2006 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is one of the best values in Syrah.  It is also one of the best Syrahs.  it ages so beautifully, it is a pleasure to drink one at age 18.  Perfectly mature but not showing any age.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is great with black raspberries, a hint of barnyard, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Lovely texture.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Long finish.  great on its own but perfect with dinner.  It will work with most fowl, meats or pork.  It raised a veggies

2013 Boars' View Pinot Noir The Coast, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$149.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from the folks who make Schrader.  14.5% abv.  Ruby in color, darker at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, and spice with a nice earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with some spice.  This is a huge Pinot with tons of fruit.  Some may find that off putting while others may finally have found a Pinot they love.  It drinks great on its own and will pair for food similar to a Napa Cab (i.e steak, etc.)  Drink over the next ten years.  

2021 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is 93% Zinfandel and 7% Syrah from Sonoma County.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight plums, an interesting note of menthol, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is juicy and delicious.  Black cherries with spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It is nice on its own and will work well with grilled meats and veggies.  Drink over the next seven to ten years. 

2022 Desire Lines Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Fountain Grove District, Wine review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

First time trying this winery.  Tasted over two days, it was significantly more open (and better) on day 2.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Lemons, floral notes, citrus and herbs.  Medium bodied.  Some minerality.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, lemons with slight orange and a slight minerals note.  Good finish.  As Sauvignon Blancs go, this is heavy and present.  Not a light, easy going aperitif.  Good on its own, this would be better with some food.  It would be nice with Tuna Steak with a Chimichurri Sauce.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Three Sticks 2021 Pinot Noir, Gap’s Crown Vineyard

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

One sip and you realize this is a different kind of Pinot Noir than the norm. If you know Sonoma Coast Pinot’s, they all have a rustic quality to them; a brambly component that sets them apart from the overt fruity Pinot, and this is a good thing. This certainly offers red raspberry and wild cherry, touches of huckleberry and gooseberry, but it is that resin/bramble/wild berry note that makes this a unique and fun wine. Certainly this wine is not for everyone, the acidity is higher than most Pinot’s, but it immediately begs for food.

Three Sticks Pinot Noir, Sonoma Ciast

NV Piper Sonoma Brut Rosé, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a blend of 61% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 6% Pinot Blanc.  Light golden in color with slight salmon pink hues.  A nice mousse with lots of small bubbles.  Nice nose with strawberries, cranberries, slight citrus and a whiff of smoke.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, nice minerality with light cherries and some orange citrus.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but seems a bit tight.  It took a couple of hours to open, so if serving, give it an hour or so to breathe.  It is very food friendly and would be great with duck or turkey.  A really nice value a

NV Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blancs, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This California Sparkling wine is made in the Methode Traditionelle way.  Interestingly, it is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Blanc.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  There is a nice mousse with small-ish bubbles.  On the nose, it has baked bread (Brioche?) along with a touch of lemon.  With air, some green apple scents emerge.  Medium bodied with excellent acidity.  The palate is more about minerality but also has some citrus.  Long finish that has a bitter almond (in a good way) note.  This is drinking well and should continue for another five years.  Very food friendly,

NV Piper Sonoma Brut, USA, California, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a blend of Chardonnay (56%), Pinot Noir (37%) and Pinot Blanc (7%).  Golden in color with some faded pink hues.  A nice mousse with small bubbles.  On the nose there is some strawberries, minerals, slight green apples and slight yeast.  Full bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, lots of minerality with cherries and green apples.  Long finish.  This is quite tasty now and should drink well for another five to seven years.  Very food friendly, this would work with most foods.  It was lovely with fried appetizers.  At $23, this is an excellent value and will be a great addition to

Rodney Strong 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve, Russian River Valley

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

A plush wine, this is a rather decadent Pinot Noir, offering Rainer cherry, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, a slight earthiness as well as light vanilla, campfire smoke and pomegranate. The acidity keeps the bright fruit balanced and the light touches of oak influence (14 months in French oak of which just over half was new) creates a velvety easy drinking smooth wine. Some wines are built for deconstructing and some wines and made for the pure enjoyment of drinking them, and the latter is the case here. ORIGIN: Sonoma, Russian River Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

2016 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

Way back at the end of the prior century, the 1996 version was the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year.  Now, 25 years later and no one really seems to care anymore.  The truth is this is an excellent wine.  A proprietary blend, I am told this is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, soy sauce and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis with some forest floor and spice.  This is a "cooler" climate wine that got per

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