6/25/2023 - Chirality Likes this wine:

The fragrances of California wildflowers, pines, and sagebrush on the nose mark this as a Santa Barbara County wine. Initially I taste dark plum, and dark berries. Secondary flavors include cinnamon, pepper, and dark chocolate. It finishes with distinctive vanilla.

I’m a big fan of the AM syrahs!

10/7/2020 - Chirality wrote:

Nice nose filled with cherries, woodiness, and tobacco. Lovely and smooth first sip with plum, raisin, and some dark chocolate . But, then the experience goes off track. The alcohol content + tannins leads to an unpleasant bite in the aftertaste.

5/7/2020 - Chirality Likes this wine:

I’m very pleasantly surprised by this Chardonnay! I taste apple, pear, apricot, and banana cream pie. The notes linger and develop into citrus and nutmeg. I wish I’d bought more!

2/17/2020 - Chirality Likes this wine:

A lovely San Luis Obispo Pinot! Packs a punch of raspberry, plum, and cranberry at the first sip. Then, develops into chalky citrus flavors with a hint of floral notes. It will only improve with another 6 months to a year.

1/31/2020 - Chirality Likes this wine:

CSM makes dependable, affordable, grocery-store chardonnays. Not great, but not bad. There is a myriad of flavors including apple, pineapple, lemon-lime, butter. The flavors are enhanced by food, but short-lived on the palate.

12/10/2019 - Chirality wrote:

Fragrant with gingerbread and butter cookie. Flavors of cherry, oak, plum, walnut, almonds come out first. Finishes with rhubarb, spice, and stone fruit. Yum!

12/9/2019 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Beautiful red -violet color. Aromas of prunes and herbs. Upon tasting, bright and fruity tempered with vanilla and oakiness. Finishes with spicy plum, raisin, black pepper and ginger. A great Syrah— an example of why Santa Barbara County wines have become world class.

11/17/2019 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Light earthiness on the nose. First tasting notes are rich and fruity: plum, raisin, and blackberry. Secondary flavors are oak and white pepper. A wonderful Syrah that pairs well with light meats and cheese.

12/15/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

This wine is drinkable after aerating for an hour. But, it is a bit unbalanced. It presents a hodgepodge of flavors, including cinnamon, cherries, and blueberries. Finishes with dry herbs and chalk. It didn’t do much to enhance my dinner of beef stew.

11/11/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Bright, citrusy, and refreshing. Perfect with scallops in butter garlic sauce.

11/4/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Lovely aromas of spicy berries. Raspberry and white pepper are the dominant first flavors. Then, herbaceous notes on the finish. Perhaps a bit young at this time; I look forward to tasting again next year.

6/23/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Weak earthiness on the nose. But, where the aroma lacks, flavor compensates. I taste dried berries, smoky violets, white pepper, and herbs de Provence. Nice finish with hints of vanilla, oak, and stone. Aeration is essential to bringing out the best in this wine.

3/4/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

There is a subtle earthiness in the nose. Initial taste is smooth fruit and cocoa. Layers of pepper, herbs, and spices on the finish.

2/25/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

While this is not a super fragrant wine (or maybe I’m just a bit congested), there are many lovely flavors to be experienced. Smooth blackberry and prune first. Followed by dry cocoa, tart cranberry, and herbs. Finishes with cinnamon, cardamom, and other baking spices. Nice.

2/6/2018 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Lovely aromas of violet flowers are sensed first. On the palate, there are many layers of flavors: blueberries, cherries, blackberry pie, and cocoa. Finishes with light astringency and spice. Awesome wine!

10/7/2017 - Chirality Does not like this wine:

Perhaps flawed? Heavy mineral, petrol, green pepper, sour apple and citrus oil. A bit disappointing after the high recommendation at the wine shop.

6/16/2017 - Chirality wrote:

After my first sip, I did a double take and had to reread the label. Chard? Really? Drinks like an SB. Not bad. But, a bit surprising as my palate was expecting something else. This vintage is very different from past Foxen Block UU. Lots of herbs, grapefruit, and under ripe stone fruit. I like the past vintages better.

5/21/2017 - Chirality Likes this wine:

This is an earthy Syrah with musty berries on the nose. The initial taste is smooth and plummy with a bit of cocoa. Later, the flavors are more astringent with spice and floral notes. I look forward to tasting my additional bottles after more aging.

4/23/2017 - Chirality wrote:

Still a bit young at this time. Aromas of light oak and berries are encountered first. Initial flavors are dominated with blueberry, cocoa, and tart plum. Finishes with chalkiness. This wine is good now, and I expect will improve with time.

4/15/2017 - Chirality wrote:

This wine is weak on the nose. The first sip presents an odd mix of flavor notes including golden delicious apple, cantaloupe, and perhaps pineapple. Finishes with unripe stone fruit and minerality. Not unpleasant, but different.

4/14/2017 - Chirality wrote:

Subtle butter on the nose. The primary flavors are many and varied: caramel apple, vanilla, apricot, and almond. Finishes with oak and citrus. Nice!

4/14/2017 - Chirality wrote:

This wine presents a fragrance of fresh cut herbs and citrus blossoms. The first taste is guava, tart apple, and lime zest. Secondary flavors include jasmine and spicy pear. Paired nicely with cheesy, creamy, pasta.

3/19/2017 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Dark berries and leather aromas introduce this wine. On the first sip, there is some woodiness with fresh cherries. Secondary flavors are herbal and astringent. Finishes with plum and cocoa.

3/12/2017 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Aroma is of red licorice. The first taste is smooth and floral, then turns peppery, spicy, and astringent. The taste of raspberries and citrus zest finish this fine wine.
It is not easy to pair a wine with corned beef and cabbage. But, this one is well suited to the St. Patrick's Day dish.

