2020 Halter Ranch Libelle Sparkling Picpoul Blanc, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, Wine Revieew

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is a really interesting wine.  It is made from 100% Picpoul Blanc in the Methode Champenoise style.  Picpoul Blanc isn't all that common but is usually found in the Rhone Valley or the Languedoc in Southeastern France.  This is (to the best of my memory), the only time I have seen a sparkling Picpoul.  The grapes are grown using organic and sustainable methods in California's Central Coast.  The wine is silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  There is a nice mousse of tiny sized bubbles that are persistent in the glass.  Very pretty.  The nose starts out showing some tropica

2022 Sans Liege Cotes du Coast, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a white blend using Rhone varietals and made in Tin City, Paso Robles, California.  It is a blend of 48% Viognier, 19% Marsanne, 13% Roussanne, 11% Grenache Blanc and 9% Clairette.  My first time trying this wine and producer and it is delightful.  Light golden in color with some green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has a whiff of fruit but then is dominated by wax, sea air and spice.  With air a bit more pineapple emerges.  Lovely slightly oily texture.  Drying tannins.  On the palate, more pineapple with some lime notes on the finish.  13.7%abv.  It is so hard to say how this

2021 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is another wine from the Michael Mondavi Family of wines.  This is the inaugural vintage of this wine sourced from various vineyards around Paso Robles.  It will be interesting to watch as they get a handle on what the vineyard has to offer.  That said, this first vintage is a very nice value in California Cabernet.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, char, spice and slight coffee note.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, plums and char.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own and will work with gr

2008 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Not quite as good as the 2007, but still excellent.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, juicy acidity.  Black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  This seems about at peak.  Drinking great on its own, it would also work well with roasted vegetables or meats.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2007 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

James Berry Vineyard is one of the great Syrah vineyards in the world.  It is the home vineyard for Saxum.  Carlisle's version is a bit less blousy perhaps but really a wonderful wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight gamey meat with some white pepper.  Wonderful, almost seamless, texture.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex and just about at maturity.  Notes of black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2016 PharaohMoans WestSide, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Tasted on the Celebrity Millennium  Cruise ship off the coast of Alaska.  It is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black raspberries, char and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  A bitter note on the finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would work with big meat dishes.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2017 Tablas Creek Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a winery only release from this winery who makes quite a few different wines only sold as such.  It is cooler climate in style.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, smoked herbs, slight bacon fat and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, boysenberries with some char.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It went well with Indian food.  Drink over the next five to ten years.

2016 Torrin The Banshee, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

This is a GSM blend from California.  Torrin makes great wines.  They are huge and really should go seven to ten years from vintage prior to opening, but it depends on how you like 'em.  It is a blend of 40% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre, and 27% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, boysenberries, plums, black cherries, char, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  A bit of black licorice with air.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is dense.  Slight alcohol noticeable but that smooths out with about an hour of air.  Lois of black and blue

2014 Tablas Creek Panoplie, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

From Magnum.  This is a blend of 65% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, and 7% Syrah.  Basically, this is the top wine offered by Tablas Creek.  Especially from Magnum, but even by bottle, this wine is still young.  That said, it also drinks well young, so don't be deterred.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, raspberries, roasted meats and herbs and just a bit of spices.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, plenty of fruit; raspberries, black raspberries, and plums, along with spice and some earthiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is delicious

2014 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$155.00USD

From Magnum and consumed over 3 days.  It was great on all three but probably at its best on day 2.  This is a blend of 68% Syrah and 32% Mourvedre  at 15.1% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight plums, spice and a hint of old leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with a lush texture.  Some char and spice.  Long finish.  This drinks easy and despite the alcohol and fruit forwardness, it is not a monster wine.  Nice depth and complexity.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted meats but worked very we

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