2017 Keplinger Fuego y Mar, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

this is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color, some ruby, opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with plums and roasted meats and herbs.  Black olives as well.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  With air plums come out.  Great acidity.  A touch of salinity on the finish.  This comes across as a cooler climate Syrah more in the Northern Rhone style.  It will need some time flesh out, perhaps another seven to ten years.  After that it will drink well for ten to fifteen more years.  A nice match with brisket or roasted veggies.  

2013 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

Another top wine from Cayuse.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, burnt rubber (in a good way), black olives and iron.  What a great texture.  Juicy and velvety.  On the palate, the black raspberry dominates with some underlying minerality and a hint of funk/musk.  Long finish.  This is still young but chugging along.  It may still improve a bit over the next few years and then be good for another 15 after that.  

2016 Andremily Syrah No. 5, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$122.00USD

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Syrahs.  This is a blend of 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black olives, chocolate and char.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  A lush texture but precise.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying charred earth.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is delicious.  Firm tannins.  This will continue to mature for another seven to ten years and be great drinking for another ten to fifteen after that.  It drins great on its own now and will work well with roasts of all

2017 Argiano Non Confunditur Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese which makes it a "Super Tuscan".  It is, however, not expensive and truly a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, baking spices and slight woodiness.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  A nice backbone of acidity.  It has a soft but inviting texture.  Delicious red berry fruit with underlying dry earthiness.  Medium finish.  This drinks great on its own but is better with food.  A great "pizza wine".  It should be good for another five to seven years.  

2015 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$79.00USD

Yes, this is young, but I have a few and wanted to try this.  It was well worth opening, but it did need some air.  Consumed over two days, it was better on day 2.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meat and herbs, slight bacon fat, and a slight floral (lavender?) note.  Full bodied.  Deep with firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with some earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This needs about five to seven more years to get closer to peak.It should be good for another twelve to fifteen after that

2016 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is the base wine for this winery.  It seems to be a blend of the barrels that didn't make the grade of single varietal releases.  Todos means all.  That doesn't make it a bad wine by any means.  In fact, this is an outstanding wine and excellent value compared to those single varietal wines.  it is a blend 60% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, with the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier.

2010 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is a Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley in France.  Crozes-Hermitage is a great source of values and this is one of the best wines made.  At age ten, this is cruising along and just entering adulthood.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, slight bacon fat and spice.  Pretty classic.  On the palate, this shows a tight complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Layers of black raspberries with an earthiness and a meatiness to it.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This should drink well for the nest ten years.  A nice match with brisket or roasted chi

2018 Carlisle Syrah Sonoma County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is the basic Syrah from Carlisle.  It is always a great value in Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight black cherries with a bit if char and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks great upon unscrewing the cap.  Juicy black raspberries with a bit of concentration.  Persistent and energetic.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This will gain some complexity and may even improve bit over the next five years.  It seems like it should drink well until at least 2030.  A nice match with grilled meats or chicken although it drinks we

2018 Cellier des Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Grenache-Syrah, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah.  It comes in an attractive more squat bottle.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is warm with a dusty attic quality.  Lots of cherries with garrique.  Also some old wood notes.  Very comforting.  On the palate, this is ripe/sweet on the attack.  Black cherries and slight cherry pie filling.  Some acidity.  This took about an hour or air to settle out.  Served to a small socially distanced group, this was quite popular.  It drinks well on its own and would be a great match for barbecues ribs or chicken this summer.  It should probably be co

2016 Keplinger Sumo Shake Ridge, USA, California, Amador County, wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

I am a big fan of the Helen Keplinger wines.  This one is 84% Petite Sirah, 13% Syrah, and 3% Viognier.  It does need some cellaring or lots of air if serving now, but it is delicious.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, smoke, slight charred earth and black pepper.  On the palate, this is a big wine, but has great delineation.  Layers, tightly packed of blueberries, black raspberries and charred wood.  Great energy.  This probably needs about five to eight more years until peak and should drink beautifully for ten to twelve after that.  I

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