A blend of their 3D, Machado, Acin, & Hapgood Vyds, ea lot being handled uniformly but separately; Whole cluster pressed with only neutral barrels employed; "We don’t promote or prohibit malolactic fermentation, allowing wine to be in balance, bright, & elegant." 14% ABV
N: Smoky oak & asparagus, poss with a hint of mercaptans?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish oak/frt VERY nicely balanced by acidity, leading into a LONG, VERY slightly tangy/swt finish. P currently *much* better than the N. 95 pts Dunnuck, 92 ea WA & Vinous (Galloni), and 91 WE (12/31/17) @ $40. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows numerous sources from $30-$36].
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish oak/frt met by firming acidity. Fairly LONG, somewhat oakily harsh finish. Perhaps best to drink up 'fore the oak TOTALLY dominates? [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $21].
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt, nicely balanced by acidity, which morphs into a LONG, pleasant finish. DECENTLY done in its style, which I saw someone liken to a late harvest Alsatian Pinot Gris. 87 (2x), 86, & 85 pts winealign.com . [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows multiple sources @ $14-$26].
Addendum: Also tasted on 11/18/17 + 4/14 & 12/23/18
P: LM body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt firmed by a TOUCH of bitterish astringency. Fairly LONG (albeit slightly faint), bitterswt finish. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this vintage].
P: LM, poss Lt, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the fairly LONG, very slightly bitter, almost swtish finish. For now & through '19. 91 pts Decanter (Panel, 2/19/18) & 16/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming, 9/28/18). [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $19.99]
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
N: Wild straws?
P: LM body; Almost swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which only somewhat resolves by the LONG, slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr or 2, & if the frt holds, could be VERY interesting. 14.7% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this vintage].
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, ult almost swtish finish. NEEDS/deserves 2 yrs, I'm guessing. 14.1% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $24].
P: Med, poss MF, body; Decent, almost swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which almost TOTALLY irons itself out by the LONG, spicy finish. Approachable now, this probably still DESERVES cellaring into '19. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $42].
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) balanced by acidity. LONG, swtish finish. Reasonable, I guess, for its flirting with R.S. niche, though @ the tasted $16.99 one IS paying primarily for the bottle, as opposed to the poor QPR wine inside. For now & through '18, poss early '19? 14.7% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $8 & $11].
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) met by balancing acidity; LONG, almost milk chocolatey finish. For now & poss into '19 -- IF one enjoys reds that clearly at least BORDER on R.S. 14.5% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this bottling].
2015 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
A bit too cold
A blend of their 3D, Machado, Acin, & Hapgood Vyds, ea lot being handled uniformly but separately; Whole cluster pressed with only neutral barrels employed; "We don’t promote or prohibit malolactic fermentation, allowing wine to be in balance, bright, & elegant." 14% ABV
N: Smoky oak & asparagus, poss with a hint of mercaptans?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish oak/frt VERY nicely balanced by acidity, leading into a LONG, VERY slightly tangy/swt finish. P currently *much* better than the N. 95 pts Dunnuck, 92 ea WA & Vinous (Galloni), and 91 WE (12/31/17) @ $40. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows numerous sources from $30-$36].
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2016 Field Recordings Wine Chardonnay Wonderwall
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
A bit too cold
N: Toasty vanilla with lemons underneath?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish oak/frt met by firming acidity. Fairly LONG, somewhat oakily harsh finish. Perhaps best to drink up 'fore the oak TOTALLY dominates? [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $21].
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2015 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Silver Unoaked
USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
A bit too cold
N: Toasty, lemony
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt, nicely balanced by acidity, which morphs into a LONG, pleasant finish. DECENTLY done in its style, which I saw someone liken to a late harvest Alsatian Pinot Gris. 87 (2x), 86, & 85 pts winealign.com . [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows multiple sources @ $14-$26].
Addendum: Also tasted on 11/18/17 + 4/14 & 12/23/18
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2016 Richvale Wine Co. Pool Party
USA, California, Central Coast
A bit too cold
Supposedly 80% Grenache & 20% Mourvedre; 11.6% ABV
N: Grapey, with SOME minerals?
P: LM body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt firmed by a TOUCH of bitterish astringency. Fairly LONG (albeit slightly faint), bitterswt finish. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this vintage].
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2016 Field Recordings Wine Pinot Noir Wonderwall
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
N: Berries with some Central Coast char
P: LM, poss Lt, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the fairly LONG, very slightly bitter, almost swtish finish. For now & through '19. 91 pts Decanter (Panel, 2/19/18) & 16/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming, 9/28/18). [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $19.99]
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2015 Last Summer Grenache
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
N: Wild straws?
P: LM body; Almost swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which only somewhat resolves by the LONG, slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr or 2, & if the frt holds, could be VERY interesting. 14.7% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this vintage].
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2015 The Fableist Wine Company Merlot #395
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
N: Slightly closed, but seems ripe, smoky
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, ult almost swtish finish. NEEDS/deserves 2 yrs, I'm guessing. 14.1% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $24].
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2013 Hearthstone Vineyards and Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
N: Toasty, smoky berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; Decent, almost swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which almost TOTALLY irons itself out by the LONG, spicy finish. Approachable now, this probably still DESERVES cellaring into '19. [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $42].
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2015 Seven Kingdoms Wines Game of Thrones
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
N: RIPE, smoky berries
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) balanced by acidity. LONG, swtish finish. Reasonable, I guess, for its flirting with R.S. niche, though @ the tasted $16.99 one IS paying primarily for the bottle, as opposed to the poor QPR wine inside. For now & through '18, poss early '19? 14.7% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $8 & $11].
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NV Austin Hope Troublemaker Red Blend 11
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
N: Ripe, earthy, jammy
P: Med body; ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) met by balancing acidity; LONG, almost milk chocolatey finish. For now & poss into '19 -- IF one enjoys reds that clearly at least BORDER on R.S. 14.5% ABV; [As of mid Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no available sources for this bottling].
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