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Scott Peterson Rumpus Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, California

19 Sunday Jan 2025

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Medium ruby to garnet colored with slight copper highlights, light staining, and high viscosity (14.8% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, ripe black raspberry, a hint of twizzlers, some smoke, coffee, black tea, and violet. The palate seems dry, but I suspect a touch of residual sugar. Medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (-) tannins. Flavors of very ripe black raspberry- almost candied, black plum, pomegranate, black tea, coffee, smoke, and that floral violet note I got on the nose. There’s a strange astringency that hits me on the mid palate, not sure where that comes from. The finish is medium in length and pleasant, with a nice mouth feel. 87 points for this $14 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2026.  (It opened up nicely after 30 or so minutes).  Salut….

Scott Peterson Rumpus California Cabernet Sauvignon

Maxville Lake Winery Petit Sirah 2016, Napa Valley, California

17 Friday Jan 2025

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I have had this wine before and loved it- so I bought more.  It’s still inky purple colored with heavy staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, a medicinal note, blueberry jam, eucalyptus, baking spice, vanilla bean, roasted coffee, dried oak bark, and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and high tannins that are integrating nicely.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe dark fruit, oak by way of that medicinal note, coffee, vanilla, and baking spice coupled with some green notes.  The finish is long and silky, the tannins really retreat and allow the ripe fruit to take center stage.  It’s an awesome bottle and a great example of well made Petite Sirah.  It makes a statement, similar in nature to Napa Cabs, but in a bolder, more structured way.  94 points from me for this $55 bottle makes it a 5 star wine that will drink nicely till 2030.  I am pairing with T-bone steaks,  roasted veggies and yams.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery Petit Sirah

Ashley Herzberg Petite Sirah 2022, Russian River Valley, California

13 Monday Jan 2025

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Inky purple colored with moderate staining, and a high viscosity (14.7% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, black plum, a medicinal note (from oak?), acai berry, grape bubble gum, slate, and faint espresso notes.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and high tannins that are somewhat chalky.  Ripe flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and acai berry coupled with that medicinal note, some black tea and an espresso note.  The finish leans heavily on the tannins, they are very grippy but allow the fruit to show off for a medium length ending.  I like this $22 bottle and give it 91 points which makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  I would pair it with hearty beef dishes and stews.  Salut….

Ashley Herzberg Russian River Petite Sirah

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc 2023, Lodi, California

05 Sunday Jan 2025

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Medium ruby colored with iodine highlights, slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13.2% ABV).  The nose has aromas of candied raspberry, perfume, pine sap, ripe pomegranate, leather, and lingonberry.  If I could describe smelling something sweet- this would be it.  Can’t wait to taste…..On the palate it is dry!  Medium acidity, medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins make for a very easygoing wine that sips nicely.   The red fruit driven nose is apparent on the palate along with a hint of oak but no sign of the tobacco, perfume or pine sap.  The green note I was smelling did not materialize.  The finish is relatively short and a touch tart.  This is a basic wine without much structure that will enable any cellaring.  It’s a great wine to pair with BBQ ribs or pizza.  86 points from me and for $11 it’s a 3 star effort to drink in the near term.  Salut….

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc

Precision Wine Company Circumference Chardonnay 2023, Russian River Valley, California

01 Wednesday Jan 2025

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and a watery sheen that gives way to some thick, slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe tropical fruit.  Pink guava, apricot, papaya, nectarine, green almond, a touch of butter, and a hit of baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and ripe fruit flavors that echo the nose.  The finish is silky and medium (+) in length, showing off the fruit rather nicely.  There are subtle secondary notes, the focus being the fruit profile.  It’s a heavy wine with a rather substantial alcohol content that would probably need to be served well chilled as I can see it ballooning out of control once it gets warmed up.  I am pairing it with Chinese food and it’s working rather nicely.  89 points for this $25 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

precision wine company Circumference Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Miriam Syrah 2021, California

02 Monday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe red raspberry, black plum, game, vanilla, cocoa, and blackberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that melt away.  Flavors of ripe raspberry, plum, and blackberry with telltale meaty notes.  There is a hint of cocoa and maybe some vanilla.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing.  Not an overly complex wine, it drinks easily and will go well with a variety of dishes ranging from steaks and pasta to roasted chicken.  Overall it gets 86 points from me and at $12, 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Miriam California Syrah

Precision Wine Company Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, California

01 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with some staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied black raspberry, red plum, boysenberry, chocolate powder, red licorice, dill, and eucalyptus.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy and a touch green.  Flavors of dark red fruit, some chocolate, dried green herbs, and eucalyptus.  The finish is a touch off-dry and red-fruit driven which is really not my favorite profile.  The chocolate and green herbs bring it back in line.  It lasts a medium length.  Albeit not my style of wine tbh it will appeal to many as it hints at a touch of RS.  87 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink by 2027.  I’m pairing with oven roasted Pork Ribs.  Salut….

Precision wine company Method Cabernet Sauvignon California

Connell Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Chalk Hill, Sonoma County, California

01 Tuesday Oct 2024

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Deep purple colored with red highlights on the rim, medium staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, mint, acai berry, singed alder, capsicum and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and high tannins that are grippy.  The alcohol shines through easily and overpowers me on the first sip.  Letting that blow off I get ripe black and blue fruit, some green notes from mint and bell pepper with a hint of oak integration by way of that medicinal note and coffee.  The finish is a dry affair that lasts medium in length.  It’s a young wine for sure, but I see promise once the tannins sort themselves out.  Hopefully the heat integrates better with the whole package as I think it can cellar nicely and gets 91 points from me.  From their website you can order this limited production Bordeaux blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot for $75.  That makes this a 3 star effort to pair with Ribeyes or a hearty Lamb dish.  Salut….

Tara Bella Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Russian River Valley, California

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.4% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blueberry, blackberry compote, cassis, eucalyptus, chocolate powder, oak, violets, coffee, caramel and sweet plum.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  I am a bit unnerved by the tannins tbh, they detract from the whole package and force me to consider them before I can delve into the fruit flavors.  Once over the hurdle- it’s ripe, rich dark fruit with some interesting florals and nicely exercised oak treatment.  The finish is medium in length but quite astringent, the tannic grip is a little much methinks.  I loved the 2020 Estate Cabernet  and gave it 92 points- this one only gets 89.  For the same price point of $80, it only gets 2 stars unfortunately.  I have another bottle and will re-evaluate in the near future.  Meanwhile, this one looks to last till 2030 or so, but give it time or an aeration to try and soften the tannins.  Salut….

Cosmologist Red Wine Knights Valley 2020, Sonoma County, California

24 Tuesday Sep 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (15.2% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, black plum, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, licorice, fresh linen and cocoa powder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins that are a touch astringent and green.  Flavors of black plum, bramble berry, black cherry, licorice, oversteeped black tea, eucalyptus, and a hint of vanilla.  The finish is hot right off the bat, detracting from the flavors I seek.  The length is medium (-) and a bit astringent, akin to black tea that has been made too strong. To me this is a bit disjointed, albeit the fruit is nice and ripe, the tannins are a bit underripe and the high alcohol is a detractor.  I would give this wine 87 points and for the $28 price point it gets 3 stars.  Drink this blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon till 2028 with steak or stew.  Salut….