2/8/2017 - Chirality Likes this wine:

White and violet flowers aromas on the nose. First flavors include strawberry, cherry, and tart cranberry. Secondary flavors on the palate are herbal. Finishes with light caramel and vanilla. A very good value.

7/3/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Weak on the nose. But, packs a nice punch of flavor of forest berries and tart cranberries. It is a nice pairing with grilled burgers. And it is very economical!

5/13/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Aromas of light berries. Then, cola, cocoa, and light oak. A lovely blend out of Santa Ynez. Paired very nicely with meatball pizza.

5/10/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Lightly floral on the nose. First flavors are citrusy. Secondary flavors include pineapple, white peach, green apple, and gooseberries (Really; trust me.) Finishes with a hint of anise. An excellent effort representing Temecula wines.

5/8/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Bright and crisp with a bit of vanilla on the nose. First flavors are lemon and lime. Eventually guava and white peach are revealed. A rustic white that is very nice with creamy poultry dishes.

5/7/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

A lovely Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley. Notes of butter and cream layered on apple and lemon. A great pairing with a cheese plate.

3/1/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

A great wine for this price point! It is rich in the flavors typical to Paso Robles Zins: black cherries, blackberries, tart cranberries, orange zest, white pepper, and oak. I am so curious to know which producer has made this wine. ��

2/11/2016 - Chirality wrote:

Tropical on the nose. Initial flavors include papaya, lychee, and passion fruit. Secondary notes develop quickly revealing butter and tart peach. Finishes with lemon and spice. I find the many lackluster reviews surprising; this is a fun Chardonnay that combines and showcases the variety of styles found in California. It is worth a try.

2/10/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

The aromas are of light rose petals and orange blossoms. The first taste, gives watermelon, strawberries, almonds, and light citrus. Finishes with ginger and apple notes. And I didn't think I liked roses. Enjoy this one on a warm evening with a salad that includes feta cheese. Good stuff!

2/7/2016 - Chirality wrote:

Not terribly aromatic. But first sip is smooth and filled with raspberries, vanilla, wood, and tobacco. Finishes with a bit of cinnamon, spice and minerality. A good red out of Temecula.

1/28/2016 - Chirality wrote:

This is a "rustic" Syrah, with initial aromas and flavors reminiscent of a walk in the forest: cedar, pine, and wild berries. Finishes with cinnamon and vanilla. Give this wine time to aerate to appreciate its complexities.

1/27/2016 - Chirality wrote:

A nice surprise. Clean and crisp. Flavors include green apple, pear, and tart peach. Paired well with grilled shellfish.

1/26/2016 - Chirality wrote:

Light notes of plum on the nose. The initial taste gives raisin, blackberry, and cinnamon. Finishes with a citrusy tartness and a bit of pepper. At $14, a terrific value to pair with rich BBQ flavors.

1/24/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

A lovely Syrah! Initially there are floral flavors with notes of white pepper and herbs. Followed by a taste of citrus oils, tobacco, and oak. Finishes with with a bit of astringency. Another sensational Syrah from Foxen.

1/12/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Another good value from South Coast Winery in Temecula. It is lightly floral with hints of honey and citrus. A very pleasant wine that pairs well with spicy Asian fare.

1/10/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Yum! There is butter and oak on the nose. First sip gives burnt sugar and green apple. Finishes with cream, citrus, and guava. A gem from Santa Maria.

1/8/2016 - Chirality Likes this wine:

This is a very pleasing white blend with creamy tropical notes from Chardonnay, tart citrus flavors from Sav Blanc, and sweet, nutty nuances from a mix of other varietals. A nice wine representing Temecula. Perfect for poolside sipping. A very good value for under $10.

1/7/2016 - Chirality wrote:

This is a complex white wine with many layers of flavor. Apricot, Asian pear, green apple, citrus, flowers, and herbs. Matches well with anything in a cream sauce.

1/6/2016 - Chirality wrote:

This is a very good Sav Blanc! Tart with passion fruit, grapefruit, and herbaceous notes. A classic.

1/5/2016 - Chirality wrote:

A good basic Sav Blanc. Tart citrus notes and bright green apple. A good week day wine.

11/29/2015 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Not much on the nose. Some pleasant floral, berry, and licorice notes on initial taste. Very little layering of flavors and no lingering aftertaste. Good, but simple merlot.

11/12/2015 - Chirality Likes this wine:

This wine doesn't have strong notes on the nose. The first sip has interesting blackberry + herbs taste. The wine then reveals vanilla, cherry cola. The final flavor is a little chalky, but pleasant. There is not a lot of Blaufrankisch made in California; so I feel privileged to have had the chance to try this one.

11/12/2015 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Light fruity and floral notes on the nose. Initial sip is rich with cherries, plum, autumn spices, and oak. Develops with some warm caramel flavor. Finishes smoothly. Very, very nice with roast chicken and stuffing.

10/31/2015 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Not terribly aromatic. But nice spicy notes on the first sip. With warm vanilla and berry pie on the finish. Enjoyed it with pizza.

10/29/2015 - Chirality Likes this wine:

Plum/prune on the nose. The initial sip gives anise, cranberries and fig. Secondary flavors are astringent and dry with tobacco and cedar evident. Finishes with a taste of mixed berries. I appreciate Kenneth Volk's experimenting with varietals that are less common in California.

10/24/2015 - Chirality wrote:

First notes include marzipan. Then citrus zest and light peach. Finishes with pleasant light herbal flavors. A very interesting Sav Blanc.