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Sharon Weeks Cattoo Zinfandel 2019, Paso Robles, California

25 Tuesday May 2021

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This Paso Zin is a lovely shade of purple but only 50% opaque. The legs give a hint of what to expect, 14.8% ABV is pretty hefty kick, beware. On the nose I get wafts of the alcohol but it subsides and the flavors of dark plum, white pepper, cloves and creamy blackberry ganache. On the palate it is rich and powerful. The fruit profile is more toward the blackberry side but I do get the peppery notes I would expect from this varietal. There is a slightly astringent hit from black tea notes as well as some decent acidity. The tannins kick in very gently on the back end. A lovely, full mouthfeel for this wine that carries it to a medium length finish. The dark fruit flavors ever present. I sense a touch of oak overall, but it is not over done. The heat is the only concern as this wine drinks very easily, one can get caught up in the moment if one is not careful!. A decent drop that will go well with a lean cut of beef on the grill. 89 points from me and at $14, it’s a 4 star effort worthy of a try! Salut….

Orin Swift Machete 2017, California

22 Saturday May 2021

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Wow- is this wine extracted and opaque. It’s almost black in the glass and I’m getting wafts of fruit flavors a foot away. The nose is rich blackberry, plum torte, charcoal, cedar plank, plum jam and more. Superb. On the palate those rich fruit flavors all meld together beautifully. Ripe, integrated tannins just coat my gums and I’m getting black tea notes as a result. The acidity is en pointe, juicy but not overdone. The mouthfeel of this fruit bomb is fantastic. If you’re a fan of heady Napa Cabs (which I am), this one is right up your alley. The mid palate pays homage to the tannins, letting them take over the palate. The finish is long, silky and rich with the concentrated fruit flavors, tannins and acidity. I’m digging this wine folks, a lot, like 93 points worth. Yummy stuff for a big night out cause it runs 54 bones, but gets 5 stars from me. Drink till 2030 with hearty steaks, heavy duty pasta or a varied charcuterie tray. Mainly Petite Sirah (which is me new fave), with some Grenache and Syrah to boot. Word of caution- the 15.2% ABV will sneak up on you in no time. I never caught on until I had a few glasses. Salut….

Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling 2017, Mendocino County, California

14 Friday May 2021

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I am in a Riesling mood, might have to do with the choice of dinner- grilled shrimp and scallops with garlic butter alongside a pepper salad. It’s sunny, 75 and Friday….. why not. This one is very pale yellow in the glass. The nose is very pronounced with flavors of lemon, green apple, a hint of ginger and gooseberry. The palate is a touch sweet, I would consider it off-dry. Rich flavors of yellow pear and citrus notes meet green apple. The gooseberry is nowhere to be seen but I do get a refreshing acidity. The mouthfeel is generous as this wine is medium bodied. The finish is nicely balanced between fruitiness and tartness and lasts a decent amount making it medium in length. Yummy stuff this is, getting 91 points from me. Drink till 2026 with seafood or hard cheese. I paid $22- a steal that gets 5 stars. Salut….

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Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2016, North Coast, California

11 Tuesday May 2021

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My wine course is finishing up with sparkling wines and fortified wines. This particular bottle was brought over by our friends Arty and Keef. It’s been sitting in the fridge, waiting for the right occasion. Dinner with my cousin and Aunt after a nearly two year COVID hiatus is a good time to pop this bottle.

It’s a medium lemon shade in the glass with nice mousse. The nose has a good intensity of pink grapefruit, lemon, bananas, bread dough and almonds. The palate is dry with juicy acidity, is medium bodied with pronounced flavors of green pear, grapefruit, lemon, brioche and almonds. The finish is decent in length and the wine is very good. I am giving this Chardonnay based sparkler 91 points and for $32 it’s a great deal that gets 5 stars from me. Thanks guys at the 204! Drink till 2030. Salut….

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William Gordon Winery Petite Sirah 2013, Alexander Valley, California

02 Sunday May 2021

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I loved this winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon, I’m hoping for a repeat. In the glass this wine is a deep purple and opaque AF. The nose is stupendous. Pronounced aromas of blackcurrants, blackberry, toasty oak and coffee bean. The palate is technically dry, with black fruit flavors- but not as pronounced as on the nose. Grippy tannins are still working the gums in this 8 year old bottle as is some nice acidity. The wine is full bodied with a nice mouthfeel and copious amounts of fruit. The finish is very long and caresses my gums with black cherry, Lapsang Souchong tea and those really well integrated tannins. This is a delicious wine that is but a hair shy of the Cabernet as far as technicalities go, but I love me some Petite Sirah so this one gets some Lamb chops with fresh mint and garlic mashed taters. 92 points and 5 stars for this $35 gem. Drink till 2028. Salut….

