Sonoma Coast

One of the top producers of Sonoma Chardonnays.  At age 7, this is in a nice sweet spot between youth and maturity.  Light gold in color with some green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, vanilla, and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Vibrant.  Notes of grapefruit, lemons, pears, vanilla with underlying char.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work well with scallops or other shellfish.  

Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has some funk with black cherry fruit.  On the palate, there is plenty of depth.  It is very tight and needs more time.  Some black cherry and sour cherry fruit with underlying earthiness.  Nice finish.  Probably best to hold another five to seven years and then drink for twenty after that.  This would work well with Grilled Salmon.  Lots of upside for those who are patient.  

Certainly not as good as the 2017, I am wondering if I got an "off" bottle although there are no noticeable flaws.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears, apples with some minerality.  Also some fresh cut lumber.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is solid.  Apples with a touch of cut.  Moderate finish.  This is should appeal to a wide variety of people (although the price won't).  Drink over the next ten years.  It works better on its own but would work well with grilled salmon.  

This is a nice, inexpensive Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons, some apples and spice.  On the palate, this is crisp with apples.  Nice finish.  Serve chilled.  This should be consumed in the next year or two.  It is very food friendly and would work well with sea food or lighter foods.  

This took some time to open, then drank very well.  A precise, concentrated wine.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is mineral oriented but with some bright lemon notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the minerals and lemons continue.  Bright acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own but shows better with food.  Seafood would be good but worked well with a  watermelon salad.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with vanilla, lemon cream, slight wax note.  Full bodied.  Great acidity.  Deep and complex albeit obviously young.  On the palate, the lemon cream takes the stage with some background vanilla.  Long finish.  This it rich without being overblown.  One of, if not the best RM Chard I have had.  This should drink well for another 15 years.  Great on its own, this will work well with lobster or salmon.  

This is a nice Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and some strawberries.  On the palate, this is a lighter, more elegant styled Pinot.  Nice cherry fruit with a touch of pomegranate.  Dry.  It finishes with tart cherries which wake up the palate.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with roasted (or fried) chicken.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

I am a big fan of the RM Chardonnays.  This is the "generic" non-single vineyard offering.  It might be a hair less than those others but it is also less expensive and an outstanding wine on its own.  Light gold with some green swirls, shimmering bright.  The nose is classic with lemons, vanilla, slight chalk and a hint of mint.  Full bodied but with cut.  Lots of energy.  On the palate, this is delicious right from the go.  Lemons, vanilla, slight spice with a long finish.  Great texture.  Young, of course, but this should easily do another ten years as it matures.  Might even get better. 

Another great showing for this Chardonnay.  There is a deft use of oak that is noticeable here, but well done and well within reason.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon curd, vanilla and hint of grapefruit.  With air a nice minerality emerges.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is still young but drinking well.  It improves in the glass showing lemon curd with slight vanilla and spice.  Nice balance and structure.  Long finish.  This seems like it should easily do another decade or more.  Great on its own, this will work well with duck, salmon or just a s

Another top notch Syrah from Bedrock.  Consumed over two days, it was better on day 2.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has slightly restrained, black raspberry fruit over char and slight earth.  Deep but tight.  Good balance.  If drinking soon, give this some air.  It should continue to improve for another five to eight years and be good for ten more after that.  It drinks well on its own but would work better with some fatty/fried foods.