Tag Archives: california

Sojourn Cellars Wohler Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Russian River Valley, California

21 Friday Jan 2022

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Pale garnet in the glass this wine exhibits big legs showing off its 14.2% ABV.  The nose is classic Pinot- cherry, strawberry, baking spice, cola, a bit of bramble and a touch of earthiness.  The palate is very precise with cherry driving the way.  The baking spice, cola and bramble/earth are all present but the red fruit really shines.  Juicy acidity and very svelte tannins make for a ‘sour cherry’ feel that I am really enjoying.  Medium bodied it has a medium finish that is really fruity.  I have had this brand before, enjoying it every time.  This one happens to be out of a Magnum and we are pairing it with appetizers of roasted Beef Marrow, charcuterie and phyllo cups filled with goodies.  It will work well with roast pork, chicken, filet mignon or duck.  92 points from me for this slippery smooth charmer that runs $54 and gets 5 stars.  I love this region BTW, the Russian River makes top notch Pinot that I look out for.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Howell Mountain, California

16 Sunday Jan 2022

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It’s Sunday Roast and I’m cooking a rather lean cut of meat today- Eye of Round.  It needs a fruit driven, medium tannin wine to complement the texture and lack of fat in the meat.  I would normally depend on an aged Bordeaux for this type of meal but today it’s a younger Napa Cab.

Inky purple in the glass the thin legs don’t hint at the whopping 15.6% ABV.  Wow.  The nose is exactly what I was hoping for- deep rich black fruit, oak nuance, steely minerality.  I get aromas of blackberry coulis, blackcurrant cassis, sweet coconut, baking spices and mint.  The palate is loaded with ripe fruit, medium tannins (perfect for my beef choice), juicy acidity, full body and a long finish.  The black fruit, oak influence and varietal hint (mint) are all present alongside some charred wood and a gritty graphite streak.  The mineral note hits on the mid palate.  This wine is still young and will drink beautifully for many years, maturing along the way and hopefully developing tertiary notes.  I would hold on to some till 2027 at the least and pair with steaks, roasts or a tray full of cold cuts and cheese.  This complex and layered wine gets 94 points from me and for the princely sum of one C-note you too can drink this 5-star elixir.  Salut….

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Fay Hillside’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Napa Valley, California

16 Sunday Jan 2022

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We went over to Keef and Arty’s for a Christmas Tree unravelling party the other night.  It’s a lot more fun taking it down when there are others to help and some alcohol to boot!  This bottle has been cellared nicely for many years and it was drinking en pointe.

Opaque dark ruby.  Cassis, chocolate powder, blackberry compote, earthy dust, charcoal, rich blueberry, vanilla.  Very smooth with fully resolved tannins, medium (+) acidity and a lovely mouthfeel.  Medium bodied with a good length finish that has a mineral streak alongside the rich fruit flavors.  This wine is at peak, and needs to be drunk sooner rather than later.  Lovely stuff that’s hard to put down.  92 points and 4 stars for this treat that runs $150 new.  Salut….

Orin Swift Mannequin Chardonnay 2018, California

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

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I am experimenting tonight with sous vide Salmon.  Never cooked it this way before and I’m finishing it with a cilantro and garlic butter so I needed a full bodied, rich white.  Orin Swift makes delicious reds which are powerful, extracted and definitely high on the alcohol side of things so I figured I would give their white a try.  It is a deep gold color in the glass and shows a watery sheen on the sides which does not indicate a thing about the monster 15% ABV which I noticed on the label.  The nose has pronounced lemon and lime aromas alongside hazelnuts, green apple, cut grass (strange aroma for this varietal), a touch of toast and butter.  The palate is classic west coast Chard.  Buttery, rich, full bodied, citrusy with a hint of that chardonnay yeastiness aka bakers spice.  The acidity is on the lower end of the spectrum but the wine is definitely bold, with big fruit flavors and plenty of mouthfeel.  The finish is decent in length and the malolactic notes (toast, butter, brioche) really feature on the back end.  This wine is 5 years old and is drinking nicely now but will potentially cellar till 2027.  I think the pairing will work nicely as would roast game hens, Paella or Gumbo.  $32 gets you a bottle of this 91 point wine.  5 stars but beware the well hidden alcohol, it will sneak up!  Salut….

Clos De Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2016, Napa Valley, California

01 Saturday Jan 2022

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Happy New Year!  I missed a night of tasting- opting instead for beer, champagne and mulled wine for the festivities.  Back to work, this is the Reserve version of the last wine I tasted- The Clos de Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.  This upgraded one is opaque and brooding- a deep ruby in the glass with watery legs.  The nose is uplifting with pronounced aromas of black plum, cassis, black fruit compote, eucalyptus, charred wood, graphite and a mineral streak.  The palate is yummy.  Slightly dry with good tannic structure that is integrating, medium acidity and a generous body.  Black fruits, deft oak and minerality make for a lovely mouthfeel that has plenty of structure and fruit that continues on to a medium-to-long finish that turns quite dry- somewhat mouth puckering to be sure.  The graphite note really hits on the finish, it is quite an interesting twist.  This is a cellar worthy wine that is drinking nicely now if you like them dry and fruity.  I think it will evolve nicely over time and drink till 2028.  Steaks are on the grill with sautéed eggplant alongside sweet potato fries.  91 points and 4 stars for this $40 Napa Cab.  Salut….

