Sea Smoke Cellars-Southing-Sta Rita Hills-Pinot Noir-Santa Barbara County-California-2004-$65.00-A beautiful nose of dark fruit and spice, dense ruby color, a little darker than some Pinot’s. A lush, smooth full bodied Pinot, black currants, black cherries, cola, great acidity, spice, a full minute finish. When you buy a wine a few years back and know if you lay it down it will get better and the wine rewards your patience, that’s special. One of the top two or three Pinot Noir’s I have ever had, was disappointed when the last drop was gone, amazing. What drinking wine is all about. RP-90+ WS-93 WE-93 CR-95 Good with lamb, chicken, veal.
Caldwell Vineyard-Proprietary Red-Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Napa Valley-California-2004-(.375 ML)-$28.65-A nose of bold dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A smooth, full bodied and elegant blend, with blackberries, currant, plum, with rich vanilla and spice tones, drinking now in a perfect zone but still has a 5 yr+ drinking window, a awesome wine. RP-92-94 WS-94 CR-96 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Benzinger Family Winery-Tribute-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc-Petit Verdot-Sonoma Mountain Estate-California-2002-$62.50-A bold nose of dark fruit and spice, dark amber in color. A smooth, full bodied blend, currants, crème de cassis, graphite, smoke, decanted for one hour. A beautiful wine, have had three bottles over the past five years, all were fantastic. RP-93 CR-95 Great with steak, chicken, pasta.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars-Cask 23-Estate-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2000-$110.00-The Super Bowl calls for pulling out a prize from the cellar, decanted for 1+ hour, nose was a elegant currant and spice, beautiful dark amber in color. Smooth, great flavors of currants, some earth, spice, great mouth feel, 30-45 second finish. It’s always a bit scary when you open an older wine and hope and it’s aged well, this one did not disappoint in any way. I was sad when I took the last sip, what a great bottle of wine. WS-91 CR-94 Great with prime rib, onion soup, chicken.
Orin Swift Cellars-The Prisoner-Red Blend-Napa Valley-California-2005-$34.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A smooth, full bodied delicious blend, red berries, blackberry, with spicy mouth feel, long finish, a great bottle of wine and sadly my last of this vintage. WS-93 (WS #17 on Top 100 2007) CR-95 Good with meats, chicken, pasta.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards-Insignia-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Petit Verdot-Napa Valley-California-1997-$120.00-A classic nose of dark fruit, still big nose even after being decanted and being 13 years old, dark purple amber in color. Black cherry, plum, currants, licorice and vanilla, an exceptional bottle of wine. RP-96 WS-97 WE-95 CR-96 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Bodegas Nieto Senetiner-Cadus-Single Vineyard-Cabernet Sauvignon-Mendoza-Argentina-2003-$22.22-A nose of dark fruit and some oak, dark purple in color. A smooth, full bodied Cab, black currants, blackberry, spice cake and molasses flavors, with a nice finish. Second time tried in last few months, consistent result. WE-90 WS-89 CR-91 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Linne Calodo-Problem Child-Zinfandel-Syrah-Mourvedre-Paso Robles-California-2006-$48.00-A nose of smoky dark fruit, dark black in color. A smooth, full bodied Rhone blend, raspberry, black berry, plum, smoke and spice, delicious. Linne Calodo is making some of the World’s best Rhone style blends. RP-91 WS-95 CR-94 Good with meats, chicken, pasta.
R Wines-Marquis Philips-9-Shiraz-McLaren Vale-Australia-2006-$29.99-A big nose of dark fruit and spice, black purple in color. A full, full bodied Shiraz, smooth, delicious, blackberry, blueberry, some chocolate, bacon smoke, good stuff. I have tried the last three vintages, one of my favorite wines. RP-92-95 WS-91 CR-93 Good with ribs, chicken, pasta.
Vinedos de Paganos-El Puntido-Rioja-Spain-2004-$45.00-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple black in color. A big full bodied red, black cherry, blackberries, plum, roasted meat, a delicious wine, decant for a couple hours. I have had the 2003 and now 2004, both were excellent. RP-90 WS-90 WE-96 CR-92 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Chateau Teyssier-Le Carre-Red Bordeaux Table Wine-Saint Emillion Grand Cru-France-2006-$45.99-A nose of dark fruit, deep purple in color, a smooth, medium bodied, very good considering it’s young to drink, black currants, cherries, licorice, a nice wine. RP-93 WS-90 WE-90 CR-92 Good with meats, chicken, pasta.
Fattoria Casa Di Terra-Terratico Di Bibbona-Poggio Querciolo-Italy-2006-$29.98-A nose of dark fruit and coffee, beautiful amber color. A smooth, full bodied blend, black and blueberries, nice use of oak, with a nice polished finish, a special wine. WS-93 CR-92 Good with meats, pasta, cheeses.
