Tag Archives: california

EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley, USA

28 Monday Sep 2020

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This wine was part of the #9 Virtual Wine tasting. I made some notes from others at the event.

It is very extruded and rich looking in the glass- a dark shade or red/purple and nearly opaque.  On the nose I sense a sweet cherry pie note with a touch of Vanilla, black licorice and coffee.  It’s very interesting, that’s for sure.  On the palate I first get black cherry concentrate, chocolate and dare I say- overripe Reb berries?  The mid palate continues the theme with more dark chocolate, Dr. Pepper, licorice.  There is a modicum of tannins and a nice dose of acidity.  The finish is dark and dry.  The wine seems to be a touch sweet and getting more so as it airs out.  It’s not my favorite style of Pinot but it did well at the tasting and for me it’s a 91 point wine.  The complexity and depth are worthy of high marks.  At $40+ it’s a pass for me, but others who enjoy the new world boldness will dig this wine.  It got higher marks from the pros BTW.  3 stars in my book.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Scott Peterson ROX Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Sonoma, California

24 Thursday Sep 2020

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This Sonoma gem pours very dark, brooding and inky in the glass.  The palate is somewhat of a surprise- it’s chock full of plum, black berry and chocolate powder.  I also get a whiff of the 14.5% alcohol.  On the palate it is delicious, tannic, and interesting.  Black iodine, plum jam and blackberry compote all hit me.  The wine has a nice dose of tannins that carry through all the way to the finish, not overly dry but present nonetheless.  The mid palate mellows out some from the big burst of fruity goodness.  The tannins are more evident on the gums at this stage and my mouth is starting to pucker.  The finish has dusty mocha, more of that Iodine and obviously those dark fruits.  It could use a touch more acidity but I really am enjoying it for it’s youthful exuberance and unabashed tannic structure. Good use of oak adds to the flavor of this wine and the alcohol that I was concerned about did not materialize.  It will cellar nicely for a few years and pair well with grilled steaks, Osso Bucco or a hearty Venison stew.  Drink till 2026.  91 points my friends and 5 stars for this $20 Cali Cab.  Salut….

D.H. Elliott Pinot Noir 2019, California

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

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It’s a nice shade of see-through purple, as can be expected of this varietal.  On the nose it’s a bit gamy but I eventually get ripe strawberry, cherry and twizzlers candy.  The palate is pleasing with some nice soft red fruit notes.  Red currants, more cherry and an interesting cedar plank note.  On the mid palate I sense some juiciness, the acidity making an entrance and keeping me on my toes.  The flavors get intertwined with some very fine grained tannins that are barely perceptible, yet leave an astringent coating.  The finish is pretty much red fruit and a hint of rhubarb for that sour thrust coupled with a touch of oak.  There is a greenness right at the end that perturbs me, but this is a nice wine that I am enjoying before cooking dinner.  It will go well with roast duck, salmon on the grill or charred Filet Mignon.  I’m guessing it will age for a few years, drink till 2024.  89 points from me and at $10 it’s a steal for Pinot Noir.  5 Stars- would buy again.  Salut….

F. Stephen Millier Black Label Old Vines Zinfandel 2019, Lodi, California

21 Monday Sep 2020

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I have had a few wines from Lodi recently and am becoming a big fan.  Zinfandel is one of their signature grapes so this wine is exciting to me.

As I look at it in the glass it’s a nice shade of opaque purple.  I can also smell the waft of fruit from a foot away, always a good sign.  The nose is very fruit forward with tons of black berry, dark plums and a cinnamon twist.  The palate is misleading- when you smell that much fruit you automatically expect a wine with a touch of sweetness, which I do not look forward to in reds.  This wine is not at all sweet- it is rich, concentrated with black fruit and very tasty.  There is a core of minerality on the mid palate that mixes it up with some oaky char and anise.  I usually expect pepper with this varietal but I’m not getting any.  The wine has a nice, balanced mouthfeel with very lithe tannins and supporting acidity.  The finish is a fruit salad of black cherry, blackcurrants and blackberry jam.  It is mouth filling and satisfying if you like a ton of flavor.  I’m enjoying it with some Spaghetti Arrabiata with garlic bread.  Kudos to the winemaker for this 90 point effort that I paid $13 for.  It gets 5 stars and will drink nicely till 2027.  Salut….

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc 2019, Lodi, California

17 Thursday Sep 2020

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This Cab Franc is reddish purple and nearly see through in the glass with some nice legs draping the edges.  On the nose I get a dark, brooding blackberry and smoky oak.    The palate is delicious, tannic and intriguing.  Black currants, black berry and violets interlaced with gum searing tannins and a modicum of acidity.  If I had a Ribeye in front of me, heaven.  The mid palate is bone dry yet there is a core of fruit pushing through to the back end alongside some cigar box and black tea flavors.  The finish is very dry with those tannins holding on to the end.  Black fruit, spice box and a plummy ending make this a memorable wine, if not a touch young.  I am excited for wines from Lodi, they have made great strides in quality and this is a good example.  If you like ’em dry, pour this baby now, or else let it sit until 2023.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and 5 stars, I paid $10- stunning wine for the price.  Salut….

