Calera 2021 Mt. Harlan Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Calera winery has been making wine for almost 50 years. But few people ever visit this winery. It’s way off the normal wine experience, being sequestered in the Gavilan Mountain range near the tiny town of Hollister. But that is also its best quality. There is a lovely viscosity to this Chardonnay - a thickness that rolls over the tongue. Yes, you will find the requisite lemon chiffon, lime kefir, white peach, green apple and Asian pear.

Lucy 2022 Pico Blanco

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This second vintage of Lucy’s Pico Blanco from Monterey County continues its impressive winemaking style. Comprised of 85% Pinot Gris and 15% Pinot Blanc, this is both elegant and exciting; an enticing white wine for people who don’t like white wines. It offers crisp acidity, fresh flavors of lemon zest, lime kefir, quince, white peach and Asian pear, lithe honeysuckle, fresh baked bread, light resin and a stony minerality. The Lucy label is from the Pisoni brothers and the Pisoni family has been producing wine from Monterey since the early 1970s.

Calera 2021 Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

For 40 years Calera has been producing terrific wines in a rather unlikely place, in the Gavilan Mountains at the dividing line for San Benito and Monterey counties. This 2021 offers black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, huckleberry, pomegranate, with back notes of strawberry and Bing cherry. There is a rustic quality to this Pinot, hints of sage and earthiness. Aged just 10 months in French oak, a scant 10% of those barrels were new, therefore the fruit expresses itself quite clearly. It has solid acidity and tannic structure, making it an incredible value for the price.

Lucy 2021 Pico Blanco

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

The name Pisoni is well known in the Monterey area and the Lucy label is of part of brothers Jeff and Mark Pisoni’s wide variety of offerings. A blend of 70% pinot gris and 30% pinot blanc, the result is a sum that is far greater than its parts. Wonderfully crisp and flavorful this offers muted notes of lemon-lime, guava, resin, red delicious apple, and nectarine. There’s an ever so slight tartness on the tongue, solid acidity and a uniqueness that just might make this your new go-to white. Native yeast fermentation leads to aging in neutral barrels for a lithe viscosity.

2021 Folk Machine Gamay Noir Rosé Arroyo Seco, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is a very nice wine.  It is made in a reticent style and more elegant that bombastic.  Very pale pink in color, almost no color at tall.  The nose is nice with watermelon rind, cherries, and strawberries.  Slightly oily texture.  Plenty of watermelon on the palate.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own but will work better with lighter foods.  A fruit salad would work well.  Drink over the next year.  

2020 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Single Vineyard Riva Ranch, USA, California, Monterey, Arroyo Secco, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a very nice Chardonnay from Wente, a long time producer in California (founded in 1883).  This particular Chardonnay is grown from a single vineyard, Riva Ranch, in Arroyo Grande.  Yellow gold in color, clear and shimmering bright.  The nose is a bit chalky with grapefruit and slight baking spice.  With air, a bit of pineapple comes out.  It has a really nice voluptuous texture.  On the palate, more lemon chiffon with nice underlying minerality and some spice.  Moderate acidity.  Good finish.  This is tasty and drinks nicely on its own but will work well with all but the heaviest of

2018 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant, Cuvée Oumuamua, USA, California, Monterey, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

One of the more humorous labels in the wine world (check it out).  It is a bland of 52% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, and 13% Syrah.  This is much less robust than prior vintages of this wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, bitter cherries, baking spices and black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Plenty of cherry fruit with underlying char and spice.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for seven to ten years.  It worked well with a curry dish and will work better with food.  

2017 Landmark Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, USA, California, Monterey, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is a surprisingly big and bold Pinot Noir.  The surprise is more that it is from the Santa Lucia Highlands.  The vines were planted in 2008.  Although 2017 wasa bit lighter of a vintage in Sonoma/Napa, it would appear that down in Monterey, there was no issue in getting fruit ripe.  Certainly not for this wine.  It has a very pretty ruby/garnet color.  Clear and bright.  The nose shows coffee, black cherries, and a slight rhubarb.  With air a bit of brown sugar emerges.  On the palate, this is full bodied with light tannins.  It has juicy red berries.  There is some oak coming thru as

2017 J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco Monterey, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

An inexpensive Chardonnay that is a pretty good value for the money.  Light golden in color.  The nose offers up some melon and tropical fruit and just a touch of spice.  On the palate, this has a bit of crispness.  The melon carries thru.  Creamy texture.  Slightly bitter/woody on the finish.  Worked well with assorted salads.  Drink now.  

2013 Roar Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard, USA, California, Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$54.00USD

This is a pretty big Pinot.  It is also delicious.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seems to have some volatile acidity.  Not an issue but might be worrisome with some age.  Other than that it has a very pretty cherry liqueur nose.  On the palate, lots of black cherries.  A bit of root beer.  Full bodied.  A bit of sweet alcohol but not hot or warm.  That sweetness is especially evident on the finish.  This is the kind of Pinot that is delicious on its own.  Would be perfect on the deck next to a summer fire.  It will work with big foods or BBQ.  

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