| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block MalbecLake County more |
10/7/2023 - deadlyapp Likes this wine: 89 pointsCame in expecting very little and left pretty pleased. Completely opaque in the glass. Not much for legs. A bit tarry, currant, dried cranberry, crushed herbs on the nose. Fruit forward, with some tartness. Cranberry, lightly candied cherries, currant, black pepper, a bit of the tar. Definitely can tell its California grapes but feels and is made a lot like a left bank Bordeaux imo. |
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block MalbecLake County more |
11/20/2022 - costacasa wrote: 87 pointsPleasantly surprised with this wine. More like a malbec from Argentina--dark fruits, smooth, no tartness, enough acidity to be a food friendly wine, but also very enjoyable on its own. A great deal at around $10. |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block ZinfandelLake County more |
7/2/2022 - @Yimberlik Likes this wine: 85 pointsMy first bottle of this left me unimpressed, but this second attempt is much more to my liking. Although it has fast legs, it's enjoyable with a decent length. I get blackberry and fig on the nose, with a hint of toast and cinnamon. The finish lingers with white pepper and tobacco. Not my all-time favorite Zin, but it'll do, Pig. |
| White |
2009 Writer's Block RoussanneLake County more |
6/28/2021 - whudock Likes this wine: 90 pointsa bit beyond its peak, but after opening up still shined brightly. |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block Cabernet SauvignonLake County more |
9/12/2020 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 91 pointsMedium ruby color with slow legs. Nose of cassis, blackberry and light oak. Plum and black tea on the palate. Long leathery finish. Excellent QPR. |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block Cabernet FrancLake County more |
2/15/2020 - Neecies Does not like this wine: NRIn-store tasting. Has plenty of dark red fruit, but there's a woody, cedar-y note in this wine's aroma that polarized the crowd, and a something on the finish that reminded us of mimeograph ink. Not appealing. |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block ZinfandelLake County more |
2/2/2020 - sfwinelover1 wrote: 88 pointsFrom ZAP. Big nose with dark fruit, wet earth and some florals. Consistent on the palate with blackberries, cherries, and plums. Purplish black, medium to full-bodied, thick legs. Light tannnins and acidity, good persistence, no heat despite 15%+ abv. Easy drinking wine with nice zin typicity. A little less interesting than the Elyse I just wrote a TN for, but hey, it's 40% the price, which to me, brings up the zin conundrum in a nutshell: the difference between a pretty good cab and a really good one can feel life changing, the difference between a pretty good and a very good zin feels more like shoulder shrugging (albeit it's more forgivable with a zin, since the really good zin is more likely to be priced around $50, while the really good cab will be $150+), so spending the additional money on the zin seems marginal in many instances. Good qpr. Drink in the next couple-few years. |
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block MalbecLake County more |
1/19/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsDeep ruby color. Fresh and inviting nose, with red plums, raspberries, black cherries, along with barbecue sauce, black pepper, anise and sweet tea. Smooth and velvety on the palate, fresh acidity, fun black cherry and raspberry jam fruit. Charcoal, cola, coffee, mint and vanilla elements blend together well. Ripe and juicy, but lovely freshness as well. Aged 12 months in 15% new American and Hungarian oak. |
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block SyrahLake County more |
1/5/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsBright purple color. This wine pops with aromas of spicy pepper, mesquite grill, saddle leather, with black cherries and blueberries. Velvety tannins on the palate, this is smooth and quite refreshing, with lively acidity. Plummy, blueberry fruit, mixed with a good dose of black olives, savory grilling spices, coffee and black tea. This is fresh and fun, but shows a lot of complexity and depth. Solid value Syrah here from Steele. From Cana Springs Vineyard in Lake County, this is aged 12 months in 15% new French, American and Hungarian oak. |
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block Pinot NoirLake County more |
12/16/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 pointsBlind California Pinot Noirs: Aromas of spicy strawberries and raspberries, with pepper, cola, rose hips, leather and earth. Medium-bodied with silky tannins and a fresh, zippy appeal. Sweet cherries and raspberry jam mixes well with nuanced notes of cola, pepper, roses, bay leaf. Has a lot of fun spice and herbal tones to accent the fruit. Ready to drink, but a lot going on. Aged 12 months in 10% new French oak. |
| Red |
2017 Writer's Block Cabernet FrancLake County more |
12/6/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 pointsSome California samples: Medium ruby color. The nose shows tangy cherries, strawberries, red currants, along with inviting, spicy elements of tobacco, black olive, violets – really nice. Medium/full-bodied but poised with velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Tangy black cherries and red currants, blended with violets, clove, pepper, olive. Rounded, nuanced, accessible, yet a lot of complexity for a wine at this price point. Sourced from Shannon Ridge Vineyards in High Valley, aged 15 months in hybrid French and American oak barrels. |
| White |
2011 Writer's Block Sémillon Old Vine Single EstateHunter Valley more |
8/10/2019 - sjw_11 wrote: 90 pointsVery hard to rate right now. Despite being 8 years old this is almost unbearably youthful. Still very pale and flecked with green. Sure there is a touch of citrus and toast on the nose, but the palate still has lashings of searing acidity. Quite sharp and angular. I suspect this will outlive us all. If it comes together this will be a legend. |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block MalbecLake County more |
