2017 Carlisle Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to shows cedar, cassis, graphite and slight chocolate.  Soft texture.  On the palate, dark cherries and cassis with some chocolate and char.  Some black licorice on the finish. This is drinking well right now.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  A nice with a chunky stew.  

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Bedrock Vineyard Heritage, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is a field blend of over twenty varieties from the home ranch of Bedrock including Zinfandel, Carignan and Mataro.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is complex with black cherries, plums, black raspberries, spice, black pepper and char (and more).  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  This is young but this bottle anyway, was open and drinking well.  The palate is deep, concentrated and complex.  Black cherries, black raspberries, plums, spice and char with a slick but plush texture.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with foo

MacRostie 2020 Sparkling Wine Blanc de Blancs

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$52.00USD

This is the first Chardonnay-centric sparkler MacRostie has ever made and, as an inaugural effort, they nailed it, creating a lovely wine that is complex and just plain enjoyable to drink. This is a soft, velvety sparkler that drinks incredibly smoothly. The carbonation is fairly mild, a plus in that we get more of the aromas and flavors of the wine than it being obstructed by bubbles. Soft baked bread, light lemon-lime, whispers of resin, grapefruit, white peach and Asian pear fill the palate.

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Another winner from Carlisle.  I am sure these will age nicely, but I just can't keep my hands off of them young.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, blueberries, and cedar.  Full bodied.  Lovely, almost lush texture.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries, with slight char underneath.  Long finish.  Just delicious.  This is great on its own and will drink well for another ten years.  It also will work well for spicy and bigger foods.  Besides pizza, this would be great with ribs off the gr

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

Like most of Beddrock's basic level bottlings this is a tremendous value )in Sauvignon Blanc).  Light golden in color with some green hues.  The nose is nice with lemon and lime notes, melon, and just a hint of tropical fruits.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Great balance.  On the palate, lemon-lime and honey-dew.  Good finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and will work nicely with fish or lighter foods.  A nice wine for Sushi.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.      

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Sonoma, Sonoma valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Bedrock makes a very nice Sauvignon Blanc that is an excellent value.  Golden in color with green hues.  The nose is great with a slight grassy note along with some melons and a hint of grapefruits.  Medium bodied.  Lovely slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It drinks very easily with a persistent finish.  Great on its own, this would be very popular for a summer party.  It also works well with lighter foods.  It went great with vegetarian (Tofu) Tacos.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a very nice white from the Bedrock stable of wines.  The vineyard was planted in 1954 as a field blend of Gewurztraminer, Trousseau Gris, Riesling, Roter Veltliner, and Chenin Blanc.  Light gold in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has minerality, peaches, and some grapefruit.  Light bodied.  On the palate, there is a nice complexity here.  Make sure it is not served too cold or that won't be as evident.  Notes of grapefruit, lemon and minerality swirl on the palate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with lighter

2017 Turley Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is a big-ish Zin in style especially for Sonoma.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries and slight bramble.  A bit of pepper, too.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, there is nice black raspberry fruit with some cherries.  Underlying spices.  Pepper on the finish.  It worked well with Thai food but will drink well on its own too.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2017 Gundlach Bundschu Tempranillo Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

There are not a lot of Tempranillo's grown outside Spain and few in California, so it's always a pleasure to get to try one.  I suspect they have a small plot for this to experiment with and bottle it as a winery only release (just a guess).  It is 90% Tempranillo, 6% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and baking spices with a bit of tea leaves and slight smoke.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Bold cherry fruit with light tannins and underlying roasted herbs.  There is little acidity or depth making me wonder how this might age

2015 Gundlach Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review Valley

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

A very pretty, classically styled Sonoma Cabernet.  This is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Merlot.  Purple in color with some purple swirls.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, slight bell pepper and spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Cassis with a nice underlying earthiness/forest floor.  Good balance.  Ripe but not over blown by any means.  This should drink well for the next fifteen years as it develops and matures.  Drinking great on its own, this will work well with roasts or casseroles.  

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