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Tag Archives: california

Rebellious Red Blend 2019, California

16 Friday Sep 2022

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, california, petite sirah, winetasting, zinfandel


I was tasting wines for a prospective class and wanted to stick to single varietals, the bartender convinced me to try this red blend of Zinfandel, Cab Sav, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Syrah.  In one word- Delicious!  Medium ruby colored with a slight blue edge it has aromas and flavors of ripe plum, blueberry pie, coconut, charred oak, cracked pepper and allspice.  Medium (-) acidity and medium tannins lead to a full bodied, mouth coating experience.  A long finish adds to this wine’s appeal and solidifies my score of 91 points. Not bad for a sub $20 effort that gets 5 stars.  At 15% ABV, it is obvious the winemaker has used really ripe, sun-drenched grapes to achieve this level of flavor.  Yummy stuff to pair with a thick Tomahawk steak or some braised Beef ribs.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

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Ramian Estate 3 Clone Selection Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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1 star, california, pinot noir, sonoma coast, winetasting


The second wine I tasted at the wine bar was this unfortunate Pinot Noir.  So over-the-hill it was shocking for such a relatively young wine.  Pale garnet colored, the pigments ended a mm from the edge of the rim when studied at an angle.  Aromas of stewed fruit, dried figs, bruised cherry and clove.  The tertiary notes dominated the nose and palate which was tough to swallow, everything has fallen apart here.  The tertiary flavors are what I love about cellaring wine, but there comes a point of diminishing returns and this bottle passed that a while back.  No score given, a major pass.  Salut….

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William Gordon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Alexander Valley, California

11 Sunday Sep 2022

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$55, 5 stars, 93 points, alexander valley, cabernet sauvignon, california, sonoma county


Deep ruby colored yet it could pass for purple, interesting considering it’s 9 years of age.  The nose has pronounced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, açaí with licorice, menthol, crushed stone and charred oak.  Refreshingly primal with some secondary notes yet not much development presently.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins that coat my gums and a full body- for sure.  The flavors start off with very ripe yet fresh blackberry, açaí berry, blueberry and black currants.  There is a sweetness that I attribute to the ample sunshine of the vintage.  Oak nuance, mint  and some signs of tertiary development fill out the flavor profile.  The finish is a touch astringent with a black tea note and some very caressing tannins.  This wine is young with lots of time to develop.  I think it warrants 93 points and for $55 it’s a 5 star wine to serve up with Sunday roast beef.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

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Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California

09 Friday Sep 2022

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$140, 4 stars, 93 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa


Deep garnet colored with fast moving legs- 13.9% ABV.  The nose started off with a medicinal note followed by horse saddle leather, dust, barnyard, blackcurrant, black cherry, bandaid and briar.  It is earthy with loads of tertiary aromas.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, well integrated tannins, medium (+) body and rich flavors of black fruits, dusty earth, bramble, briar and açaí berry that lead to a long finish of black tea and leather. 93 points is what I imagined this wine garnering yet the pros went lower back in the day.  It’s amazing how some wines will age so gracefully and deliver those lovely tertiary flavors after 16 years yet still show some primary fruit and  structure to age a few more years.  I would drink this $140 offering till 2026 or so with lighter beef dishes.  4 stars from me.  Salut….

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David Marchesi Provare Chardonnay 2020, California

26 Friday Aug 2022

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$13, 4 stars, 87 points, california, chardonnay, Naked Wines


Medium to deep lemon colored this Chardonnay has medium intensity aromas of citrus, pineapple, yellow apple, geranium and cherry leaf.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Flavors of lemon, grapefruit, pomelo and pineapple prevail and luckily for me- no Diacetyl from MLF.  I was not in the mood for a big, buttery, over-oaked Chard.  This is going to go beautifully with our grilled Chermoula spiced Shrimp and Spanish rice.  87 points from me for this $13 wine makes it a 4 star effort. Drink now.  Salut….

