Tag Archives: california

Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Oak Knoll District, California

04 Monday Oct 2021

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I am looking to pair Eye of Round roast which has been cooking in the sous vide for 20 hours.  A Napa Cabernet is called for.  This wine is opaque and a very pretty purple in the glass.  The nose screams Napa sunshine- bright blackberry aromas with black plum, cloves, charred wood, black tea and vanilla.  The palate is quite intense with black fruit, oak nuances juicy acidity and medium tannins that carry through to the very end.  The blackberry flavors are very prominent in this one, they duke it out on the back end with the tannins to see who lasts the longest.  Th oak usage is very deft and well played.  I like the balance of this wine and it has a medium to full body.  The 14.2% ABV is barely noticeable but I did get a whiff of it on the nose.  Still young- this one will cellar nicely till 2030 but if you like a dry, slightly tannic wine then pop-n-pour right away.  92 points from me make this $50 wine a 5 star effort.  Salut….

David Akiyoshi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Clarksburg, California

27 Monday Sep 2021

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I just fired up the Big Green Egg to char some Picahna steaks- they will need a bold, tannic wine so I picked this young Cab Sav.  It’s pretty opaque in the glass and shows watery legs, which makes sense for a 13.5% ABV wine.  The nose has nice aromas of red plum, black plum, black currants, spice box, cedar and chocolate nibs.  The palate is very smooth, with lithe tannins and juicy acidity- I was hoping for a more dry and tannic wine but the acidity will have to suffice in cutting the fat from the steaks.  The fruit is very evident with red and black notes mingling with the cedar and spices.  It has a touch of sweetness from the ripeness of the berries but I doubt it has any residual sugar- akin to a light preserve/jam.  The tannins are very svelte on the medium length finish which is still chock full of fruit, I really like it!  Overall this is a good wine that will drink nicely till 2024 with Filet, roast Cornish Hens or even a pasta dish.  89 points from me make this $13 effort a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Gen F Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

19 Sunday Sep 2021

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Semi opaque in the glass- this Cabernet has lithe legs, an indicator of the lower 13.5% ABV?  On the nose I get quite a few things going on- black cherry, black plum, toasty oak notes, bramble, eucalyptus, and tomato leaf.  It’s quite complex and sweet smelling.  The palate is dry, smooth and very balanced with lithe tannins and medium acidity.  The dark fruit flavors are evident and the mouthfeel is great.  The very judicious oak use is appreciated.  The freshness of the lush fruit carries on to the medium finish that  is very smooth.  I really like the very gentle tannins here as I am not pairing with any food and did not want a tannic, astringent wine.  Definitely a sipping wine that could work with lighter fare- roast chicken, veal scallopini, even fettuccine Alfredo.  I am really enjoying this $25 wine but get black fruit instead of red, per the label.  I guess the flavors have mutated in the 6 years since it was made. 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2018, Lodi, California

16 Thursday Sep 2021

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Moxie and I were at a resort in Texas this past weekend.  Our last night was spent at the flagship restaurant where we dined on their speciality- Chicken Fried Lobster.  Choosing a wine before ordering the main course is always a bit of a challenge but I saw this label and remembered enjoying the 2014 vintage so it was a no-brainer.  Petite Sirah is my current flavor of the day varietal, I love its richness, the jammy black fruits, the medium tannins and the full body.  This bottle did not disappoint.  I took zero notes, reveling in its silky smoothness and full flavor profile.  One thing I will say about the eventual pairing:  it worked beautifully.  The wine really made the crunchy Lobster pop in my mouth.  I cannot explain it, just to say I would do it over again.  At $14 per bottle, this 91 point wine is a steal.  If ever in doubt at a restaurant, any Michael David Winery bottle will get you gratification at a fair price.  5 stars.  Salut….

Comartin Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel 2018, Lodi, California

07 Tuesday Sep 2021

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Smoked beef brisket is a tough pairing- the flavors are so rich and smoky that the wine needs to have spice, body and high levels of alcohol.  A Zinfandel seems as close as possible to the perfect match.  This one is semi opaque with thick legs showing off its 14.8% ABV.  The nose is very aromatic- rich red fruits, spice, black and white pepper alongside toasty oak.  The palate is very full bodied with great balance between the rich fruit, medium tannins and medium acidity.  Ripe raspberry, redcurrant jam, white pepper and blackberry flavors are all present.  It’s not a blockbuster in style but its rich fruit is very enticing.  I dig this wine and for $30 it’s a good drop that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Cooper and Thief Red Blend 2018, California

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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I could not pass this wine up, aged 3 months in Bourbon Whiskey Barrels… That had my name all over it, but I’m not excited about the 16% ABV, seems over the top.  Let’s try some.

