm.  We asked for an ice bucket and got a marble cooler that had limited effect.  Nevertheless, the wine was good.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight bramble, cherries, slight anise and alcohol.  On the palate, lush black cherries an

This is still pretty tight and in need of cellaring or air.  Getting there but taking forever.  If drinking soon, give it a nice decant.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this has a nice backbone of acidity.  Black raspberry fruit.  Some tannins.  Some depth, it unwinds in the glass.  Nice finish.  Food friendly.  Hold for a few more years.  

These wines are taking forever to come around.  Just now starting to show something.  This is going to be a beautiful wine.  Its outstanding now, but not nearly at peak and needs a lot of air.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, minerals, black pepper and slight black olives.  On the palate, this is cooler climate in style.  Black raspberries, slight black olives, earthiness and a mineral streak.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  

This is a winery that really doesn't get the publicity it deserves.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some black pepper, a hint of roasted meats and herbs.  Neither war climate not cool climate in style.  On the palate, black raspberries layered with char and slight earthiness.  Good acidity.  Lots of tasty fruit with light tannins at this point.  It takes an hour or two to really open and then is drinking beautifully.  Nice finish.  Good with food.  

Purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis, slight cedar, some earthiness to it as well.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Still some fine tannins.  Plenty of fruit.  Layers of cassis and earth.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Worked well with hearty vegetarian fare.  I don't think it improves from here and I would drink these up in the next five years or so.