Goldeneye 2020 Pinot Noir Gowen Creek

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

I have reviewed, favorably, the Pinot Noir from Gowen Creek for years. When you find a wine that offers such consistency, you stick with it. What Gowen offers is a sublime melding of fruit like black cherry, red raspberry, boysenberry, blackberry acidity, minerality and judicious use of oak. This wine has those in spades. Though the word “balance” is tossed around a lot in the wine industry, when you taste one, you know. Not only is this wine balanced, it is simply enjoyable to drink.

Goldeneye 2019 Brut Rosé

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Goldeneye has been making wine in the Anderson Valley for 30 years. This current release is comprised of 63% Pinot Noir and 37% Chardonnay. There is a lovely softness to the carbonation and viscosity of the wine itself. Pleasant notes of fresh, baked bread, golden delicious apple, apricot jam, blood orange and a slight honeydew melon fill the palate. Unlike many sparklers, this doesn’t lean towards sour apple, nor sweet, it straddles a middle ground of pleasant, soft notes, making this a delightful sipping wine with enough acidity for food.

2019 FEL Chardonnay Anderson Valley, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemons, peach and slight green apple.  Medium to full bodied.  Little or no oak showing on this wine.  On the palate, this is crisp and easy to drink.   Notes of peach and slight lemon zest on the palate. Nice finish.  Refreshing.  It works better with food but is still a nice sipper.  Pair it with grilled sea food such as trout.  drink over the next five years.  

2019 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Ten Degrees

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Goldeneye has been quietly crafting excellent pinot noir from the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County since 1996. Utilizing a blend of four different clones, the Ten Degrees has always been an exceptional wine and this vintage is no different. Beautifully balanced between acidity, fruit and oak aging, this offers black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, a wee bit of white pepper and an even flow throughout the palate. Though aged for 16 months in French oak the fruit shine without being overly dramatic, the lush ripe flavors are very appealing. In short, this is deftly balanced.

2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hacienda Secoya Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has sour cherries and cherry candy.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the sour cherries and cherry candy come thru in layers.  There is a deep complexity to this wine.  Just about at peak.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  It will work well with Salmon or Tuna.  

2020 Cakebread Cellars Pinot Noir Two Creeks Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This was an interesting Pinot Noir from northern California.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, smoke, anise and slight menthol.  Very nice.  On the palate, this has a big, but very nice texture.  Viscous with good acidity.  On the palate, this drinks well with sour cherries, anise, sandalwood and just the faint whiff of char.  Very tasty.  A long finish.  Those who like bigger, fresh (clean) Pinot Noir should love this wine.  Drink over the next ten years.  It would go well with Salmon but also roasted chicken.

NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Always a nice value in sparkling wine.  Approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  Frothy with lots of small bubbles.  The nose is less toasty than I remember with more green apple.  Very clean.  On the palate, the green apple is present with slight minerality.  This is crisp and tasty.  Nice on it own, but also quite food friendly.  Fried foods would match easily.  Drink over the next couple years.  

2018 FEL Chardonnay Anderson Valley, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is part of the Cliff Lede family of wines.  From Mendocino County (north of Napa).  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some apples along with a bit of lemons and slight pineapple.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  There is a hint of sweetness here.  The apples and lemons come thru.  Nice finish.  Served cooler on a hot summer night, this was very refreshing on its own.  It will work nicely with fruit salads.  Figs would be nice too.  Drink over the next few years.  

2012 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from northern California.  Light golden in color with a lot of very small bubbles.  The nose is interesting with ginger, figs, toasted nuts, and nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Crisp.  On the palate, notes of figs and red apples.  Some ginger.  The finish is very long.  This is very lively.  It should continue to drink well for another five to seven years before slowly turning into a mature sparkling wine.  This will pair well with almost any food or on its own.  

2015 Rhys Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard, USA, California, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is from a northern California.  While I really enjoy the Rhys Chardonnay's, this is not as exuberant the ones from Santa Cruz.  Still, it is excellent.  Golden green in color.  The nose has vanilla, slight grapefruit and slight pineapple.  On the palate, this has a very nice texture.  Slightly viscous.  Nice underlying minerality.  The vanilla comes thru without being too overt.  Nice fruit.  This is drinking well now.  I don't think it will get better but should remain at this level for another five to seven years.  It drinks well on its own.  This will go well with lighter foods such

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