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Chariot Wines Gypsy Red 2019, California

22 Monday Aug 2022

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$6, 3 stars, 85 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, grenache, syrah


Nearly opaque, this deep ruby colored wine has a tinge of blue coloring on the edges.  The nose has aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice candy and ripe raspberry.  A touch of oak is also present.  The palate is dry with medium tannins and medium acidity.  There is a sourness to the palate but I get red fruit, red licorice and charcoal.  The body is medium and the finish is short.  The tannins linger mind you and there is some juiciness on the back end that I am enjoying.  It’s a Trader Joes special that runs $6.  Great for a party, this 85 pointer will not break the bank and can be served with burgers, dogs or even pizza.  3 stars from me for this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to drink by 2024.   Salut….

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Oak Ridge Petite Sirah Estate Grown 2019, Lodi, California

17 Wednesday Aug 2022

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$16, 5 stars, 90 points, california, Lodi, petite sirah


Just looking at this wine in the glass I have made some assumptions: 1) low acidity, 2) high tannins, 3) ripe fruit flavors/aromas, 4) full body, 5) high alcohol.  Let’s see.

Deep purple colored with a blue tinge on the edges and marked staining of the glass sides.  Slow moving legs on the wall.  The nose has aromas of ripe blackberry, baked blueberry pie, licorice, vanilla, yeasty baking spice notes and really ripe black plum.  The palate is dry and guess what?  Very tannic. Low acidity with a full body and lush flavors of very ripe black and blue fruit, oak influence by way of vanilla, baking spice and charred wood.  The finish has got a black tea component and is quite astringent but the flavors last a decent amount of time.  I love this varietal, and this is a decently made example that runs $16.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027 with hearty meat dishes.  BTW the alcohol was 13.5%, my only wrong guess. Salut….

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Precision Wine Co. Technique Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Alexander Valley, California

15 Monday Aug 2022

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, alexander valley, cabernet sauvignon, california, sonoma county


The color of this Cabernet is a medium purple, but it is hazy, a touch cloudy which concerns me.  The nose smells fresh and young with candied cherry, coconut, red plum, iron, bakers spice, dust and bramble.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins and medium acidity.  The fruit profile is darker on the palate- black plum and blackberry, gone is that candied cherry note (which I dislike immensely).  The coconut, spice, iron and dust are evident in this full bodied wine.  The finish is a tannic affair that is short to medium in length and highlights the iron and dust of the wine.  I like it but would cellar it for a year or two unless I was cooking rack of lamb or another fatty cut of meat.  I’m going with 90 points for this $15 bottle that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2023-2027.   Salut….

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Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Stags Leap District, California

15 Monday Aug 2022

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$75, 5 stars, 93 points, california, Napa, stags leap


After a delightful dinner at a Thai restaurant we went back to my friend’s house where he unleashed this beauty.  I sniffed and tasted the wine blind- there was no mistaking its origin.  I did not take notes but needless to say the initial whiff of aromas gave this Napa Cabernet Sauvignon away.  Rich, ripe black berries, Stags Leap earthy dust, menthol, vanilla and spice.  The palate was dry and full bodied. Bright California sunshine was evident in the fruit- as were the dusty notes I got on the nose.  Tannins were super smooth and well integrated.  The acidity was medium and well balanced.  The finish on this $75 bottle was long and delicious.  A 93 point wine that gets 5 stars from me.  You could pair it with a variety of meat dishes but then again you could just sip it and enjoy its purity.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….


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William Gordon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Alexander Valley, California

02 Tuesday Aug 2022

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$50, 5 stars, 92 points, alexander valley, cabernet sauvignon, california


Opaque- deep, deep ruby which is surprising for a 10 year old wine.  Slow moving legs in the glass hint at the 14.5% ABV.  The nose has freshness- dark plum, vanilla, blackberry, cassis, menthol, tomato leaf and a green herbaceous note.  The palate is dry, tart from medium (+) acidity and balanced with medium (+) tannins which are still quite grippy.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, black plum.  The oak shines with vanilla whilst the menthol, tomato leaf and green notes all support.  It’s a precise wine with delineation between all the flavors and aromas.  It finishes rather short but it is balanced.  I like it, as I like most of this winery’s offering (especially their Petite Sirah).  92 points from me for this $50 bottle makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  We are firing up the charcoal for some Cowboy steaks and potato wedges which is funny because the last time I drank this wine we also had beef and potatoes.  Read about my 2020 tasting here.  Salut….

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