The 2018 Barolo Gattera is another expression from La Morra with soft tannins and a very silky texture. Gattera is characterized by bright fruit tones, cassis and dried raspberry. You might also recognize powdered licorice and... Read More
This is a hugely dry, burnt style, very concentrated. The licorice and bitter coffee flavors are dense, layered and well balanced with the acidity. A serious wine that demands attention. Read More...
Ripe and juicy, this pushes a wave of raspberry and plum purée flavors to the fore, while red licorice, sweet tobacco and singed juniper hints peek through before blooming on the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre... Read More
The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape La Muse features a knockout nose of cherries and garrigue, followed by ripe, nearly chocolaty flavors. It's full-bodied and plush, with a long, velvety finish. Drink this full-throttle wine over... Read More
In classic Chave style this starts out with all of the cracked pepper, lavender and gamey notes Syrah in a perfect spot can give you. Then you find the lightness that sets Chave apart from the pack. Not that the weight is missing,... Read More
In this seamless expression of Syrah, the nose weaves through dark fruit and purple flower aromas with nothing obtrusive. The palate is also cohesive, loaded with purple fruit and flower flavors dusted in pepper and dried herb.... Read More
The 2018 Zinfandel Rinaldi Vineyard comes from organically farmed vines, some more than 100 years old. It was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 30% new French oak. It has a pale ruby color and segues from tar to... Read More
This too is moderately reduced and hard to evaluate. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the punchy and alluringly textured middle weight flavors that culminate in a very firm, delicious and serious finale. This... Read More
Here the nose is firmly reduced and unreadable. Otherwise there is fine verve to the very rich medium-bodied flavors that possess a lovely texture while the youthfully austere finish is sufficiently saline-inflected to remain... Read More
A more elegant and cooler array features notes of various dark berries, spice, earth and a floral top note. The delicious, intense and well-detailed flavors exude a bracing salinity on the youthfully austere and noticeably firmer... Read More
The very lightly hued, Sauvignon Blanc dominated 2019 Flor (there's 3% Semillon) offers up a gorgeous, Bordeaux Blanc-like bouquet of ripe pineapple and citrus fruits interwoven with notes of brioche, honeyed almonds, and... Read More
The 2018 Sumo is remarkably polished for a Petite Syrah-based wine. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and spice fill out the layers effortlessly. Helen Keplinger has done a brilliant job taming the young Petite tannins.... Read More
Beautiful sweet-berry and peach character with brightness and finesse that gives the wine energy and real attraction. It’s medium-bodied with medium, soft tannins and a vivid finish. Dried earth and spice. 100% grenache.... Read More
A whiff brings a classic profile of caramel, black tea and heavy old oak. The palate brings notes of butter cookie, pie crust and sweet cherry that cascade into a long spicy finish comprised of cinnamon, black pepper and more... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was matured for 15 months in 34% new oak. It has a medium ruby color and generous aromatic layers of lavender, licorice, eucalyptus and forest floor with a core of dark fruit. The medium-bodied... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was matured in 39% new oak for 15 months. The nose opens slowly from allspice and brown sugar to a core of red cherry and cranberry, tea leaves and lavender. The medium-bodied palate offers surprisingly... Read More
Matured for 15 months in 52% new oak, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a very pretty expression this vintage. The nose features detailed scents of blueberries, strawberries, Earl Grey tea leaves and forest floor, and the... Read More
Jazz hands at the ready, the Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington is always ready to welcome you in with its full, svelte figure and no hard edges, and the 2021 is no different. However, this year there's an additional touch... Read More
This has aromas of flint, toast, jasmine, dried pineapples, lemons and sea shells. Some cardamom and salted butter. Classy and driven, with a medium to full body and tight, sleek layers. Perfumed and bright. Everything in balance.... Read More
A blend of 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Optimus has a deep ruby color and a deep core of red and black cherries, chargrill, thyme, charcuterie and desiccated violet. The full-bodied palate is... Read More
A lush, flattering style, with warmed cassis, fresh açaí berry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes pressed together by bittersweet cocoa–accented toast. Dark and winey through the finish, with a streak... Read More