Red Wine

May 082013
 
2010 Buena Vista Winery Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA, $16 (S) – Rating 89

Very easy drinking and immediately approachable. Excellent restaurant choice…good price…no decanting required. A rich nose of black cherry, dark spice and dark chocolate. A jammy mouth-feel but interestingly lean on the finish with soft tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors of cherry and plum with a bit of raspberry and spice with espresso on the finish. Buy This Wine

May 082013
 
2012 Solaro Estate Reserve Tempranillo , Texas High Plains, Texas, $38 (S) – Rating 90

An excellent example of Texas Tempranillo. Medium-bodied with mouth-watering acidity. I’m talkin’ BBQ food pairing. An impressive nose of dark cherry and camp smoke with notes of tobacco. Flavors of dark cherry, ripe raspberry with hints of dark cola and tobacco box. Soft tannins with black cherry on the long finish. Buy This Wine

May 012013
 
2008 Ceja Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, $50 (S) – Rating 91

Very approachable with just a short decant. The nose entices with notes of dark cherry, plum, blueberry and dark spice with hints of leather. A full mouth-feel with balanced tannins offering flavors of cherry, blackberry and dark spice with espresso in the long finish. Good acidity for pairing with a grilled steak. Buy This Wine

May 012013
 
2010 V. Sattui Winery Reserve Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, Ca, $49 (S) – Rating 91

From 4 unique blocks in the Henry Ranch Vineyard on the Napa side of Carneros. Only 158 cases made. A robust nose of black cherry, spice and leather with just a hint of coca. Leaner than many Carneros Pinots with balanced acidity and supple tannins. Flavors of black cherry, plum, cassis, and dark spice with subtle tobacco notes on the long finish. Buy This Wine

Apr 222013
 
2010 Wine Guerrilla Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel, Block E44, Sonoma Valley, CA, $40 (S) – Rating 90

A monster fruity Zinfandel with just the right touch of acidity for food pairing. It paired beautifully with a charcoal grilled flat-iron streak. A robust nose of black fruit, blackberry, plum and boysenberry with a hint of spice. Big flavors of black cherry, boysenberry, blackberry and dark spice with a soft tannin structure. Notes of espresso in the long finish. Give it about an hour to fully open. Buy This Wine

Apr 182013
 
2009 Buena Vista Winery Pinot Noir, Carneros, CA, $25 (S) – Rating 89

An excellent value Pinot Noir with a rich, round and soft texture. A bouquet of red plum and raspberry with notes of herb and espresso. Soft tannins with flavors of red berry fruit, plum raspberry and ripe strawberry. An intriguing franco-earthiness in the finish. Buy This Wine

Apr 162013
 
2011 Masút Vineyard and Winery Block 13 Pinot Noir, Mendocino County, CA, $55 (S) – Rating 91

Part of the winery’s select Block Series, Block 13 sits alone on the northwest side of the property. This attention worthy Pinot offers up layered aromas of cherry, plum, raspberry and saddle leather. Highlighted by soft tannins and food pairing acidity, flavors abound of bing cherry, raspberry and dark plum with notes of forest floor and leather in the finish. Buy This Wine

Apr 162013
 
2011 Masút Vineyard and Winery Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mendocino County, CA, $40 (S) – Rating 91

Named a “Wineries to watch in 2013” by the Press Democrat, this complex Pinot is one of the reasons why. Produced from Estate fruit, Dijon Pinot Noir clones 113, 115 and 777, aged 11 months in French oak (35% new) and bottled unfined and unfiltered. A charmingly rustic and briary nose of dark cherries is the prelude to deep flavors of dark cherry, ripe raspberry and notes of campfire smoke with hints of chocolate in the long finish. Buy This Wine

Apr 162013
 
2009 Castello di Amorosa Napa Valley Sangiovese, Napa Valley, CA, $30 (S) – Rating 89

The rustic nose of cherry, leather and briar brings back thoughts of the amazing Castello di Amorosa itself. A blend of 90% estate Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. Medium-bodied with plenty of juicy acidity and firm tannins. Flavors of red cherry, dark spice and raspberry with hints of chocolate on the finish. Be patient…It takes a while for this Sangio to fully open. Buy This Wine

Apr 042013
 
2010 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, $72 (S) – Rating 93

It would be nice sometimes to just review a wine as Delicious… This Cabernet is Delicious! An expressive nose of dark cherry, ripe plum with subtle notes of chocolate and leather. Soft to moderate tannins with beautifully balanced acidity. Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, dark fruit, vanilla and spice with hints of leather. Pleasant notes of cocoa become more pronounced on the finish, as the wine opens. Buy This Wine