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Surprisingly open and drinking well with just a bit of air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some blueberries, slight char and a bit of black pepper.  Full bodied.  Juicy texture.  On the palate, this is deep with some complexity.  Certainly, it will gain complexity with more ageing.  Delicious black raspberry fruit with some boysenberries and underlying char.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This will likely get better but no harm drinking now with a couple hours of air first.  It should drink well for another twelve to fifteen years.  This drink

This is an interesting wine.  Much more about being refined and still expressing Santa Cruz Mountains than being boisterous.  Of course, some of that may also be the vintage.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with cassis, black cherries, spice and graphite/char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a bit of a bell pepper/herbal streak to go along with nice cassis fruit.  Some underlying char.  Medium tannins.  This has the feel that it needs more time to develop and come together.  It drank better on day 2.  Hold for another

This is a 100% Malbec from the Napa Valley.  The term Ghost Winery refers to the fact that the grapes come from an old 19th century winery that is no longer in use as a winery.  The building is now a residence but there are still vines growing.  These Malbec vines are on that property.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose took about an hour to open and then showed plums, black cherries, figs, baking spice and some milk chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to really hit first gear.  Give it some air if opening now.  Flavors of plums,

What a great bottle for Halloween!  Cool label front and back and really good wine.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc from Rutherford.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose takes about 30 minutes to open then shows nice ripe Cab Franc, that is to say, black cherries, some black raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, just a bit of cigar tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying coffee and tobacco.  Long finish.  Gives this some air if opening this Halloween, it really got going after being

I am a huge fan of Rhys Chardonnays and also a big fan of the Chenin Blanc grape so it was with great anticipation that this got opened.  Its a very nice wine, but not at the level for me of the Chardonnays.  I believe this was the first vintage so perhaps Kevin Harvey and his team will zero in on growing this varietal and making the wine they want.  Tasted over three days, it didn't really change, so perhaps this is the proverbial "needs more time" wine.  In any event, light golden in color with the slightest copper hue.  On the nose, some orange rind, a bit of honey, peaches and some mine

Opened to celebrate my 63rd birthday.  Pop and pour and consumed over several hours.  This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest  made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight black cherries, cedar, slight camphor, spice and a hint of leather.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is still not at maturity but has started to move in that direction.  No doubt it will improve but certainly enjoyable now.  Cassis, plums, slight sour black cherries with underlying spice and a bit of dried

Torrin continues to make some of the best, fruit forward, Rhone varietals anywhere.  These are big wines that benefit from extended cellaring.  This one is 100% Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black raspberries, black pepper, slight iodine, roasted meats and herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, concentrated black raspberry fruit, some blueberries, black pepper with underlying meatiness and char.  Nice acidity.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  This will still get better over the next five years and drin

This is their regular (not single vineyard) Cabernet.  The better barrels typically go to the single vineyard releases, but the blends seem to have more complexity (if less depth) but cost less.  This is an excellent wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Cassis, slight blueberries, black licorice, spice and slight leather. There is a juicy texture. Full bodied.  Cassis and black licorice along with a bit spice. Moderate tannins but they are silky. Good balance.

One of the top producers of Sonoma Chardonnays.  At age 7, this is in a nice sweet spot between youth and maturity.  Light gold in color with some green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, vanilla, and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Vibrant.  Notes of grapefruit, lemons, pears, vanilla with underlying char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work well with scallops or other shellfish.  

This is a great bottle of Napa Cabernet even if a bit young.  And that, is a great thing about Napa Cabs versus Bordeaux; they drink so well young.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight blueberries, cedar, slight cigar box and spice.  Also some char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, there is lush cassis fruit with some blueberries.  Underlying cedar and char.  Lots of depth.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature for another eight to ten years and drink well for ten to fifteen more after that.  Wit