Tablas Creek Vineyard-Cotes de Tablas Blanc-Viognier-Roussanne-Marsanne-Grenache Blanc-Paso Robles-California-2008-$14.99-A bright nose of citrus, golden yellow in color. A smooth, medium to full bodied blend. Lemon zest, honey, peach, apple with a nice acidity and a long finish, a great value. I visited the winery a few years back in the Paso Robles area, there are allot of great wineries in that area. RP-91-93 WS-89 CR-90 Good with seafood, cheeses, salads.
Sarah’s Vineyards-Besson Vineyard-Syrah-Santa Clara Valley-California-2005-$17.77-A very interesting nose of spice and currants, big and bold, dark purple in color. A delicious Syrah, big, smooth, black currants, black cherries, a very complex wine with a long finish. Second time I have tried in the last few months, a very good wine. RP-90 CR-92 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Keesha Vineyards-Petite Sirah-Lodi-California-2008-$9.99-A big nose of dark fruit and cassis, purple black in color. A big full bodied, like syrup, blackberry, smooth, cassis, dark chocolate, a wine that has the body and taste of a $40 bottle. NR CR-91 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
Caldwell Vineyards-Varietal Collection-Syrah Rose-Napa Valley-California-2009-$25.00-A sweet nose of bright fruit, beautiful light rose color. I am not a Rose fan……now I am, at least for this one. Fresh strawberry, cherry, plum and cinnamon with the perfect acidity, flat out delicious. This was Caldwell’s first Rose, hard to top perfection, perfect for summer. I visited with John and Joy Caldwell earlier this year, great people, a must visit if your are visiting Napa. NR CR-91 Good with seafood, cheese, salads.
Altamura Vineyards & Winery-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2002-$65.00-A nose of dark fruit, a classic Cab aroma, dark amber in color. A smooth, delicious full bodied Cab, black currants, berries, chocolate, great mouth feel and long long finish. Decant for two hours, a classic wine. RP-92 WS-89 CR-93 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyard-Old Vine Zinfandel-Bacchi Vineyard-Russian River Valley-California-2006-$37.50-A nose of blackberry and spice, dark garnet in color. A full bodied, delicious Zin, blackberry, smoke, toast, some vanilla, a great tasting red. I really have enjoyed the St. Francis Reserve Zins over the years, they have a great tasting room. NR CR-92 Good with steak, chicken, pasta.
A. Faustini Wines-Beach House No 34-Sauvignon Blanc-Rutherford-California-2008-$30.00-A nose of crisp spicy citrus, straw in color. A smooth easy drinking white, lemon zest, grape fruit, minerals and a very long finish, has more weight than a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I was not a big fan of a Sauvignon Blanc, more of a Chardonnay fan for whites, but this was very enjoyable, seek it out. NR CR-91 Good with cheeses, seafood, salads.
Jean-Pierre Boisson-Chateauneuf Du Pape-Elisabeth Chambellan-Vieilles Vignes-France-2007-$21.99-A juicy nose of currants, medium ruby in color. I hate to admit, but this is the first full bottle of a CDP I have tried, mostly had sampled at a wine tasting event, but with the recession these are now affordable. A delicate, smooth, red currants, minerals, light pepper, vanilla, very good. NR CR-91 Good alone or with chicken, Chinese food, salads.
Three Loose Screws-Mia’s Playground-Chardonnay-Russian River Valley-California-2008-$12.99-A nose of bright fruit and spice, golden yellow in color. A smooth full bodied Chard, pineapple, peach, with a creamy oaky but not over the top finish. A very good QPR, drinks like a wine twice it’s price. NR CR-90 Good with chicken, cheeses, salads.
Barossa Valley Estate Limited-E & E-Black Pepper-Shiraz-Barossa Valley-Australia-1998-$80.00-A elegant nose of dark fruit and spice, very dark purple in color. Had dinner with good friends who brought this beauty, smooth mix of blackberry, blueberry, plum, cedar and even after being 12 years old had a 30 second finish. It’s always intriguing when you get to open and enjoy a older classic, highly rated wine that due to proper cellaring delivers a memorable experience. WS-95 (WS- Highly Recommended) CR-94 Great with pasta, veal, chicken.
Montirius-Gigondas-Terre Des Aines-Grenache-Mourvedre-France-2005-$22.22-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A smooth full bodied rich blend, blueberry, plum, fig, crushed rocks and spiced cola, a enjoyable wine. WS-91 WE-90 CR-91 Good with meats, chicken, pasta.
Bodegas Emilio Moro-Ribera Del Duero-Red Table Wine-Spain-2006-$19.99-A nose of dark fruit and smoke, dark black in color. A full bodied, smooch, a rich blend, black cherry, blackberry, with a vanilla and spice finish, a very good QPR. I have tried the 04, 05 and now 2006 all have been very good. RP-92 WS-91 WE-87 CR-90 Good with ribs, chicken, pasta.
Yates Family Vineyard-Fleur De Veeder-Merlot-Napa Redwoods Estate-Mount Veeder-California-$33.95-A nose of sweet dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A full bodied, delicious Merlot, yes it’s a Merlot, 100%, cassis, raspberry, velvet favors, mocha, a very long finish. WE-88 CR-92 Good with meats, chicken, pasta.
2010 