Clos de Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Napa Valley, California

30 Thursday Dec 2021

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Opaque ruby-purple, this wine has thick legs in the glass (14.5% ABV).  The nose shows off primal blackberry, blueberry, black cherry licorice/candy and blackcurrant candy drops.  The candy component is a little strong for me.  The palate is quite tasty and the candy component is gone, thank god.  The fruit is very ripe- blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and currants with some very slight oak notes.  The wine has good acidity and medium tannins that coat the gums but are not astringent.  The finish turns juicy from the acidity and is medium in length.  This full bodied wine is delicious now and will drink well until 2027 with steaks, grilled sausage or chorizo on the charcoal.  89 points for this $20 effort ($14 at Costco) makes it a 4 star effort to buy a few bottles of.  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Special Bottling Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

27 Monday Dec 2021

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It’s the night after all the Christmas guests (family) have left and Moxie and I are recovering.  A Lodi Cab Sav to pair with leftover Prime Rib seems in order.  This one is nearly opaque and bright ruby in the glass.  The nose is an interesting mix of pomegranate, plum, blackberry and black currant.  Sweet cassis, a touch of oak and some pie crust hit me after a good swirl.  The palate is tannic right off the bat with grippy sensations on my gums and teeth.  The dark fruit flavors are pronounced with some oak and pie nuances in there as well.  Medium bodied it has a shortish finish but I am having a hard time with the tannins which are overtaking any semblance of acidity on the back end.  Slightly unbalanced structurally I think this will pass as the tannins integrate and allow the fruit and acidity to all play together on a more even keel.  Aerate this wine or cellar it for a while and you will be rewarded.  I would drink it from 2023 till 2028 with all plethora of grilled meats and hearty stews.  89 points for this $13 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines Merlot 2016, California

23 Thursday Dec 2021

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Deep ruby color which is surprising considering the age of this Merlot (5 years old).  I was expecting a bit of garnet.  The nose is wafting…. and is a bit dusty right off the bat.  A good swirl and aromas of black currant, bramble, cassis, charred oak, stewed black plum, coconut and sweet raspberry pie.  The palate is very smooth, spicy and chock full of fruit.  Flavors of black currants, plum, cassis, dusty bramble with oak hints of coconut and charred wood mingle with some red fruit.  I like it.  The tannins are fully integrated and there is a balancing acidity making for a very smooth mouthfeel that has medium body and a medium finish.  This wine is at peak and I am pairing it with grilled Tri-tip and mashed potatoes alongside some charred eggplant and onion salad.  90 points, drink this $20 wine that gets 5 stars from me till 2024.  Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Howell Mountain, California

09 Thursday Dec 2021

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Opaque ruby in the glass.  Blueberry, charcoal, sasparilla, vanilla and blackberry pie.  A stunning nose that also includes some black licorice and a mineral note.  The palate of this Napa Cab is super smooth- blue and black fruits, oak nuance, spice and beautiful structure await.  The tannins are so well integrated it’s obscene.  The acidity balances but doesn’t overpower the whole melange of fruit, tannic grip and tartness.  This wine has mouthfeel out of this world with gobs of primary fruit and structure that will make it cellarworthy till 2028 but why wait?  You can taste and smell the California sunshine in this one folks.  It’s stunning right now and gets 96 points from me.  Probably one of the best Cabs I have come across.  Pricy at two bones, it’s a treat to behold.  5 stars for its near perfection.  Salut….

Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay 2017, Russian River Valley, California

01 Monday Nov 2021

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This Chardonnay has got a bit of bottle age which shows in the glass- a deep gold color.  On the nose I get wafts of MLF, perhaps a bit of lees stirring and some relatively fresh citrus and floral notes.  Brioche, butter, lemon curd, grapefruit, chamomile and sprite (the drink).  The palate is dry with medium body and juicy acidity.  The flavors are more citrus driven but I do get some minerality and a hint of Malolactic Fermentation. Tropical fruit notes hit the mid plate and the finish is long and silky with decent acidity.  I like this wine, but it’s not everyone’s style.  The silky mouthfeel comes with butter-like flavors that may not be up everyone’s alley.  The minimalist oak usage is appreciated btw.  For $20, it’s a good weekday wine that gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2026 with some hearty fish dishes or stuffed peppers.  Salut….