4/13/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Wine opened up beautifully over an hour. Shows typical Bentrock wildness with cherry/pomegranate fruit, savory herbs, salinity, hint of chalk. Vibrant acid core. Yum.

4/11/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

From the Dogged Byrd in the Los Olivos District AVA, this refreshing and bright rosé is acid-driven with pleasing wild strawberry and tangerine on the palate.

3/27/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Drunk over two nights and perhaps better the second? Richer and fuller than some AV Pinot's, dark cherry, hint of tar, pomegranate.

4/6/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

As with previous vintages, a playful, subtle wine--floral notes, but also wild strawberry and a vivid raciness and some salinity. At first it seemed perhaps a bit more reserved than the 2021, but with some age it's singing.

4/5/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Fascinating hit of pickling spice and sour cherry on the nose and then more sour cherry, rhubarb, strawberry, and an earthy depth. Lovely.

3/31/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Some review as previous: A deal at $14 a bottle, lemon-lime sour candy, good tension.

3/30/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Their description of "strawberry smoothie" hits the mark. Also some blood orange notes and very crisp.

3/29/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Probably should have given it a bit more bottle age or denoted at least. A tiny bit tight, but still offering plenty of blueberry/dark cherry fruit, violets, baking spice, a hint of cedar.

3/25/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: More Alsatian-style Pinot, so far from a fruit bomb. Still plenty of red currant and cranberry and floral notes, almost perfume, with great acid zing. Wonderful food wine.

Plus a gorgeous nose.

3/24/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Lush but not plush, firm acidity holds bright berry fruit, anise, pepper, sage. Long finish.

3/19/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: So much going on, as you might expect with a 40% Mourvèdre, 28% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 10% Counoise blend. Tantalizing dark fruit and so much more--baking spice, pepper, leather, a hint of tar. Long finish. Truly complex and sophisticated.

3/15/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same review as previous: Fine mid-week pinot. Solid dark cherry fruit and a hint of complexity, but nothing terrific. Fine for the price.

3/14/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Still drinking well--deep, raspberry/blackberry bramble, anise, spice. Long finish.

3/10/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Gorgeous sparkler with bread notes, wild strawberries, cream, a hint of almond.

3/5/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Probably no better SB Chardonnay for the price--very similar to the 2021. No oak at all so just lots of SB chard fruit (zippy citrus--maybe a bit more grapefruit this vintage?--, a hint of honeydew) and taut acidity. Delicious.

3/3/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

As is typical from winemaker James Sparks, this is a lighter, lifted version of the varietal (as with his Grenache). More strawberry than blackberry, less brambly than floral, but still some black pepper and heft.

2/29/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Fun, unusual pour--pear, melon, lemon zest. Zippy acidity.

3/1/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Bright and lively style of Grenache, with zippy strawberry fruit, floral notes, and a hint of herbs and spice.

2/20/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

For the price this mostly zin blend is a delicious, food-friendly pour. Black cherry going to blueberry, some oak, long finish.

2/18/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: Let it breathe a bit (still) to fully savor the pomegranate and cranberry notes. The green pepper is light on this CF, but also develops as it airs out.

2/19/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Both focused and vibrant, with a bit of the usual Radian wildcard edge, this is a lovely expression of Pinot. Give it some air as it's still young-ish. Or wait, if you can.

2/16/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Found this on sale for $19.99 so had to buy it, but maybe it wasn't stored well? Seemed a bit closed/tight for the usually wilder, fuller SRH Bentrock fruit.

2/16/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Maybe I needed a year, or maybe this bottle was stored better, but we liked this a lot, especially compared to the bottle drunk a year ago. Keenly balanced big fruit, high alcohol, high acid fruit bomb with lots of spice, earth, tobacco.

2/15/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Singing Pinot--everything you want from RRV. Dark cherry, cassis, earth, black tea, long finish.

2/17/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Some review as previous: A deal at $14 a bottle, lemon-lime sour candy, good tension.

