Tag Archives: california

Turley Wine Cellars Bechtoldt Vineyard Cinsault 2018, Lodi, USA

30 Sunday Aug 2020

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I wanted to introduce a pure Cinsault to our wine tasting group.  It’s a very difficult grape to source as a standalone because it’s traditionally a blending grape.  I have had some delicious wines that rely heavily on Cinsault, which reminds me of Pinot Noir in its structure and finesse.  In fact- Pinotage is a cross of the two grape varietals.

The wine is very pale red and see-through.  The nose gave us cigar box, perfume, cherry, raspberry, cedar, black cherry, maple syrup, mulling spices, strawberry and cardamom.  The palate was peppery with black cherry, jello, earth, pomegranate, violets and was considered ‘spicy’.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lighter style of wine that had gentle tannins, decent acidity and a really nice mouthfeel.  92 points from me for this $25 charmer that gets 5 stars.  Drink with lighter fare till 2028.  Salut….

Liberty Road Zinfandel 2018, Lodi, California

26 Wednesday Aug 2020

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Semi opaque, medium shade of purple. The nose is somewhat subdued in the BAG (big assed glass). After a vigorous swirl session I get blueberries, violet and pepper.  On the palate it’s a touch spicy with blue fruits, fig and cedar.  The mid palate is a bit tart, backward and thin on the fruit.  The finish is bitter with more blue fruits and that woodsy note.  I enjoy Zins for their fruitiness.  This one lacks a bit on several points unfortunately.  86 points is all I can muster.  $10 makes this a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Lady of The Mandrake Warrior and Craftsman 2016, Paso Robles, California

25 Tuesday Aug 2020

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Dark purple, opaque.  The nose is chock full of blackcurrants, spicy oak and some dusty tobacco.  The palate is stark- dark and brooding with blackcurrants, oolong tea, nice gentle tannins and a touch of acidity.  The midpalate is a bit edgy with some oak influence, charred wood, dark fruit and an increasing dryness from the tannins that are ramping up.  The finish is really enjoyable- a nice dry mouthfeel, decent acidity and gobs of fruit.  The blackcurrants are really delicious.  This is a yummy wine for everyday that will cellar nicely for a few years and be a hit whether you are serving steaks or pizza.  Drink till 2025.  90 points and 5 stars for this $20 effort.  Ps.  The label is one of coolest out there.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 675 Chardonnay 2017, Santa Barbara County, California

23 Sunday Aug 2020

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It’s got a really bright yellow/gold color in the glass.  The nose has butterscotch, green apple and melon.  The palate is full bodied with a nice round mouthfeel.  Apples, pear and some lemon interlaced with a touch of acidity open up for me on the palate.  The mid palate is very smooth with more of the same flavors coming forth.  I get some nutty notes and caramel on the back end along with the pear and apple melange.  It’s quite a complex wine, punching way above its $14 price point.  I am thoroughly enjoying it.  The mouthfeel is great, the fruit is prominent, the acidity is apparent without cutting too much and the whole package rolls off the palate very nicely.  91 points from me and a 5 stars for sure.  If you like Chardonnay, stock up on this one.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 722 Chenin Blanc 2018, Sonoma County, California

22 Saturday Aug 2020

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Pale yellow in the glass.  On the nose I get watermelon, lime spritz and melon.  On the palate it is fruity and flavorful- quince, pear and a buttery note.  The mid palate continues the full bodied mouthfeel and flavor profile.  The finish is decent in length and offers up some honey alongside yellow apple and more pear.  It’s an interesting and tasty wine for sure, refreshing yet it has some depth and viscosity.  The malolactic fermentation has given it a touch of butter and flab, enough to notice but not overdone.  This wine will pair well with grilled Salmon, Cobb salad or baked Aubergine in tomatoes.  Drink till 2024.  For $13, this is a no-brainer to keep on hand.  88 points make it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

 

 

Cameron Hughes Lot 639 Rosé 2017, Monterey County, California

20 Thursday Aug 2020

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This wine is a gorgeous shade of orange/pink.  On the nose I get strawberry and lemon zest, pink grapefruit and almonds.  On the palate it is a touch sweet, apricots come to mind.  The strawberry component reappears on the mid palate with notes of lanolin and lemon.  The finish is refreshing, a touch acidic and decent in length.  Light red fruit notes carry through to the end.  This is a nice, if somewhat sweet, summer sundowner.  I would serve it with charcuterie, hard cheeses and some fresh figs.  Drink till 2022.  88 points and 4 stars for this $13 Valdiguié, a varietal I have never tried before.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Lodi, California

17 Monday Aug 2020

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A pretty shade of purple and nearly opaque.  On the nose it’s brimming with red fruit, some oak and a red licorice note.  The palate is easy going- red berries, chocolate nibs, some oak and a touch of acidity.  The mid palate is very smooth with a smidge of tannin and more red fruit melange.  The finish is simple, decent in length and features the addition of cranberries with their inherent tartness.  This is a very basic wine that will feature well at a burgers and brats barbecue.  The tannins are very slight and the structure is not intended for much cellaring.  It’s a pop’n pour weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me and at $15- 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Slang Wines Pinot Noir 2014, Sonoma County, California

01 Saturday Aug 2020

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It’s a broody looking Pinot, dark shade of purple and semi opaque in the glass.  The nose is clearly New World in style.  Ripe cranberry, rich cherry coulis and cloves.  On the palate it’s a touch sweet- like cherry jam and pomegranate syrup.  It’s got an intense spiciness that I am enjoying to go alongside the sweetness.  There is an underlying level of heat that I only sense on the mid palate- the 14.4% alcohol being well masked.  I also get a touch of fizziness which is intriguing.  The finish shows off some lithe tannins and more cherry coulis.  There’s a modicum of oak present that I am enjoying but I also get a touch of tartness, not from acidity, that is nagging at me.  Right at the end is where the acidity kicks in on the medium length finish.  Overall, not a bad drop to alongside T-Bones and hand cut fries with Bearnais.  I am giving this wine 90 points with a drinking window of 2020-2026.  No pricing info available as it was given to me by a friend.  Salut….

Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Merlot 2016, Sonoma Valley, USA

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Pretty dark and broody in the glass.  The nose gives me leather, smoke and a touch of oak alongside dark plums.  The palate is a bit obscure, the fruit is battling with a volatility that’s throwing me off.  I do get Charcoal, blackberries, more plum and that smoky leathery component.  It’s a rather interesting combo that really takes off on the mid palate, where the wine finally comes together.  Medium grade tannins don’t punish the gums but give the wine a nice structure.  They caress over the decent length finish that has a long, dry presence to go with the black berry and charcoal notes I tasted.  Overall this wine was much better on night 2, after the Virtual tasting #6.  I’m going 89 points and for $29 it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018, Sonoma County, USA

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Typical for the varietal, it shows a semi opaque light purple color in the glass.  The nose is stunning- cherries, cinnamon, blackberry.  On the palate this wine is fruity, New World in style but somewhat restrained.  Red fruit galore, some pepper and a hint of upfront acidity.  The midpalate gives me cherry jam, some cedar and an intro to the very lithe tannins.  This is some lip smacking juice people, absolutely delicious with a very nice mouthfeel and great balance.  The finish is medium in length, juicy with some sour cherry and mid length.  For $30 this is a great Pinot from one of my favorite wine making regions, the Russian River Valley.  92 points from me and 5 stars, buy it by the case.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….