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Marietta Cellars ‘Roman’ Estate Grown Zinfandel 2019, North Coast, California

17 Sunday Jul 2022

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Our second wine at the 28th virtual tasting was this Zinfandel that had a smidge of Petite Sirah and Barbera mixed in.  It tied as my wine of the night.

Medium ruby colored it’s not as opaque as I was expecting.  The nose had tobacco, ripe boysenberry, cherry cola, chocolate covered cherries, black pepper, dark plums and green peppercorns.  The palate was dry with low tannins, medium acidity and deliciously smooth flavors of pepper, freeze-dried strawberry, tobacco, dried cherry and raisin.  Medium bodied, this wine was lower in alcohol than I was assuming- 14.7% ABV.  It’s a lot, but I have seen Zins in the 16% range.  A long finish was this wine’s crowning achievement making it a 19 pointer on our grading scale.  I would rate it 93 points and for $21 I might have to load up on this 5 star effort.  Drink until 2025 with lean red meat dishes.  Salut….

Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Selection 2017, Napa Valley, California

15 Friday Jul 2022

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Very deep purple colored, like ink.  The nose has pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coconut, bilberry, cedar, sassafras, dust, baking spice, green peppers and a yeasty component.  The palate is dry with beautiful fine-grained tannins that caress the gums.  Acidity is medium (-) and the wine has a full body.  Flavors of black fruit, sassafras, baking spice and green pepper carry on to a long finish.  This is delicious-  pure Napa sunshine and ripe fruit with enough oak treatment without overdoing it.  Fantastic stuff to pair with steaks till 2032.  The structure is great and it’s open for business now.  94 points from me for this $70 stunner makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

William Gordon Winery Petite Sirah 2016, Alexander Valley, California

26 Sunday Jun 2022

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Deep purple colored with very thick, slow moving legs.  Surprising considering it’s only showing 13.5% ABV on the label.  The nose is very perfumed and fruity with blackcurrant, violets, blackberry preserves, coffee bean, vanilla, coconut, purple licorice and cedar shake.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins and a full body.  Pronounced flavors of dark fruit that is a touch preserved along with toasty oak nuance and some floral hints.  The body of this wine just coats my mouth and makes for a gorgeous mouthfeel.  The finish is medium in length and the tannins literally coat my upper gums with fine-grained tingles.  This is a younger, more fruit forward vintage that I am thoroughly enjoying.  I would pair this with very hearty dishes and drink it till 2030.  94 points from me make this $40 bottle a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Dolce Late Harvest Wine 2012, Napa Valley, California

21 Tuesday Jun 2022

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I was a bit apprehensive when the cork snapped in two, hoping I could get the rest out without further ado.  I was lucky, just one floating bit.  You can never trust the provenance of a State liquor store bottle btw.  Having said that, this dessert wine is medium gold in color with very viscous legs in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of apricot marmalade, honey, vanilla nib, candied lemon peel, creme caramel, peach pie and dried hazelnuts.  The longer it sits there the more tantalizing the nose gets.  The palate is sweet, as expected from this late-harvest and botrytized blend of Semillon and Sauvignon. Blanc.  There is some great acidity here that balances out the sugar perfectly leaving me with a very slippery wine with amazing mouthfeel that just transcends the palate from front to back with such ease.  The weight of this wine is sublime, full-bodied yet light and airy.  The finish is long and just a tad juicy from the acidity.  The whole package is amazing- worthy of 98 points that the pros at W.E. gave it.  For 375ml expect to pay $75.  A stunning 5 star wine that I will be serving with Blue Cheese and crackers after dinner.  Salut….

