CA Reds

Everything here was QUITE approachable!

• 2014 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  N: Red rasps & toast atop pyrazines; A touch jammy?
  
  P: MF body, almost swtish entry; Lingers nicely though just a touch faintly. There's a note of bitterness, though it's NOT a negative. Delish now, I can see it improving. 91 pts from the WS, 92 pts & an Editors' Choice from WE, & 94 pts from the Pinot Report. My score reflects the QPR of this vendor's $31.95 [a tasting "special"?].

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• 2012 The Hess Collection 19 Block Mountain Cuvée 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  N: Some jam, a bit closed? Pyrazines also there?
  
  P: MF body; Choc covered berries on entry with fine, dusty tannins on the finish. A seamless, lovely style that emphasizes elegance rather than brute force. Should shine with food! 60% Malbec, 30% CS, & 10% Syrah, the WA giving it 93 pts. My score reflects the QPR of this vendor's $20.95.

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• 2013 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot Carneros

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  N: On the closed side; Some jam, choc?
  
  P: MF body; RIPE, swtish entry, the sensation extending through to the VERY long finish. (Interestingly, some mid palate bitterness is GONE by the finish.) A plump, relatively low acid style that while not MY druthers, did pull down 90s from Wilfred Wong & the WS.

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• 2015 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  N: Bright, fragrant, tough to parse, though with a floral component?
  
  P: Med body; NICE fruit with EXCEPTIONAL balance & decent length. While possibly not a keeper*, this shows wonderful elegance for the price, a $16.95 tasting "special"? 90-92 pts from WA a couple of months back. *This is sooooooooo OBVIOUSLY "young" with its fruit that I truly don't know WHAT to predict re its ageability.

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• 2012 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo

  USA, California

  N: Fairly closed, but intensity lurking? Jammy?
  
  P: F body; Ripe, lingering albeit somewhat faint finish. While BIG, this is NOT clumsy, & it has the acidity for full-flavored cuisine. 90 pts WA, 88 pts WS?

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• 2014 Melville Syrah Estate

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  N: Green beans morphing into generic pyrazines atop berries & toast
  
  P: Med body; Blue/boyesenberry jam which is almost swtish yet with tangy acidity; Firming acidity on the long finish. While nice now, it seems a bit disjointed -- & is almost certain to improve. 95 pts from WA, 93 pts from Vinous.

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