2/7/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: Fine quality for the price, raspberry/blackberry fruit, a bit of gaminess. Maybe even wilder than earlier bottle.

2/3/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Still drinking well after some time to open up; little of the getting port-ish issue Turkey's with some age can get. Blueberry, blackberry fruit, shy of jammy. Black pepper. Long finish.

2/4/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Atypical Sangio--much lighter, brighter, and less tannic--but some of that can be chocked up to the carbonic fermentation (there's the tinniest hint of effervescence). Wild strawberry, rhubarb, fennel.

2/5/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: Wine from new project by Justin Willett and Eric Mallea, this 44% Grenache, 42% Syrah, 14% Mourvèdre is delicious from enticing nose to long finish. Strawberries, black pepper, earth, mushroom

2/1/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: More Alsatian-style Pinot, so far from a fruit bomb. Still plenty of red currant and cranberry and floral notes, almost perfume, with great acid zing. Wonderful food wine.

1/21/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: Good value play SMV pinot--cranberry, black tea, saline.

1/19/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same review as previous: Fine mid-week pinot. Solid dark cherry fruit and a hint of complexity, but nothing terrific. Fine for the price.

1/12/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

A lean, mean, saline machine with plenty of Meyer lemon zest and pineapple and green apple for balance. Perfectly paired with mussels in Pernod cream.

1/14/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: More Alsatian-style Pinot, so far from a fruit bomb. Still plenty of red currant and cranberry and floral notes, almost perfume, with great acid zing. Wonderful food wine (with homemade pasta, chanterelles in a lemon cream sauce).

1/9/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Great bargain at $10 because of issues with the screw cap closure (just don't store on its side). After a few minutes of air lots of damson plum and violet. Smooth tannins. Delicious with homemade ravioli and fresh peas.

1/8/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Scrumptious, balanced Sauvignon Blanc--fascinating fruit melange of white peach, Comice pear, pineapple, Meyer lemon. Stony, too, with a hit of saline. Lingering finish.

1/5/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: As with previous vintages, delicious and seductive without going over-the-top. Lots of blackberry, grilled meat, garrigue. Give it time to open up. Great value.

1/1/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Not a typical Paso big fruit bomb but something more refined and reserved--dark plum, blueberry fruit, black pepper and black olive, earth.

12/30/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Even with a decant I'd suggest giving this a bit more bottle age. Still a tad tight, but the basso and bright Syrah notes are lovely and will surely shine more with time.

12/24/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Bramble, blackberry, baking spice, a touch of smoke. Delicious Paso Zin.

12/25/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Easy-drinking red with dark plum and berry fruit, black pepper, a hint leather. Great with mushroom-spinach lasagna.

12/26/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

A skin contact, orange, Pinot Gris, the wine offers melon bathed citrus notes, with an elegant, long finish.

12/26/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: Good value play SMV pinot--cranberry, black tea, saline.

12/29/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Same note as previous: More Alsatian-style Pinot, so far from a fruit bomb. Still plenty of red currant and cranberry and floral notes, almost perfume, with great acid zing. Wonderful food wine.

12/20/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Fascinating, and sadly, as the label says, "C'est la fin," SRH Pinot. Elegant to almost mysterious, currant and cranberry and candied cherry with lovely herbal notes.

12/22/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Spry for 100% whole cluster, this single clone expression of Pinot brings the SRH's notes you want and expect--bright dark cherry fruit, hints of cranberry, earth, spice.

12/15/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

More Alsatian-style Pinot, so far from a fruit bomb. Still plenty of red currant and cranberry and floral notes, almost perfume, with great acid zing. Wonderful food wine.

12/15/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Delicious dry Grüner, apple, pear, a hit of quince. Paired well with a radicchio salad with Satsumas and a porcini bagna cauda.

12/14/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

A picture perfect Sonoma Pinot--plenty of bright dark cherry/raspberry fruit, but also an elegance and long finish.

12/15/2023 - yatchisin Likes this wine:

Mid-weight style of Grenache with dark berry fruit, a hint of grilled meat, white pepper.