Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.
This is a very solid Napa Cabernet. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cassis, , milk chocolate and spice. On the palate, this is sweet ripe fruit; cassis, licorice and vanilla. It drinks quite easily. Still young, perhaps it will gain more complexity with age. Nice finish. A very tasty wine.
This around $8. If one is looking for an inexpensive Cabernet, then this will fit the bill. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has generic red fruit. On the palate, dark cherry fruit. Easy to drink. Not much acidity. It is what it is. No pretense of greatness.
Plenty of value here for under $10. First, the label tells you this has a vanilla and butterscotch oak profile with apple and pear fruit notes. Both of those are pretty spot on. The wine is deep golden in color. The nose is red apples, with vanilla and slight butterscotch. On the palate, this is simple and to the point. Plenty of oaky notes; vanilla and some butterscotch with a bit of apples. This is made for easy drinking and at that price, just fine for casual drinking or at a party.
Really nice showing for this wine. Light golden in color. The nose has more fruit that the Italian versions of this grape. Some tropical notes along with limes. On the palate, the fruit parade continues. A bit of underlying minerality. Good acidity. It has a nice freshness although I would drink these sooner than later. Good finish. Under $20.
Drinking quite well right now. Perhaps a bit earlier than prior vintages. Deep ruby in color. The nose is great with sour cherries, cherries, slight black licorice and baking spice. On the palate, this is deep and complex. Great texture; a bit soft and a bit velvety. Lots of sour cherry and black cherry fruit. It unwinds in the glass showing layers of fruit and damp forest floor. Great acidity. Nice finish. There is some upside potential on this as it will continue to mature for a few years.
Inky purple in color. The nose has boysenberries, black pepper and slight bacon fat. On the palate, this is not as boisterous as other vintages. Still, nothing under ripe or green. Boysenberries layered with damp earth and char. Lovely texture. Long finish. This worked well with food or on its own. Saxum did an excellent job with the difficult 2011 vintage. This seems to be drinking a bit earlier than is typical although it is still young.
I believe this is a Zinfandel blend. Purple in color. The nose has raspberries and some bramble. Perhaps some black pepper. On the palate, there is a nice juciness here. Not a deep wine but easy drinking with solid fruit. Rasberries and black cherries. Nice finish.
Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, red raspberries, anise and black pepper. Nice. On the palate, black and red raspberries with some black licorice. It has some complexity and depth although it could use a bit more. Nice finish. It is drinking well now though it might not be at peak. Not sure if it will get any better though. It really is good even if I hoped for more.
Purple in color. Opaque and bright. The nose is great with cassis, cedar, spice, slight fresh turne loam and bit of chocolate. On the palate, this has ripe but not overtly ripe fruit. Plenty of depth. Very nice, lush texture. Long finish. This is still young and has a way to go before peak but it is absolutely delicious today.
This is in a great place. Rubyt/purple in color. The nose is great with cherries, macerated cherries, a bit earthy, some sandalwood and slight cranberries. Full bodied. Sikly texture. Layers of complexity unwind in the glass. Cherries and dark cherries, wet forest floor and spice. Great balance. Long finish. Seems like it is getting close to peak but not quite there with a long life left. Great wine!
