Tag Archives: Lodi

Nihilist Wine Co. Malbec 2020, Lodi, California

04 Monday Apr 2022

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I had to look up the meaning of the name- Nihilist.  It’s off-putting tbh but I will disregard for this tasting.

Medium ruby in the glass with a pronounced nose of black raspberry, red plum, strawberry compote, currant, a whiff of chocolate dust and dark cherry akin to Luxardos.  A second swirl and I get a touch of smoke and florals.  The palate is dry and tart.  Medium tannins set the tone for a medium (+) body and medium intensity flavors of sour cherry, red plums, currants (black and red) and that floral note.  The smoke is gone and the wine really shows off some acidity.  In addition to the tartness, this bottle has a high level of structural acid.  It’s a bit out of balance for me.  The finish is a touch thin but lasts a decent length of time.  Drink this wine till 2026 with some charcuterie and olives, something to cut the acid (Brie or Blue cheese).  87 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Special Bottling Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

27 Monday Dec 2021

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It’s the night after all the Christmas guests (family) have left and Moxie and I are recovering.  A Lodi Cab Sav to pair with leftover Prime Rib seems in order.  This one is nearly opaque and bright ruby in the glass.  The nose is an interesting mix of pomegranate, plum, blackberry and black currant.  Sweet cassis, a touch of oak and some pie crust hit me after a good swirl.  The palate is tannic right off the bat with grippy sensations on my gums and teeth.  The dark fruit flavors are pronounced with some oak and pie nuances in there as well.  Medium bodied it has a shortish finish but I am having a hard time with the tannins which are overtaking any semblance of acidity on the back end.  Slightly unbalanced structurally I think this will pass as the tannins integrate and allow the fruit and acidity to all play together on a more even keel.  Aerate this wine or cellar it for a while and you will be rewarded.  I would drink it from 2023 till 2028 with all plethora of grilled meats and hearty stews.  89 points for this $13 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2018, Lodi, California

16 Thursday Sep 2021

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Moxie and I were at a resort in Texas this past weekend.  Our last night was spent at the flagship restaurant where we dined on their speciality- Chicken Fried Lobster.  Choosing a wine before ordering the main course is always a bit of a challenge but I saw this label and remembered enjoying the 2014 vintage so it was a no-brainer.  Petite Sirah is my current flavor of the day varietal, I love its richness, the jammy black fruits, the medium tannins and the full body.  This bottle did not disappoint.  I took zero notes, reveling in its silky smoothness and full flavor profile.  One thing I will say about the eventual pairing:  it worked beautifully.  The wine really made the crunchy Lobster pop in my mouth.  I cannot explain it, just to say I would do it over again.  At $14 per bottle, this 91 point wine is a steal.  If ever in doubt at a restaurant, any Michael David Winery bottle will get you gratification at a fair price.  5 stars.  Salut….

Comartin Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel 2018, Lodi, California

07 Tuesday Sep 2021

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Smoked beef brisket is a tough pairing- the flavors are so rich and smoky that the wine needs to have spice, body and high levels of alcohol.  A Zinfandel seems as close as possible to the perfect match.  This one is semi opaque with thick legs showing off its 14.8% ABV.  The nose is very aromatic- rich red fruits, spice, black and white pepper alongside toasty oak.  The palate is very full bodied with great balance between the rich fruit, medium tannins and medium acidity.  Ripe raspberry, redcurrant jam, white pepper and blackberry flavors are all present.  It’s not a blockbuster in style but its rich fruit is very enticing.  I dig this wine and for $30 it’s a good drop that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Michael David Winery Earthquake Petite Sirah 2017, Lodi, California

21 Sunday Feb 2021

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Turns out his was the Wine of the Night at tasting #15. It is inky purple and opaque AF. Initially the members noted a dusty smell- which led on to black pepper, herbs, tobacco, dried fruits, cigar, prunes, blackberry jam and was considered ‘leathery’. On the palate it was very rich and full bodied with prunes, blackberry compote, cracked black pepper, dark chocolate, coffee beans, raisins and tobacco. I thought it was delicious and worthy of a juicy Filet. It was not very tannic at all, inconsistent with the varietal, but I was not complaining. It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars for sure at it only runs $20. Buy it by the case and drink till 2026. Salut….

Evangelos Bagias Rippey Family Vineyard Zinfandel 2019, Lodi, California

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

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Very dark purple and nearly opaque in the glass. The nose on this Zin gives me sweet plums, white pepper, licorice and dried cherry. On the palate is has a warm intro bursting with purple fruit ganache, sweet black cherry and a modicum of very fine grained tannins. The mid palate continues the black/purple fruit theme but it’s here where I sense the 15.1 % alcohol. It’s not bothersome, just be careful! The tannins are really well integrated so that I get just a touch of dryness on the backend to go along with some steeped plum and charcoal notes. I really am enjoying this wine, it will pair nicely with the braised Lamb shanks in the oven. It gets 89 points from me and for $11 it’s one to stock up on for casual meals and Friday Happy hours. 5 stars, drink till 2024. Salut….

F. Stephen Millier Angels Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Lodi, California

12 Saturday Dec 2020

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This Cab is bright purple and semi opaque. On the nose I get red fruits- raspberry, currants and clove. The palate is quite rich right off the bat with licorice, red fruit melange and cedar. The licorice note is quite pronounced on the mid palate where I also get plum and black cherry. The wine has a nice, balanced mouthfeel, easygoing without too much tannin or acidity. The finish is quite long and tasty with wood notes, more plum and that lingering licorice note, albeit subdued. Yummy stuff that should drink till 2024. I like it and at $16 it gets 4 stars cause it’s an 88 point wine in my books. I’m pairing it with grilled Tri-tip and mashed taters. Salut….

Karen Birmingham Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Lodi, California

10 Thursday Dec 2020

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I’ve been on a Sav Blanc kick lately and this one is next in the lineup, to pair with my Korean Bulgogi tonight. I feel the sweet and spicy sauce will need a lighter style white, hence the choice.

It starts out a pale shade of gold in the glass with a nose of citrus, gooseberry and herbal tea. On the palate it is interesting- a touch heavier than I imagined with rich flavors of lemon/lime, papaya and passion fruit. The mid palate concentrates on the latter flavors with less citrus. The finish has decent acidity that keeps the wine fresh without impinging on the back of my jaw. It’s totally different than the wine I tasted earlier this week, which was a Kiwi styled wine. This bottle speaks of California sunshine and offers bright fruit flavors and a rounded mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length and tastes of fruit salad- a really nice way to end. 88 points from me with a drink by 2022 window. Optional pairing choices would be grilled Salmon, Fettucine Alfredo or even fried Chicken. For $16 it gets 4 stars from me. 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….