Sine Qua Non LightMotif 2014, California

This California white blend is very tasty, and is drinking beautifully now.

Deep gold in color.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Showing red and green apples, light oak, Mediterranean spices, bitter herbs, earth, light vanilla, caramel and black pepper.

Long finish with almonds and limes.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Crisp and engaging.

This 9-year-old still has lots of acidity to take it another 5 to 10 years. A Delicious wine.

Robert Parker 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 47% Roussanne, 21% Chardonnay, 14% Petite Manseng, 11% Viognier and 7% Marsanne. Aged for 19 months in concrete eggs, French oak and stainless steel vats.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250.

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Patent Wines Yountville Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Napa Valley, California

Pale lemon in color with a golden hue.

Beautiful nose of citrus, tropical fruits, honey, limes, green apples, light grapefruits, white flowers, light minerals and very light gooseberries in the background.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Creamy and elegant.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, spices, herbs and seasalt.

Medium plus on the finish with tangy grapefruits.

This is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from Yountville in Napa valley. Drinking so nicely now with nice complexity and an elegant mouthfeel.

Spicy, tangy and entertaining. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

I had the 2021 vintage not too long ago, but this vintage is so much better.

A great sipping wine. I had it all by itself by the pool.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$33.

Materra Cunat Family Vineyards Oak Knoll District Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Napa Valley, California

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of citrus, green apples, grapefruits, gooseberry, light spices, grass and light earth.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with green and red apples, citrus, lemons, spices, gooseberries, vegetables, light earth and herbs.

Tangy finish with limes and grapefruits.

This 5-year-old Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley is still drinking very nicely, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing more earth notes than I expected, but after all it is 5-year-old.

Peaking now, and really tasty and interesting. Good by itself or with food.

I had it 3 years ago, and it is drinking better now. Soft and smooth. Crisp and refreshing. Just delicious.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$25.

Smith Madrone Vineyards and Winery Spring Mountain District Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

Dark golden in color.

Nice nose of yellow apples, pears, light honey, spices, cedar, citrus, light vanilla and pineapples.

Full bodied and creamy with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, apples, limes, earth, minerals, white pepper and sea salt.

Tangy finish with limes.

This 5-year-old Chardonnay from Napa Valley is drinking very nicely now. Easy drinking and enjoyable. Showing nice complexity at this point.

Nicely balanced and well structured. A good quality wine that will continue to age nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.

Needs 20 minutes of airtime to come to its own.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Tangy and interesting.

100% Chardonnay grapes from Spring Mountain District were aged in (55% new) French Oak barrels for 9 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.

Freedom Estate Winery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017, California

Lemon in color with a yellowish tint.

Strong nose of lemons, green and red apples, spices, minerals, white pepper, cooked Gooseberry juice and herbs.

Medium bodied and soft, with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, lemons, green apples, grapefruits, melons, bitter herbs, spices, light earth and white pepper.

Long finish with bitter almonds and herbs.

This is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc From Napa Valley. A good quality wine that is still showing wonderfully.

The high alcohol is well integrated by now, and better after 20 minutes of airtime.

This 6 year old is still drinking nicely. Not in its peak, but it is much more interesting now. Loved the nose here.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35.

Castello di Amorosa Pinot Grigio 2022, North Coast, California

Pale lemon in color.

Fruity nose of citrus, honey, yellow apples, light tropical fruits, spices and honeysuckle.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with apples, pears, ripe lemons, pineapples and spices.

Long finish with limes and pineapples.

This Pinot Grigio is delicious. Easy drinking and tasty. Tangy and interesting.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel and a lovely nose.

Nicely balanced, spicy and fruit forward. Good right out of the bottle and very entertaining.

A great sipping wine by the pool.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$29.

Talley Vineyards Edna Valley Riesling 2020, California

Pale lemon in color with a golden hue.

Nose of citrus, lemons, light diesel, apples, light vegetables and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, lemons, apples, peaches, minerals and white pepper.

Medium finish with limes and light earth.

This is a very tasty Riesling from Edna Valley in california. Engaging with mild complexity.

Good right out of the bottle, easy drinking and good for parties. I had it all by itself by the lake.

Aged for 7 months in a combination of neutral barrels and stainless steel.

12.9% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$34.

Notre Vue Estate Balverne Forever Wild Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Russian River Valley, California

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Oaky nose with citrus, peaches, vanilla, cedar, yellow apples, pears, light tropical fruits and spices.

Full bodied, creamy and smooth, with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with oak, vanilla, spices, citrus, pears, light grapefruits, apples and black pepper.

Spicy finish with black pepper and limes.

This is an enjoyable Chardonnay from Russian River Valley. Oaky and buttery with a nice mouthfeel.

Showing mild complexity at this point, and nicely balanced. Fruit forward and rich.

After 30 minutes of airtime, it really calms down. Worth the wait.

I’ve had the 2019 not too long ago, and liked it so much better. Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

Pleasant, tangy and easy drinking. Good for parties, or just to sip on by the pool.

100% Chardonnay grapes from Russian River Valley were aged in French Oak barrels for 5 months (20% new Oak). A small production of only 3,000 bottles.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35.

Barra of Mendocino Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Mendocino County, California

Flowery on the nose with a golden color and yellow tint.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red and yellow apples, spices, pears, light wood, light almonds and light vanilla.

Medium on the finish with limes and almonds.

Fruit forward and easy drinking.

Nicely balanced with mild complexity. Neither bitter nor tart.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

100% Organic Chardonnay grapes were fermented and aged in oak barrels for 7 months (30% new).

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$24.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards Spring Mountain District Riesling 2018, Napa Valley, California

Pretty color of light gold.

Strong nose of citrus, lemons, yellow apples, pears, limes, light earth, diesel and minerals.

Full bodied and creamy with high acidity.

Dry on the palate with a touch of RS to balance it out.

Showing limes, lemons, green and red apples, minerals, light earth, light diesel, herbs and white pepper.

Long finish with light almonds and limes.

This 5-year-old Riesling from Napa Valley is drinking so nicely now. Elegant and rich.

I’ve had the 2017 some time ago, and this vintage drinks much better.

Well balanced with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Neither tart nor bitter, and I love that. Buttery and creamy. Soft and smooth.

Will be interesting to revisit it in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after some air time. Better when not too cold. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

13.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$36.