2015 K Vintners The Creator, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries, and sandal wood.  Also an herbal note that was hard to describe.  A fellow taster said green olives and that is not too far off.  On the palate, the Syrah seem to dominate although this is an 80/20 blend of Cabernet and Syrah.  Black raspberries, an underlying char and some black olive notes.  A very nice texture although a bit soft.  The finish is a bit bitter black raspberry but not in a bad way.  Overall, an excellent wine.  It improved with air and more Cab notes seem to come out.  It will be interesting to see how this ages.  

NV CLE Urban Winery Lake Erie Riesling, USA, Wine Review

Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+

This is from a wine bar in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  They buy juice from around the country and make a wide variety of fun and sometimes very good wines.  This is a sweet Riesling from Finger Lakes, NY grapes.  Light green/gold in color.  On the nose this is ok.  Some citrus and slight minerals.  On the palate, this is quite viscous.  It is very sweet, cloying and lacking much acid.  This will appeal to the Blue Nun lover.  If that is what people like to drink, that is fine, but know that this is the type of wine that some will like and some will dislike.  

NV CLE Urban Winery Footlights Sauvignon Blanc, USA, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This winery buys juice around the country and then makes the wine in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  This version was 2017 juice but the wines are not labelled with a vintage.  There is a wide range of quality and styles in these wines and some of them a very nice.  All of them are fun.  This one is made from California Sauvignon Blanc juice and is a tribute to the Playhouse Square are in downtown Cleveland.  Light golden in color.  It has nice grapefruit on the nose.  On the palate, there is good acidity with some grapefruit notes.  A bit short on the finish.  Will work with a wide variety of li

2017 Anthony Road Riesling Semi Sweet, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
A-

3% Residucal sugar.  This is sweet but very nice if one likes this style.  The nose is green table grapes.  It is not often that wine smells like table grapes, but this does and that is not meant in a bad way at all.  There is also an underlying minerality.  On the palate, this is viscous but with a good acidity that cuts through.  Nice minerality.  Perhaps some white peach as well.  Good finish.  This will work with spicy foods and is a nice wine for those who like sweet wines without resorting to dessert wines.  

2017 Anthony Road Riesling Dry, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Silvery green in color.  The nose has a mineral nose with some green apples.  On the palate, this has some tannins which is interesting.  The green apples carry thru as well some citrus on the palate.  Dry (6 grams per liter).  Good finish.  This seems very tight right now and could probably use some air.  Seems like it should improve for a couple of years and be good for a decade.  Very food friendly.  

2013 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This was quite good.  Not as big or expressive as expected.  In fact, it drinks very Northern Rhone-ish.   Purple in color.  On the nose there is black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight violets and underlying minerality.  Nice texture.  Layers unwind in the glass.  Though still tight, there is a nice complexity with black raspberry fruit and crushed dusty rocks.  Nice acidity as well.  Should continue to improve for a while and be good for a couple of decades after that.  

2015 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Lower East, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  This was tight but opened quickly to show black raspberries, slight roasted meats and a bit of pepper.  On the palate, this has a silky texture.  Black cherries.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is probably as good as this gets but should be nice drinking for five years.  At $25 retail, this is fairly priced.  Will work with medium and heavier foods.  

2015 Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a great value for around $20.  Having had it in multiple vintages, it is very consistent.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, black pepper and some cedar.  A bit of roasted meat as well.  On the palate, this is big and fruity but there is also depth and complexity.  Bright acidity.  Good finish.  This will work with big or spicy foods.  It should last for 5 to 8 years but probably won't get better.  That's ok, it is really good today.  

2014 Revelry Vintners Syrah Block 18, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple with ruby swirls.  The nose is tight on opening but reveals smoky black raspberries.  On the palate, this is sweet black raspberry fruit.  It has a nice complexity to it and is more "elegant" than a fruit bomb.  Drinking quite well, it will probably still improve with good cellaring.  Food friendly for most foods.  Nice finish.  It retails for around $60.

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