9/22/2018 - gkpaoli wrote: NRBlack pepper, acid comes through too strongly for me |
| Red |
2010 Writer's Block ZinfandelLake County more |
1/21/2019 - kenlotterman wrote: 93 pointsSimply amazing. Dark dark stewed prune with cedar and black pepper |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block ZinfandelLake County more |
12/9/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 pointsRandom wines: Bright purple color. Juicy and plummy on the nose with raspberries and black cherries, topped in spicy tobacco, black pepper, roses, rhubarb. Juicy and approachable on the palate with light tannins and fresh acidity, and a nice mix of tangy raspberries, plums and black cherries. Smoky, tar, tobacco and floral tones mixed in nicely. Vibrant and fresh but fruity and fun. Aged 12 months in 15% new oak. |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block Cabernet FrancLake County more |
11/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 pointsBunch of samples: Deep ruby, light purple. Smells of sweet plums and red and black cherries, with cola, clove and black pepper, some violets and earth. Fleshy and velvety but stays fresh, a nice mix of juicy, tangy, red and black cherries and plums, backed up by notes of cedar, cola, coffee, and some black pepper and earth. Fun, pleasant, shows some complexity at the price point. |
| White |
2008 Writer's Block RoussanneLake County more |
10/4/2015 - agodea Likes this wine: 88 pointsJuniper and campfire, smokey nose, full bodied, chewy flavor. Excellent campfire wine. 13.5% |
| Red |
2016 Writer's Block Pinot NoirLake County more |
7/31/2018 - Gruner40 Does not like this wine: 83 pointsBig fan of the Steele Cab Franc so thought would give it a try. Very disappointing. Maybe the lightest Pinot I have tasted. Was almost like flavored water. Will stick to trying the Steele label wines- not impressed with the writer block series based on this wine. |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block Cabernet SauvignonLake County more |
4/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 pointsWriter's Block Wines: Light purple color. Nose shows crushed currants, tangy plums, along with eucalyptus, tobacco, cedar — lovely aromas. Medium-bodied with surprisingly structured tannins and medium acidity, the wine shows flesh and grip. Plums and currants mixed with tobacco, eucalyptus, violet petals, scorched earth and cocoa. So good for the money, and this can actually age for a few years. Lovely. Sourced from two vineyards in the Clear Lake AVA, and one in Red Hills. |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block SyrahLake County more |
4/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 pointsWriter's Block Wines: Deep ruby, light purple color. A burst of smoky mesquite, black pepper and earth on the nose, along with tart black currants and plums. Full-bodied but fresh with lively acidity and dusty tannins, all woven together nicely. Black cherries and blackberry, laced with cocoa, mesquite, black pepper and violets. Not super deep, but — wow! — this Syrah packs a lot for the price. Sourced from the Cana Springs Vineyard on an eastern slope of the Mayacamas, this wine sees 12 months in 15% new French and Hungarian oak. |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block GrenacheLake County more |
4/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsWriter's Block Wines: Medium ruby color. Aromas of juicy cherries, raspberries and plums along with smoky herbs, rose petals, red apple peel, and cinnamon spice. Medium+ bodied with easy tannins and medium acidity, this is an accessible wine, but not simple. Roasted herbs, tobacco, roses, coffee, this is easy-drinking and fun but shows complexity. All Grenache aged 11 months in French and Hungarian oak, 15% new. |
| White |
2016 Writer's Block RoussanneLake County more |
4/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 pointsWriter's Block Wines: Light gold color. Bright aromas of apricot, nectarine, lime, a brighter aromatic approach than I usually get from this grape, but also some nougat, honeyed tea, chalk dust elements. Rich texture on the palate, this is a creamy but zesty and crisp wine. Apricots, green apples and pears, nectarine, topped in raw almond, honey, chalk dust and white tea. Delicious but also complex and a steal at this price. The freshness of this wine is crazy when compared with so many honeyed, oily California Roussannes (many of which I love), but this is a very crisp example. Sourced exclusively from Las Lomas vineyard, which sits in sandy soils at 1,500+ feet elevation. The wine is aged nine months in oak, 20% new. |
| Red |
2012 Writer's Block Petite SirahLake County more |
4/3/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote: NRDoesn't tastes like Petite. But my teeth were just cleaned so maybe my palate is off. You think? |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block Pinot NoirLake County more |
12/8/2017 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 89 pointsDark cherry red color; aromatic, savory, raspberry, spice, French vanilla nose; tasty, juicy, raspberry, black cherry, spice, vanilla palate with good balancing acidity; medium-plus finish (13.5% alcohol; composition disk cork; good value at $17) |
| Red |
2015 Writer's Block ZinfandelLake County more |
12/18/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsA Few California Samples: Deep ruby color. Aromas are deep and lush with black cherries, raspberries, plum cake, along with cedar, espresso and cola. Chewy texture on the palate with significant tannins and medium-low acidity, and flavors of black cherries and currant jam. Notes of cocoa powder, coffee, asphalt, pencil lead, violets, black pepper glaze. So delish, impressive depth and structure for a wine at this price point. From old vines in the Duncan-Shine Vineyard, this wine is aged 12 months in 15% new French, American and Hungarian oak. |
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- Tasting notes: 126 notes on 67 wines
