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Tag Archives: california

Havens Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016, Sonoma, California

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, california, pinot noir, Russian river valley, sonoma county


In the glass this wine is textbook Pinot Noir- bright red, see-through with lithe legs.  On the nose I get cherry cola, strawberry and faint wood.  On the palate it screams New World Pinot with strawberry coulis, bing cherry and delightful tannins that ease into a full blown black tea extravaganza that leave my gums puckered and my teeth thoroughly dry.  The mid palate turns a little blue on me with berries and tar.  The finish is back to the original strawberry/cherry combo that I love.  The finish is long with nice balanced acidity offsetting the tannins.  91 points for this $20 wine makes it a 5 star effort IMHO.  Drink now till 2027.  I am pairing it with roasted Cornish Hens, baked Sweet Potatoes with Feta and sautéed Zucchini.  Salut….

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Havens Wine Cellars ‘H Luxury Collection By Havens’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California, USA

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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$13, 3 stars, 87 points, cabernet sauvignon, california


Beautiful dark, nearly black in the glass.  The nose gives off blackcurrants, loads of them, and with a good swirl I also get eucalyptus as well as pine needle.  On the palate it is slightly sweet with those blackcurrants really out front.  Very gentle tannins are evident from the onset, but they quickly disappear.  There is a hint of oak, barely perceptible that adds to this somewhat one-dimensional wine.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s very tasty and easy to drink.  It transitions to the finish on the same notes I got initially, without much acidity, which troubles me.  This is a nice everyday, easygoing quaffer that you could pop-n-pour every night of the week.  Party wine for sure.  At $13 it’s not a steep price to pay for this 87 point wine that gets 3 stars from me.  Drink now with most light fair.  Salut….

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Angeline Pinot Noir 2017, California, USA

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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$11, 5 stars, 90 points, california, pinot noir


Darker and more opaque than most Pinot Noirs.  The nose has a strawberry candy note plus blueberry paste and a fig component.  Sounds strange- I know.  On the palate it delivers on that fig thing, surprisingly.  I also get blueberry and some oak.  The tannins are crispy, appearing on the midpalate and carrying us through to the finish which has blueberry and charcoal.  Very tasty indeed.  The tannins are long lived, drying out my gums for well over a minute.  This will will age nicely methinks .  90 points and 5 stars for this $11 wine.  Salut….

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Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

05 Tuesday Mar 2019

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$40, 4 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cab


Bright purple- almost sparkly in the glass.   The nose is full-on Napa cab.  Rich plums, blackberries and cedar.  The palate mirrors- and it’s super smooth with a gentle ramp up of tannins.  The mid palate continues the dark fruit theme but this is where the black tea, crunchy tannins and Maduro leaf appear.  The finish is very dry, long and filled with blackberry jam, more tea and a touch of oak.  Delicious and worth 91 points in my book.  The only thing holding it back is the slight greenness of the tannins.  I’m serving up Sunday roast with this beauty.  4 stars for this $40 Cabernet that can be cellared or drunk till 2028.  Salut….

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Adaptation by Odette Petite Sirah 2014, Napa Valley, USA

05 Tuesday Mar 2019

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$45, 5 stars, 93 points, california, Napa, napa petite Sirah, petite sirah


A quick note from a party….  Unbelievable nose- black fruits galore, chai tea, olives and blueberry jam.  On the palate I get gorgeous blue fruit ganache, really tight knit tannins – crunchy acidity.  Sublime wine that is full bodied and long.  It shows off bright Napa sunshine in the fruit which I think will evolve nicely in the next 10-15 years.  Drink till 2030.  93 points if not 94 for this bold $45 effort.  5 Stars.  Salut….

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Michael Pozzan Annabella Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, USA

04 Monday Mar 2019

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$14, 3 stars, 89 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cabernet


Cherry nose.  Iodine, plum and cigar box on the initial. Nice gentle tannins introduce themselves on the midpalate alongside bramble.  The plums are really juicy in this wine.  The finish gives me prune, black cherries and tobacco.  Really tasty and easy to drink.  Till 2024.  89 points and 3 stars for this $14 wine.  Salut….

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Turley Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2016, Napa Valley, California

26 Saturday Jan 2019

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$55, 4 stars, 91 points, california, napa valley


Nearly black in the glass.  Blackcurrant and smoky wood on the nose.   On the palate it offers black cherry, dark currants, superb tannins and olives.  The midpalate gets a dose of dryness from the tannins to go with more dark berries.  The finish is blackberry coulis, tea and a touch of wood.  Overall a very good but young wine that needs two to three years in the cellar.  After that- drink till 2028 with heavy duty meat dishes.  91 points for now.  I would love to revisit in 3 years.  $55 makes this a 4 star effort.  Salut….

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Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017, California, USA

26 Saturday Jan 2019

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$39, 3 stars, 89 points, california, pinot noir, sonoma coast


I wrote about the 2016 Failla recently so it was interesting to sample the younger version.  Strawberry coulis nose from this darker red Pinot Noir  On the palate I get raspberry, strawberry and crunchy tannins.  The mid palate has a pepper component alongside bing cherry.  The finish is medium in length with that strawberry core flavor returning.  The acidity is decent and the mouthfeel is good.  A touch young- it could benefit from some cellaring.  Drink till 2029.  89 points $39 make this a solid 3 star wine.  Consistent with the previous vintage.  Salut….

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Clos Du Val Estate Chardonnay Carneros ‘Lot One’ 2015, Napa, California

21 Monday Jan 2019

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$50, 3 stars, 90 points, california, carneros, chardonnay, Napa


A very gorgeous dark yellow in the glass gives way to waxy lemon, peach stone and pineapple core  on the nose.  On the palate it is quintessential Napa Chardonnay.  Citrus, yellow apple, pear and lanolin hit me on the initial palate.  The wine has a medium weight mouthfeel, with decent but not piercing acidity.  The mid palate is mostly lemon and grapefruit.  The finish is quite long, with more of that citrus component as well as that waxy note.  This wine is nice and will pair well with Salmon, Moussaka even Osso Bucco (Hard to believe I know).  I am thinking this wine is worthy of 90 points and 3 stars for the $50 price tag.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

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Loring Wine Co. Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2016, Central Coast, USA

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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$32, 4 stars, 91 points, california, central coast, pinot noir


Medium opacity, certainly not a light Pinot.  Explosive nose of cherry, rhubarb and violets.  On the palate, that old world nose gave way to new world juiciness, freshness and very integrated tannins.  Flavors of cherry, bramble, pie crust and cinnamon hit me at the onset.  Towards the mid palate it ramps up with a great acidity with some strawberry marching in.  The finish is long, with Kirsch and plenty of pH, alongside some oaky nuances.  I like this wine, a lot.  91 points and 4 stars- you can find it for $32 which places it in the 4 star category.  Cellar some and drink till 2026.  Salut….

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