The nose of the 2020 PlumpJack Chardonnay opens with a range of citrus notes – lemon, orange zest, pomelo, and key lime. Just behind these are the rich tropical notes of lychee and feijoa along with the sweeter, more delicate... Read More
The 2020 Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard is all Syrah from the highest section of the Boushey Vineyard, on the western side of the Yakima Valley. It’s always one of the best values out there. The 2020 sports... Read More
California is the acknowledged King of United States wine production. Graced with a Mediterranean climate and diverse geography, the wines of California are typically “New World” in style, expressive and fruit-driven.... Read More
California is the acknowledged King of United States wine production. Graced with a Mediterranean climate and diverse geography, the wines of California are typically “New World” in style, expressive and fruit-driven.... Read More
Sonoma County is one of the great wine regions of the world, anchoring California’s reputation as a producer of superb wines. And yet, Sonoma seems to be perpetually overshadowed by its pricey neighbor, Napa Valley. In this... Read More
On the nose, blackberry, currant, and plum are layered with dried, crushed herbs and licorice. On the palate, cedar, vanilla, nutmeg, and toasted coconut lead as plum and dried blackberries culminate in a lush, full mouthfeel... Read More
Supreme concentration and great depth characterize this powerful, structured and ageworthy wine. It boasts luscious dried plums and dried blueberries, plus plenty of black pepper and light wood-smoke accents, all backed by firm... Read More
Lots of toasted bread, chalky minerality, dried pineapple, and white flower notes emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay Estate, a medium-bodied, balanced, juicy Chardonnay that shows the classic style of this estate beautifully. It... Read More
Aromas of brambly black fruit, cranberry sauce, and blue raspberry Tootsie Rolls. On the palate, bright punchy red licorice, navel orange zest, and white coffee beans.
This vineyard brings scents of dried Italian herbs, and flavors of sweet cherry tomatoes and Italian plums. Lighter suggestions of figs and a whiff of sandalwood add layers of complexity, though the overall impression is that... Read More
The 2018 Freedom Hill is deep ruby-red color. It has a very spice driven nose with dark cherry, plum, and white pepper. The mouth is an explosion of dark fruits, punctuated by bright acidity followed by sweet, savory spices, smoky... Read More
Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. Since its founding in 1972, Caymus has become renowned as a consistent leader in the production... Read More
The 2021 Papillon fills the glass with an unmistakable dark crimson, a flash of neon purple and a ruby rim. Tears move glacially and the wine opens with aromatics of boysenberry jam, violets, chocolate covered blueberry and hints... Read More
An opaque, dark violet core of color gives rise to vibrant aromas of dried black currant, dried blackberry, and sun-dried Herbs de Provence. These powerful flavors wash across the palate along with dark chocolate covered espresso... Read More
This 100% varietal wine comes from marquee vineyards along the Rutherford bench, where gravelley soils dominate. An Old World nose of cedar, tobacco and dried herb lead to a soft, supple core of sultry black cherry, blackberry... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a powerful, tannic wine. In some vintages, the Napa Valley bottling is quite accessible, but not here. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of dark fruit, gravel, spice, dried flowers,... Read More
Impressively dark in the glass, this bottling pairs intense purple fruit and flower on this nose with more roasted, umami-laden aromas. The elegant palate is a master class in tannin management, proving firm in structure yet soft... Read More
Beginning in 1993 and following in the tradition of great Bordeaux estates, Opus One created a fine second wine called Overture. Every acre of the estate vineyard is meticulously farmed with the attention to detail and singular... Read More
This is an awesome Cabernet, that’s so packed with blackberries and cassis, it blows your mind. The richness is superbly balanced by fine acidity and sweet, complex tannins that rein everything into a focused structure.... Read More
Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality,... Read More
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards comes from a site (across from Staglin on Bella Oaks) that is still owned by one of the winery's original partners. Delicate California garrigue notes of mountain scrub and bay... Read More
The 2017 La Sirena Cab is very dark blackberry in color, with the ripe, layered aromatics of Cab Sauv and a lifted note from the addition of Cab Franc. Across the palate the wine is vibrant, balanced, and explosive with flavor.... Read More