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Frog’s Leap Heritage Blend 2017, Napa Valley, California

01 Saturday May 2021

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This is a very interesting blend of 48% Charbono, 27% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignan, 7% Gamay, 4% Mourvedre, 4% Mondeuse and 1% Riesling! Wow…. BTW- Charbono is also known as Bonarda. The wine itself is deep purple and nearly opaque. The lack of legs made me search the label- 12.8% ABV- shocking in these modern times where super ripe fruit (high sugar=high alcohol) is the norm.

The nose has candied plum, blueberry and a herbaceous note. On the palate it is refreshingly tart with nice flavors of white plum, blueberries and charred wood. The green notes not showing up. Medium tannins accompany the fruit and I get a dry back-end from the tart acidity and tannin components. It’s a lighter weight wine that will pair nicely with duck or grilled stuffed mushrooms. It’s certainly an interesting combination of grapes and for $42, you too can try this 89 point wine! 3 stars from me, drink till 2026. Salut….

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Tyler Florence Blending Sessions No. 2 Meritage 2013, Sonoma County, California

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

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This bottle is called a Meritage, which conjures up notions of a Bordeaux blend relying heavily on either Cab Sav or Merlot, with supporting roles from Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. In this case- it’s actually the opposite with the majority being Malbec at 62%, Merlot at 30%, Cab Franc with 6% and a touch of Petit Verdot. No sign of any Cab Sav. Anyways- it’s inky, brooding and opaque. The nose is intense with rich blackberry and oak nuances. I’m looking forward to it!

The palate is as expected. Layered black fruits and charred oak with medium grip tannins and juicy acidity. Blackberry, black currants and tea notes fit the mid palate. The finish is long and decidedly tart. The acidity is bracing yet I feel the wine has a nice roundness and is full bodied. The 14.5% alcohol is sensed on the back end with a hint of heat. Overall I am really enjoying this wine and will be pairing it with homemade spaghetti sauce and Hearts of Palm pasta. Drink till 2028. 91 points for this $25 make it a 5 star wine. Salut….

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Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 1999, Napa Valley, California

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

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It’s not often that one gets a 20+ year old bottle of wine pulled out of a farmhouse and opened for an evening drink, but that is exactly what happened here. I was privy to the rest of the bottle that my friend Annie carefully decanted, in hopes of making magic happen. Whilst this one may be over the hill it certainly offers much for enjoyment. Very dark and opaque with a touch of bricking- it is showing its age yet still has something to offer. The nose is full of prunes, mushrooms, leather, game and forest floor. There are no primary fruit flavors left and the tannins are fully melded, the wine was being held together by the last vestiges of acidity that allowed it to over-perform its drink-by window. With no provenance indication, it is hard to tell when this bottle entered its mature stage but I was surprised that the tertiary flavors were so palatable. I have had many a wine that was over-the-hill and needed to meet the drain asap, this one was not the case. We drank the whole bottle, enjoying what nuances we could get from it and marveling at the fact that it runs $60 per bottle for current vintages yet performs like a far more pricy Napa Cabernet (No pricing exists for this vintage). It is unfair to score this grand dame, suffice to say- she has outdone herself and shined in the development arena and deserves kudos for lasting this long. Share your hidden gem stories! Salut….

J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Paso Robles, California

23 Friday Apr 2021

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Bright purple, semi opaque.  On the nose it is very fruity with bright blackberries, dark cherry and red twizzlers.  The palate is very fresh with  lighter black fruit notes, some cherry cola and vibrant tannins.  The finish is simple yet full of fruit flavors and a modicum of tannins.  There is a good dose of acidity that keeps it lively.  This is meant for immediate drinking and will go well with marinated sirloin or pasta with red sauce.  87 points and for $14 it gets 4 stars from me. Salut….

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Angeline Pinot Noir 2018, California

14 Wednesday Apr 2021

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I have just signed up for some formalized wine training. In the package that I received from them is a systematic approach to tasting wine guide that I’m supposed to use when I drink wines. This will be my first attempt at using such a guide, but I will revert back to my old ways every once in a while. I tasted the 2017 version of this Pinot Noir previously and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope I get as much bang for the buck out of this newer offering.

Intensity is pale, the color is ruby and the nose is of medium intensity with primary flavors of cherry, strawberry and cinnamon stick. The pallet is off-dry in terms of sweetness with medium acidity, low tannins, low alcohol, light body. Light flavor intensity with primary notes of more cherry, strawberry, rooibos tea and spice box. The finish is medium in length and I find this wine to have acceptable if not good quality. On my own scale it gets 89 points with a drinking window till 2026. Serve with lighter fare such as chicken on the grill or a linguine dish.The use of oak is very deft here but it’s evident by some cloves and a bit of smoke on the tail end. At $ 12, it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars. Easy to drink, easy on the wallet- by the case for immediate drinking! Salut….

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