It is bright purple and opaque AF.  I can smell it a mile away, the waft is pretty serious.  Once I get stuck in- the nose is very rich with blackberry, blackcurrants, black plum, alcohol, eucalyptus, caramel, vanilla, minty greeness and some black espresso.  Did I mention alcohol?  I have to blow that stuff out of the glass or else I will get drunk sniffing.

The palate has a sweetness to it right off the bat, but when I did my soon-to-be trademarked dryness test, I confirmed it is a dry wine.  That must be from Bourbon, which is known to have caramel sweetness rather than residual sugar.  I get gobs of rich black fruits that I picked out on the nose, plus really integrated, lithe tannins and medium acidity.  This fruit bomb is very smooth and enticing, buyer beware of the formidable punch which is deftly hidden.  If you like them big, bold and jammy then this one is right up your alley.  I really am enjoying this 91 point blend of 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Other Red Blenders.  It’s not a daily drinker for sure, especially at $30 but it gets 5 stars from me and worth a try if you see it.  Drink till 2026 with some Filets.  Salut….

Tom Shula Merlot 2019, California

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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About 75% opaque, it sports a nice ruby color with thin legs in the glass.  The nose offers up plum, blackcurrants, licorice and smoky oak.  The palate is smooth with gentle tannins, rich flavors and medium acidity.  There’s a smokiness that I’m really enjoying alongside the black fruit components.  The finish is mid length and the wine has a great mouthfeel.  I picked this to pair with pork chops, I think the softness of the wine with the lower tannic grip will do the trick.  89 points and 5 stars for this $10 wine.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

09 Monday Aug 2021

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Deep lemon color with a nose of tangerine, lemons, popcorn and acacia. The palate is bright and very citrusy, yet the butter component is missing.  I’m confused.  Green apple, baked bread and pear are playing second fiddle to lemon and tangerine.  It’s evident that Malolactic fermentation has been blocked, keeping the fruit vibrant and fresh.  Oak influence is also evident, albeit deft.  The wine has medium acidity and is quite full bodied.  On the finish I get a nuttiness- like stone fruit seed.  Yummy stuff that gets 92 points.  This is an iconic wine that merits a try, even though it rolls in at $50. 5 stars from me.  Pair with seafood, perhaps even some stuffed, baked mushrooms.  Salut….

Poet’s Row Meritage 2013, Napa Valley, California

04 Wednesday Aug 2021

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This Bordeaux blend is quite deceiving- not very opaque at all considering it should be a blend of Merlot, Cab Sav and perhaps Cab Franc.  Definitely Cab Franc as I get perfume and violets on the nose, plus some cassis, blackcurrants, toasty oak and eucalyptus.  The palate is very smooth and well endowed with rich black fruits, well integrated tannins and juicy acidity.  The mid palate has some pencil shavings and a metallic tinge, kinda interesting.  The rich blackberry and blackcurrant flavors carry through to the long finish where some black tea notes are found alongside vanilla.  This wine has good complexity, a nice full body and plenty of fruit and structure to reward patient cellaring but it drinks beautifully right now at 8 years of age.  I am really digging the mouthfeel and think this wine gets 93 points.  It would normally run around the $25 mark making it a 5 star effort for sure.  Serve it up with some grilled sausages and steak.  Salut….

Matt Parish Trevino 2018, California

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

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Inky, with big legs in the glass showing off the 14.5% alcohol.  On the nose I get red plum, raspberry, strawberry and cedar- not at all what I was expecting.  The palate is super smooth and inviting- gentle tannins, red fruits galore and crispy acidity on the back end.  Coffee shows up on the mid palate and I sense a tar component on the finish.  Lovely mouthfeel on this one folks.  It’s built to drink now and might take to a few years of cellaring but why wait.  88 points from me.  Serve with strip steaks! For $20, it gets 4 stars.  Salut….