Nalle Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2017, California

Deep ruby in color with a wide cloudy, purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black cherries, wildflowers, light cedar, tobacco, light bell pepper, vanilla, peppercorn, earth, cloves and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, sweet strawberries, blueberries, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, bitter greens, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a nice Zinfandel from Sonoma County. Drinking nicely now even right out of the bottle. As it opens up, it gets earthier and spicier.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature, get more complexity, and remove some of the vegetable notes. Will be a 90+ wine in 5 years.

Good by itself or with food and would pair very nicely with a burger. I paired it with a Brie cheese and roasted almonds.

A blend of 91% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah and 4% Carignan. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (25% New).

13.9% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$40.

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Tank Garage Winery Pop Nat Non Vintage, California

Nice salmon in color.

Strong nose of yeast, bread, light watermelon, light cherries, limes and green apples.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and small bubbles.

Dry on the palate with citrus, lemons, green apples, grapefruits, watermelon, minerals, yeast, biscuit and white pepper.

Tangy finish with limes.

This is my first Pet Nat. Interesting stuff and a nice surprise. Crisp and refreshing, and nicely balanced.

Good by itself, and has nice acidity to pair with food. I paired it with cheeses, crackers and fresh fruit (really nice with the Brie cheese).

100% Barbera grapes from a Single Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills.

10.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36.

Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here’s a nice one from Napa Valley.

Dark purple in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity on the nose with blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, earth, dark coffee and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and nice long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cedar, vanilla, leather, light bell pepper, tobacco, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with grippy tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, is already very enjoyable by itself or with food. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (30 minutes). After a couple of hours big tannins come in.

This is a great Cabernet to cellar for 10 years.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$28.

CR Greybehl Wine Company The Grenachista Grenache Noir Mendocino County Alder Springs Vineyard 2016 California

Dark ruby in color with a wide cloudy reddish/ brick rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, bing cherries, wood, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, black pepper, vegetables, earth, leather and herbs.

Medium bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, vegetables, earth, wet leaves, peppercorn, green herbs, mint and tobacco.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is an interesting Grenache from Mendocino County. This Single Vineyard is showing nice complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced.

Easy drinking right out of the bottle and gets complexity as it opens up.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly, and really changed from bottle opening, so take your time.

Smells like an Oregon Pinot Noir (after 3 hours of airtime), but really different on the palate.

A very interesting wine to share with friends and talk about. Tangy, spicy and little bitter on the ending.

I’ve had other Grenaches from this Winery, and each one is somewhat different, which is nice.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

Grapes are grown at 2,400 feet elevation and aged for two years in used French Oak barrels.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$46.

Domaine Du Chateau De Meursault Corton Grand Cru 2012 Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Nice nose of blueberries, cherries, currants, light oak, spices, earth, river rocks, bitter herbs and green vegetables.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, vegetables, earth, spices, peppercorn, green herbs and espresso.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great surprise. Not my style of red wine, yet so enjoyable for me.

Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and nice complexity.

A good quality wine and very enjoyable, even by itself, with a nice tangy ending.

This is not from a great vintage, but it is drinking very nicely now, and will age nicely in the next 5 to 8 years.

This 7 year old is good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up. I enjoyed it a little chilled, all by itself.

Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. Only 2,200 bottles produced. This is bottle number 93.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$300 (Current vintage).

Azari Winery CorkScrew Luma Rouge 2011, California

Dark inky in color with a short and cloudy, deep brick rim.

Fruity nose of plums, cherries, wood, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, herbs, light vegetables, vinaigrette, tobacco and diet cola.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, vinaigrette, vegetables, tobacco, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Syrah blend from Sonoma County. Tangy and spicy with lots of black fruits. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

This 8 year old is not from the best of vintages, and over the hill by now, but very tasty nonetheless.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (2 hours).

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

A blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier.

13.6% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35.

Inglenook Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1974, California

Ruby in color with medium intensity and a brick tint.

Strong peppermint on the nose with red currants, light oak, spices, earth, light barnyard, wet leaves, herbs, black tea and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, red currants, cherries, light oak, earth, light vanilla, wet leaves, black tea, black pepper, beef jerky, vinaigrette and dark coffee.

Medium finish with no tannins and tangy cranberries.

This 45 year old Petite Sirah is still drinkable, but way passed it’s peak. Interesting with nice complexity and a light mouthfeel.

Good by itself and better with food.

Needs 30 minutes to open up properly, but died after a couple of hours.

I’ve never had a Napa Valley Petite Sirah with such low alcohol. What a great experience this is.

I enjoyed it with great friends and good food.

12% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.