Santa Barbara

• Santa Lucia Highlands
• Santa Rita Hills
• Santa Ynez Valley

This is in a great spot at age 17.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight gamey meat, and a bit of raspberries.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is deep with some complexity.  Black raspberry fruit with some black pepper and a hint of meatiness.  Nice finish.  This seems to be about at peak but should go another five to eight years at this level.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with roasted veggies, fowl or meats.  

This wine is a blend of the best individual vineyard barrels of Syrah (50% Thompson, 33% Larner and 17% Verna's Vineyard).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and roasted meat.  With air a slight "purple" flower note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Not a fruit monster but not shy either.  Lots of depth.  Still drinking youthfully.  Lot of  black raspberry fruit with some underlying char and minerality.  Nice finish.  Great on its own, this works well with food.  It

Ordered off the list at Craig's in Hollywood, CA.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon, lime, slight floral note and  slight  smoke.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, this is dry as a bone.  Delicious.  Lemons with slight lime.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Went great with a Veggie Burger.  Drink over the next ten years.

Tensley is an excellent source for excellent wines at fair pricing.  This one is a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache.  This was a Magnum only release.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and a hint of floral notes.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberry fruit with some pepper and underlying char.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would also be nice with roasted vegetables.  

This is a lighter in style Syrah from Santa Barbara.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight herbal notes and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with slight earthiness.  Moderate finish.  This is better with food.  A nice wine with pizza.  Drink now.  

This is a nice value in Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cassis, slight vanilla, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a nice easy drinking Cab.  Cassis and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next few years.  A nice with with a (veggie) burger.  

This is 87% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah and 1% Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black raspberries, slight spice and some roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has some depth.  Medium tannins.  Seems to be at peak.  Plenty of plums with a bit of black raspberries and slight peppery note.  Long finish.  Drink over the next five years.  A nice match with a stew on a cooler evening.  

I tend to buy a case of these every year and drink them all young.  They would last longer, but at least it helps me keep my hands off of the single vineyard wines.  There has been a change in the ownership of the winery but the wines seem to be consistent.  Purple in color opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, cedar, black pepper, slight black olive and char.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  This is a riper style of Syrah but not over the top.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit with some char and black pepper.  Nice finish.  Drinks great on its own and would

Honestly, I love Viognier from the Rhone Valley, but less so the full throttle Viogniers from California (usually with high alcohol).  Despite that disclaimer, I really enjoyed this.  Unique and different as it is.  Golden in color with green swirls.  The nose has green apples, slight floral notes and just a hint of peach.  Nice acidity.  Oily texture.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, the apples are present with a light minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks easy on its own and will work with some lighter foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Another outstanding wine from Carlisle.  This one is a bit more playful than some, but just as enjoyable.  At least as good, if not better on Day 2.  Deep garnet in color with purple swirls.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, slight black olive, spice and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Lots of energy.  On the palate, nice black raspberry fruit with underlying spice and char.  Nice complexity.  Light but present tannins.  Nice finish.  A really enjoyable bottle.  Drank great on its own and worked with with a mushroom and potato dish.  Drink over the next seven to te