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Ruby in color.  This looked a bit older than it was.  Blind, however, most people were guessing Burgundy.  The nose is very earthy with cherries.  On the palate, again earthy with cherries.  Slightly clipped on the finish.  Medium tannins.  This seemed like it may have been a bit shut down.  Pop and pour, it would have been helped out with some air.  It would be good to revisit this in a few years.  

Rhys makes some of the most "Burgundian" Pinot Noirs in California.  This one, however, seemed more California in style.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has dark cherries and a slight cola note I don't remember getting before.  On the palate, black cherries with a slight dark chocolate note.  Tight but quite complex.  It unwinds in the glass.  Still drinking quite youthfully.  Delicious now, but I suspect it will evolve and mature for a decade or two.  Wonderful wine with plenty of upside.  

Bought on release ($26) and cellared well.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice earthy with cherries.  Hints of green tobacco drying in a barn.  On the palate, black cherries and minerals with a nice, slightly bitter streak.  This is at peak now and I would drink in the next few years.  Complex.  Food friendly.  Nice showing.  

This is from the To Kalon vineyard in Napa.  Truly one of the best and certainly historic vineyards on the valley floor.  One of the best Cab Francs made in Napa.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight cigar tobacco.  Nice.  On the palate, this is ripe and avoids the green pepper that sometimes is in Cab Franc (for better and worse).  It has great black cherry fruit, some black raspberries.  Depth though still quite tight.  This is young and needs a decade IMO.  Long finish.  

This was pop and pour and probably could have used a bit more air.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, slight bramble, a bit of pepper and iodine.  On the palate, this is quite juicy.  A bitterness at first which turned more to a sour cherry note.  I preferred the later.  Nice finish.  This is a big wine and while a bit jammy, in no way over the top.  A crowd pleaser.  

This was brought by one of our guests.  Pop and pour.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is nice.  Very much a cooler climate, lighter styled Syrah.  The nose has lots of red berries.  Some licorice and a bit of pepper.  Medium bodied.  Cherries and dark cherries on the palate.  Good acidity.  Sinewy tannins.  Not a block buster but a fine wine.  

Always a star.  This is is still young.  This bottle was opened at 9:00 am and served at 11:00 pm.  It was served with dessert; a bittersweet chocolate tart and it worked wonderfully.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has chocolate covered cherries, black raspberries, slight floral qualities and spice.  On the palate, this has a lively quality to it.  Juicy acidity. Lush.  This is a big wine but smooth with no signs of alcohol.  Delicious.  Ripe but not overtly or sweet.  Long finish.  Upside for sure and development.  No harm in drinking now but will continue to evolve for a while.  

Opened at 9:00 am and allowed to breathe.  Served at 9:00 pm.  Gorgeous wine. Still young, of course, but after a night of a lot of wines, this demanded my attention.  This is just the Estate, I can't wait to try the Grand Vin.  I actually checked the label to make sure I didn't open the wrong bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, slight cedar and spice, graphite, and a bit of dark chocolate.  Wonderful lush mouthfeel.  Good acidity.  Cassis flavors.  Deep but it unwinds in the glass.  Still a decade at least from peak.  Long finish.  I know these wines have escalated in

Like many white Rhone varietal wines, this has taken some time to really come around but it is drinking beautifully right now.  Pop and pour.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great.  Initially, there is some vanilla but that gives way to tropical fruits (mango) and some citrus.  Also a nice mineral streak and bits of wax.  On the palate, this is oily which is nice.  Citrus (lemon/orange) and mangoes continue.  Deep and layered.  Worked great with a tomato-fennel soup.  Long finish.  Really drank well but plenty of life left.  

This just came and I wanted to try it.  It probably would have been better off with a bit more cellaring.  Don't get em wrong, it was very good, but it was tight and gave off the impression that better things are in store.  Purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, chocolate covered strawberries, bramble and spice.  On the palate, this is deep but undelineated.  Lots of black cherry, and raspberry fruit.  Some oak.  Medium tannins.  It is delicious and the bottle was emptied quickly.  Still, I would hold these for a short time and there is plenty of upside.