USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Cab Franc purist rejoice, this is right on for a CF. May not be a crowd pleasure but wine geeks will appreciate the fresh green bell pepper and spice jalapeño nose and palate.
Winner winner! Beautiful dark golden color. There's a thread of musk and clover spice throughout the palate. This wine has everything, acid, weight, balance. Killer.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Gregg graciously filled my glass for me as I was stranded behind the grill with nothing to drink. Very dark, concentrated, ripe dark plum. Thick on the palate. Big wine. Very tasty.
I couldn't tell a difference between the La Cote and Bloom and they were the first two wines I tasted for the day. I did them side by side. Very reserve fruit profile, oak and/or stem dominate at this point. Needs 3 more years and will be an AFWE favorite, no question.
I couldn't tell a difference between the La Cote and Bloom and they were the first two wines I tasted for the day. I did them side by side. Very reserve fruit profile, oak and/or stem dominate at this point. Needs 3 more years and will be an AFWE favorite, no question.
I was walking Mike through the chardonnay scale and looking for something with more weight and malo influence. This fit the bill with a creamier and heavier mouthfeel than the leaner chards. It is by no means over the top, aka cougar juice, just a fuller chardonnay with broader shoulders.
Wow, this is a nice Nebbiolo. You'd never guess california. This needs time in the cellar and has the structure to easily age. Saving this for a pasta night, no doubt. Excellent effort.
OK, true confessions. I never really enjoyed the early vintages of this wine. Rhys is obviously doing something special with this vineyard. The nose on this wine is RIDICULOUS. Soft mouthfeel. I'm not even going to speculate on the drinking window. It's great now with air.
Don't open this, the tannins will ripe your tongue to pieces. I love this wine, might be WOTN, and I'm not a cab guy. It has everything. Blue and black fruit, huge structure, good acid, huge finish. Special.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
This was a barrel sample I lifted and took home, guess I'll return the lab bottle to Larry next time I see him. Disclosure: this is our house rosé for the last 3 years, it's great.
As with the last vintage, palate is dominated by fresh cut peaches. Nice earth mid palate, not sweet like a great rhone rosé. Delicious. We'll be ordering some as soon as he gets it into bottle.
2010 Bailiwick Wines Cabernet Franc
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Cab Franc purist rejoice, this is right on for a CF. May not be a crowd pleasure but wine geeks will appreciate the fresh green bell pepper and spice jalapeño nose and palate.
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2012 Bailiwick Wines Pinot Noir Borderline
USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Marin County
I quickly ran through the '12 PN line up with the winemaker. All of them are terrific and this one had just a little something extra. Great QPR
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2012 Big Basin Vineyards Roussanne Homestead Block
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Winner winner! Beautiful dark golden color. There's a thread of musk and clover spice throughout the palate. This wine has everything, acid, weight, balance. Killer.
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2008 Arcadian Syrah Hommage à Max
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Just grabbed a quick taste before I was pulled away. I thought this was excellent.
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2010 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Gregg graciously filled my glass for me as I was stranded behind the grill with nothing to drink. Very dark, concentrated, ripe dark plum. Thick on the palate. Big wine. Very tasty.
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2012 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Of the three '12 this showed slightly riper and dark but still reserve by typical SRH standards. Drink well right now.
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2012 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Bloom's Field
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
I couldn't tell a difference between the La Cote and Bloom and they were the first two wines I tasted for the day. I did them side by side. Very reserve fruit profile, oak and/or stem dominate at this point. Needs 3 more years and will be an AFWE favorite, no question.
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2012 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir La Côte
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
I couldn't tell a difference between the La Cote and Bloom and they were the first two wines I tasted for the day. I did them side by side. Very reserve fruit profile, oak and/or stem dominate at this point. Needs 3 more years and will be an AFWE favorite, no question.
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2012 Dunstan Chardonnay Durell Vineyard
USA, California, Sonoma County
I was walking Mike through the chardonnay scale and looking for something with more weight and malo influence. This fit the bill with a creamier and heavier mouthfeel than the leaner chards. It is by no means over the top, aka cougar juice, just a fuller chardonnay with broader shoulders.
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2013 Harrington Lagrein Berardo Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Very dark, reminds me of a dolcetto. This is approachable right now. I have a bottle of this and will spend more time with it later.
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2013 Harrington Nebbiolo
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Wow, this is a nice Nebbiolo. You'd never guess california. This needs time in the cellar and has the structure to easily age. Saving this for a pasta night, no doubt. Excellent effort.
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2013 Poe Wines Chardonnay Ferrington Vineyard
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Another excellent effort, this is always one of my favorite Chardonnays. Super clean.
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2013 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
OK, true confessions. I never really enjoyed the early vintages of this wine. Rhys is obviously doing something special with this vineyard. The nose on this wine is RIDICULOUS. Soft mouthfeel. I'm not even going to speculate on the drinking window. It's great now with air.
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2012 Riverain Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Another winner here, awesome. Classic Napa cab with big structure wrapped with cassis.
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2012 Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Don't open this, the tannins will ripe your tongue to pieces. I love this wine, might be WOTN, and I'm not a cab guy. It has everything. Blue and black fruit, huge structure, good acid, huge finish. Special.
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2002 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Fun to try a TC with some age on it. I really enjoyed this with the berries notes blending in with the very soft tannins. Drink now.
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2014 Tercero Mourvèdre Rosé Vogelzang Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
This was a barrel sample I lifted and took home, guess I'll return the lab bottle to Larry next time I see him. Disclosure: this is our house rosé for the last 3 years, it's great.
As with the last vintage, palate is dominated by fresh cut peaches. Nice earth mid palate, not sweet like a great rhone rosé. Delicious. We'll be ordering some as soon as he gets it into bottle.
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