CAM Collection Chardonnay 2018, Russian River Valley, California

14 Monday Sep 2020

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This Russian River Valley Chard has a beautiful gold sheen to it.  The nose is floral and full of citrus.  Lemons, lime and vanilla bean all hit me.  On the palate it is very rich and warm.  The citrus theme continues but I note popcorn and honeysuckle join the fray.  The mid palate is full bodied with a nice mouthfeel.  I am enjoying the citrus without too much acidic cut.  I was looking forward to a somewhat fuller wine and this one hits all the notes.  The finish is crisp and clean with a core of marzipan to go alongside the refreshing fruit flavors of lemon, lime and green apple.  Judicious oak use is noted and appreciated.  I am pan searing some King Salmon to go with Battata Harra, a spicy Middle Eastern potato dish- I think the weight of this Chardy will go well with the fish and stand up to the fiery spices of the side dish.  91 points from me and 5 stars for this $16 wine.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Mt. Luxxe Vineyards Zinfandel 2017, Lodi, California

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

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I don’t drink Zins very often, but when I find one I like- I remember it and revisit.  I was not a huge fan initially of the last Zin I drank, the Turley Zin turned out much better after a day or so.

This one shows semi opaque in the glass and has a lovely reddish hue to the purple color.  On the nose I get raspberries, red currants and cinnamon stick.  The palate is very rich with a nice thrust of raspberry coulis and mulling spices.  There’s a really nice set of tannins that caress the gums without stripping the enamel off my teeth alongside a juicy acidity that hits the mid palate.  The red fruit theme continues with some steeped rhubarb and spices.  This is not a jammy Zin, but is full bodied with rich flavors and a really nice, long finish.  The warmth I get on the backend is also very interesting.  Really tasty with a decent level of complexity and aging capacity make this a 91 point wine IMHO.  I paid a paltry $9.99 for it but it normally retails for $40.  4 stars with a drinking window till 2027.  I’m flash cooking some thin Ribeyes that will pair nicely.  Salut….

Grand Napa Vineyards Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

06 Sunday Sep 2020

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This Napa Cab pours a rich deep purple in the glass and is totally opaque.  On the nose it’s all Cali sunshine- rich blackberry, plum jam, figs and vanilla.  On the plate it lives up to its billing.  Rich fruits, cassis, ripe tannins and a touch of acidity.  The mouthfeel on this one is stupendous.  I am enjoying swirling the wine but it gets really good on the mid palate where espresso adds another angle as does plum jam.  The finish is somewhat drier yet still reserves the spotlight for the primal fruits.  It has good structure, if not somewhat muted by the fruit forward style of this gem.  It will age well and hopefully develop some tertiary flavors.  This could be a monster folks.  94 points from me.  It’s pricy at a list of $135, but I found it elsewhere for less.   I’m pairing this 5 star wine with Char-grilled Ribeyes.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 726 Charbono 2018, Napa Valley, California

03 Thursday Sep 2020

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It’s a very dark shade of purple in the glass, very inviting.  On the nose I get sweet blackberries, plum extract and cherry cola.  The palate is interesting- ripe black fruit, capsicum greeness, some cherry and dried fruit.  The mid palate is very fruit forward and I get tons more of that dark cherry cola note alongside some slightly green tannins that are a touch bitter.  The back end is very dry from the structure and there is a modicum of acidity.  If you like ’em dry, this one’s for you.  The finish is decent in length and continues the theme.  I like this wine but think it may have some ripeness issues.  88 points from me and drink till 2024.  For $18 this Charbono, also known as Bonarda, is a 3 star wine.  If you have never had this varietal, give it a try!  Salut….

Turley Wine Cellars Old Vines Zinfandel 2017, California, USA

30 Sunday Aug 2020

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The last wine of our Virtual tasting #8 was this highly regarded Zin which rolls in at $35.  I selected it because I really like this winery and was thinking it would be interesting to have two wines from the same winemaker, albeit different varietals to showcase the winemaker’s style and skill.  There were 8 different groups tasting this wine and I recorded their collective notes.

The wine starts off with a nice purple shade of medium opacity.  Fine legs on the sidewalls gave away the 15.5% alcohol, which was not evident on the palate- well disguised!  The immediate reaction to the nose was ‘Grandmothers attic!  A good swirl and more traditional aromas of baked cherries, rhubarb, cherry, currant, plum and dusty mocha were mentioned alongside descriptors of svelte, brooding, jammy and finally mothballs.  Back to the closet I guess!

On the palate members of the group noted sassafras, huckleberry, cinnamon and Jalapeño.  I found the wine to be complex but the finish brought up some interesting comments.  Stinky Brie, green and bitter notes were mentioned but I thought the wine was balanced between lithe tannins and gentle acidity.  Pepper was the predominant feature for me.  I was not overly impressed by this wine on night one and will re-taste tonight.  For now I’m going with 89 points, a stark contrast fro the 92 it got from some of the pros.  3 stars initially.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

UPDATE- I re-tasted the wine after a 24 hour period and have revised my score to 91. It improved dramatically.  The complexity was evident- 4 stars.