William Gordon Winery Petite Sirah 2015, Alexander Valley, California

19 Sunday Jun 2022

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I love Petite Sirah, it’s one of my go-to varietals and this winery has been pivotal in my conversion to the grape.  They have changed the label but I hope the contents are as good as the 2013/4.  Inky purple in the glass it has very glossy, thick legs showing off the 14% ABV.  The nose has a heavy-handed charred oak whiff right off the bat.  Once that subsided I get very ripe plum, dark black raspberry, coconut, clove,  blueberry pie and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) tannins, full body and rich, ripe black fruit flavors intertwined with luscious oak nuance.  The charred oak note is prevalent in that department but I do get some vanilla and coconut.  This is a rich wine that has layers of interesting fruit that show off California sunshine.  The finish is medium in length and the really fine-grained yet hefty tannins leave my jaw tingling.  Lovely stuff that gets 93 points from me and for $36 it’s a 5 star effort to pair with big steaks or hearty stews.  I bought several bottles and plan to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Cave Dog Albarino 2019, Napa Valley, California

17 Friday Jun 2022

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A New World Albariño, I’m excited!  Medium lemon colored, it has fast moving legs belying its modest 13% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pineapple, lemon zest, bruised apple, geranium and baking spice.  On the palate it is dry, really dry, with high acidity and a tart opener.  Lemon, underripe pineapple, green apple and spice.  There is a piercing minerality on the mid palate that I am really enjoying.  The body is fairly light whilst the finish is medium in length and refreshing with the cut I got initially.  A nicely crafted wine that gets 90 points from me and 4 stars for it’s $37 sticker price.  I am pairing it with Thai beef salad and some Szechuan fried veggies.  Drink now.  Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

04 Saturday Jun 2022

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Second tasting of this wine- it has either evolved quickly or there is some bottle variation going on.  Opaque, like nearly black in the glass.  This Napa Cab has a pronounced nose of blackberry, menthol, eucalyptus, tart blackcurrant, black plum and French oak nuance of spices and chocolate.  On the palate it is very smooth and dry with fine-grained tannins and medium acidity.  Balanced to a tee- it’s delicious stuff.  I get the dark fruit notes and oak integration, waiting for more tertiary development.  This wine is drinking beautifully now but will develop over the next 5-10 years.  94 points for this full bodied gem that runs $120 and gets 5 stars from me.  I would drink this sans food, it is so silky and delicious all by itself.  Salut….

Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Paso Robles, California

26 Thursday May 2022

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I would consider this as a deep purple colored wine that has some slow moving, thick legs in the glass.  The nose reeks of ripe, sun-drenched California Cabernet.  Blackberry, blueberry, black plum, coconut, vanilla, baking spices, eucalyptus, cassis and purple licorice.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins that I would call medium (+) in intensity.  Juicy acidity makes my jaw water and the full body on this wine coats my mouth with rich black fruit, spices and oak that is deftly worked in there.  This is a delicious wine folks.  It has an astringent yet short finish that may cost a point but this wine is very balanced overall and will pair beautifully with hearty game dishes, rich stews or a fatty cut of Ribeye on the grill.  I’m going with 92 points and would drink this $23 wine till 2030.  5 stars for this level of quality at that price.  Loving it.  Salut….

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

15 Sunday May 2022

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An iconic Napa Cabernet that we drank with monster Tomahawk steaks.  This inky colored wine is beautiful to look at and even better to drink.  Aromas and flavors of Iodine, black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, bramble), dust, menthol, eucalyptus.  Seriously complex and intriguing.  The palate is smooth- medium acidity, fine grained tannins that are fully integrated, full bodied with great mouthfeel and a long finish.  What a stunning wine that is en pointe and will continue to develop for several more years.  93 points for this $130 effort makes it 5 star worthy.  Salut….

Frog’s Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 1990, Rutherford, California

06 Friday May 2022

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This 32 year old wine is a medium shade of garnet- to be expected.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of prunes, caramel, steeped blackberry, cola, vanilla bean, coffee, eucalyptus, baking chocolate, cassis, mint- I could go on.  This is a spectacularly complex and well-aged wine that still shows youth.  The palate is super smooth and balanced with extremely fine grained tannins balancing out the medium acidity.  Flavors of baked and steeped black fruits galore- tertiary notes are evident and oak influence is deft yet precise.  This wine is stunning.  Medium bodied it shows power yet finesse that leads to a long finish.  This is the epitome of Napa Cabernets.  Delicious in youth yet built for the long run and lasting over three decades.  I would not call this wine fragile, but it has a delicacy that requires a deft choice in pairings, if any.  I am sipping it without fare.  In its day this would have been a 94 point wine.  No idea on price, suffice to say it would be a 5 star effort.  Drink soon.  Salut….