Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2015 Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Road, USA, California, Napa, Mt. Veeder, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

Inky purple, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful and concentrated with cassis, spice, cedar and slight char.  Semi-lush texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has cassis, chocolate, slight chalky note (which is interesting) along with some forest floor notes and a touch of char.  Long finish.  This seems to be drinking well now and although it likely won't improve, should drink at peak for another ten to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, this should work well with many dishes (except sea food).  It would be nice with Cassoulet.  

2019 Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely and a bit concentrated.  Cassis, chocolate, fresh tobacco, and just a hint of fresh herbs (Marjoram?).  Silky, almost chalky texture which is very nice.  Firm tannins.  Good energy.  On the palate, cassis and very concentrated.  It's not that its not a big wine, but at the moment it is very tight.  If drinking soon, give it plenty of air.  It is delicious.  Long finish.  This needs another five years (or more) of cellaring and should drink well for another fifteen to twenty after that.  It is better on its own right now but with s

2021 Boich Family Cellar Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Silvery/gold in color, slightly cloudy but still bright.  The nose is nice with lemon cream and slight vanilla notes and just a hint of char.  Enough acidity to carry the structure.  On the palate, lemons, slight lemon cream with spice/oak.  Good finish.  This could use some more cellaring although it is drinking well now.  Hold for a few years and patience will be rewarded (and the score will rise a couple of points).  It is not overblown but a Chard for those who like a bit more round edges.  It is lovely on its own and would work well with many foods including most seafoods.  It would be

2021 Carlisle The Derivative White, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

While this is good every year (and I don't know if it is always the same blend), this vintage might be the best yet.  According to the web site, it appears that it is a blend of mostly Semillon from Rossi Ranch with some Muscadelle from Pagani vineyard.  Light to medium yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose  is great with slight tropical fruit (Pineapple and Guava?) along with slight almonds and a bit of minerality.  Medium bodied.

Sea Smoke 2021 Pinot Noir, Southing

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

This Pinot Noir drinks like Santa Barbara with a little bit of Oregon. The cool climate of the Santa Rita Hills allows for the development of pomegranate, rhubarb, black cherry, and green and black tea leaves, while its earthiness and minerality are the best attributes of Oregon Pinot Noir. Here the Southing, which has matured greatly over the years, stands apart of the run of the mill Pinot Noir. If you’ve ever been to Santa Barbara you can see the layer of clouds that hug the mountains like a blanket. Underneath that blanket are the Sea Smoke vineyards that were planted 25 years ago.

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Papera Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

 This is a field blend of mostly Zinfandel but also a large amount of Carignan, Valdigue, and Putzscheere (aka Green Hungarian).  This is one of my favorite Zinfandel vineyards for the texture of the wines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, spice, bramble and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Great energy and balance.  Plush, vibrant texture.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of black raspberries and black cherries with spice and char.  Long finish.  This is still young but drinking well.  Drink over the

2018 Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$152.00USD

This is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc from Howell Mountain in Napa.  Inky purple in color, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is very concentrated.  It opens in the glass over time to show cassis, black cherries, and slight blueberries with tobacco, char and spice.  Long finish.  This needs a bit more time or air, but should drink well for the next twenty years.  Great on its own but a bit better with big food righ

2021 Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon Social Currency, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A

Decanted for four hours prior to serving.  This is Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder and St. Helena.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, slight cedar, coffee beans, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, there is cassis, chocolate, coffee and char.  Long finish.  The longer decant made this wine much better than a prior bottle.  This is a twenty year wine so don't be afraid to give it lost of air if opening in the next few years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with roasted meats, fowl or veggies.  

2018 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$250.00USD

Inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose deep. Cassis, graphite, leather, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.   Great balance.  On the palate, this complex and delicious.  Flavors of cassis, some black cherries, graphite, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but will improve.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with meat or fowl or roasted veggies.

Pages