Tag Archives: california

Cameron Hughes Lot 706 Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

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A medium shade of yellow in the glass.  Pears, citrus and wildflower nectar greet me on the nose.  A very fresh and yet layered first impression.  On the palate it is a touch buttery, which I like as it’s not overdone.  Crisp acidity from lemon, some Bartlett pear and a green melon all hit me on the palate.  It’s got a really nice balance between the acidity and bold fruity flavors.  The mid-palate is a very linear channel to the finish.  It simply carries the same flavors and allows the juiciness to permeate the whole palate.  The finish is long, tasty and refreshing.  There is an abundance of fruit on the back end that carries that lemony component and introduces some oak influence- vanilla and popcorn.  I like the way this wine teases the palate with some hints of big time oak but waits until the very end to actually show some of it off, interesting indeed.  I really like this wine, it’s relatively lightweight to drink by itself but I would pair it with Cobb salad, Blackened Salmon or grilled veggies.  90 points from me and 5 stars for this $16 rocker.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

 

Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013, Santa Cruz Mountains, USA

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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I love this wine btw, having had older vintages in the past.  This one shows see-through dark purple in the glass.  The nose is ethereal- raspberries, rooibos tea, cinnamon and some oak.  The palate is very much New World.  Tart, crispy and loaded with red fruits.  The cinnamon and raspberry components are very much accentuated. There is a bit of heat from the alcohol, which I kinda like.  It’s only showing 13.5%, but I can sense its presence.  The mid palate is more earthy with some wild game and mushroom notes along with some red berries.  The finish is warm, with a raspberry reduction and charcoal note.  It’s quite long and a touch tart, making me lick my chops.  Overall this is a well made wine that is in a mid-life crisis.  It’s lost some fruit yet doesn’t quite have tertiary flavors developed fully.  I would give it another 3 years and drink from 2023-2030.  92 points and 4 stars for this $70 Pinot.  I’m pairing with Chicken Kabobs.  Salut….

World’s End ‘If 6 were 9’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 revisited, Napa Valley, USA

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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I tasted this wine when it was much younger.  It was appealing then and more so now.  Very rich purple, semi opaque. The nose is very fruity with blackberry jam, blackcurrants, toasted oak.  The palate is really delightful with warm blackberry ganache, coconut, eucalyptus and iodine.  On the midpalate I start to sense some tannic buzz, nothing overpowering.  Gobs more black fruit reduction and a charcoal note.  The finish marries up some acidity, just a touch to complete the mouthfeel and balance this very fruit-forward Napa Cab.  93 points and 5 stars for this $48 bottle.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 703 Pinot Noir 2017, Alexander Valley, California

05 Sunday Apr 2020

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Nice shade of dark red, see-through.  The 14.1% alcohol evident by some nice looking legs.  On the nose it is somewhat atypical.  Violet, strawberry compote and cherry cola.  The palate is a touch sweet with some nice stewed rhubarb notes. Cherry comes along eventually as do some nice fine grained tannins.  There’s a nice acidic bite on the finish that balances it out without making me wince.  It’s a very interesting wine that has a warm mouthfeel, that nice touch of sweetness countered by the acid on the back end.  This wine will appeal to the novice and also provide tasting groups with an interesting mix of flavors.  I’m baking up some Brisket that will pair nicely.  91 points and 5 stars for this $15 bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Peach Brisket, crisped to perfection

Cameron Hughes Lot 625 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Yountville, California

27 Friday Mar 2020

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Medium shade of purple and semi-opaque in the glass.  The nose offers up strawberry and raspberry notes alongside sweet bramble, perhaps even honeysuckle.  It’s a pleasing nose for sure.  The palate is very sprite, unlike some Napa Cabs that are full throttle- this one is more seductive in its approach.  Sweet blackberry versus the red notes I got on the nose are intriguing.  There is a violet and damson streak as well.  The tannins creep in on the midpalate and I taste some charcoal as well.  More plums and a touch of acidity round it out.  The finish is quite dry but not cloying.  I am enjoying the mouthfeel and look forward to pairing it with peach baked Beef Brisket.  The acidity is going to be a good cut for the sweetness of the dish.  I am enjoying this wine and think it will cellar nicely till 2025.  90 point and 4 stars for this $24 Cab.  Salut….

Refugio Ranch Petite Sirah 2016, Santa Ynez Valley, USA

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Dark and dense, totally opaque.  The nose gives me blackberry jam, florals, cinnamon, but just a touch.  On the palate it’s as rich as it smells.  Full throttle with the black fruits, a touch of sour black cherry and a definitive tea component.  There is an upfront astringency that goes head to head with a brisk acidity.  Somewhat overpowering but balanced. The midpalate is all about the to-and-fro with these two components.  The finish is really juicy, black fruited and tannic.  Petite Sirah is typical of these notes.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 wine.  Pair with Moussaka or Bangers and Mash and drink till 2025.  Salut….

Castello di Amorosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, USA

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Very dark purple and opaque AF.  The nose is vibrant with black currant, berries and coconut.  The palate is rich and fruit-forward with gobs of black fruit, lapsang souchong tea, a touch of licorice and some juicy acidity.  Tannins start to appear on the mid palate and they caress the mouth to a nice full finish of more black fruits, spice box and a touch of leather.  It’s a really nice mouthfeel, lasting a good 30-40 seconds.  I’m digging this wine and have some lamb tenderloins I will grill up to pair.  Drink till 2028. 91 points and 4 stars for this $58 offering.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California, USA

16 Monday Mar 2020

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Semi opaque in the glass.  The nose is straight up Napa sunshine.  Black currants galore, like Ribena.  Licorice and cola are present to a degree.  On the palate it’s as expected- rich, warm blackcurrants, lithe tannins, juicy acidity and some star anise.  The iodine comes back alongside Maduro with blackberry jam on the midpalate.  The structure of this wine is decent, the tannins are of medium intensity and the acidity is in check.  The finish ends on a dry note of black tea, blackberry and more iodine.  Quite tasty and worthy of 90 points.  Drink till 2027 with charcuterie or a marbled steak.  $14 and 5 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 683 Zinfandel 2017, Sierra Foothills, California

05 Thursday Mar 2020

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Semi opaque and medium intensity purple.  The nose has spicy blueberry jam, candy and licorice.  On the palate it is very fruity, dry and mouthwatering.  Blackberry paste, cedar shake and iodine caress the tongue while really nice tannins completely coat my gums.  It is a luscious mouthfeel if you’re in the mood for some tannic grip.  The midpalate and finish carry on the theme and it ends on a nice dry note of black jam, cinnamon, some wood influence and that licorice note.  90 points.  Well made and for $12 this is a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink till 2027 with some sirloins, perhaps venison and definitely roasted veggies.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 676 White Blend 2016, Santa Barbara, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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Very golden in the glass, beautiful and rich.  On the nose I get peach stone, yellow apple, melon.  On the palate it’s quite different- I still get peach stone, but the focus is more pineapple, honeydew, lanolin.  The mouthfeel is quite full, a nice level of acidity and some glycerin.  The mid palate shows off stone fruit and a touch of sour apple.  The finish is medium length and continues the theme nicely.  This is a good blend of Roussane, Viognier and Marsanne that I would serve with caeser salad, smoked salmon or grilled chicken.  89 points, $14 and 4 stars.  Salut….