Macrostie Winery and Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir 2020, California

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Pretty salmon in color with light intensity.

Fruity nose of strawberries, light raspberries, citrus, light green apples, spices and minerals.

Medium-bodied with medium-plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

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

Spicy finish with limes and bitter almonds.

This is an enjoyable Rosé from California. Vibrant and bright.

Refreshing, good by itself and better with food. A good wine to have by the pool, too.

I paired it with a few different cheddar cheeses.

100% Pinot Noir grapes are grown in Sonoma County and Mendocino County.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$28.

Notre Vue Estate Balverne Forever Wild Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley, California

Reddish in color with light to medium intensity.

Fruity nose of bing cherries, blueberries, strawberries, vanilla, light oak, light vegetables and spices.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, blueberries, light wood, bitter herbs, earth, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins (after an hour of airtime) and strawberries.

This is an easy drinking Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley. Fresh and fruity. Light and engaging.

Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself. A good pool or porch wine. Tangy and spicy.

Better after an hour of airtime, when tannins show up, but good right out of the bottle, too.

Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years. A nice good quality wine.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$45.

Williams Selyem Papera Vineyard Zinfandel 2015, Russian River Valley, California

Light ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Fruity nose of strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, light wood, spices, earth, herbs, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, currants, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty and elegant Zinfandel from Russian River Valley. Nicely balanced and tangy.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, and remove some of the acidity. Worth the wait.

This Single Vineyard Zinfandel from the great 2015 vintage is starting to drink nicely now. Still young, and needs 3 to 5 years of bottle time, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good by itself, once it opens up. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel. Elegant and rich.

Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.

I paired it with dried meats and olives.

Aged in French oak barrels for 14 months (23% new).

14.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75.

MacRostie Winery and Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2018, California

Light yellow in color with a golden tint.

Nose of citrus, lemons, apples, spices, toasted oak, light vegetables and earth.

Medium bodied with medium acidity and smooth.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, river rocks, bitter herbs, spices, black pepper and light oak.

Spicy finish with limes.

This is a very nice Chardonnay from Russian River Valley. Spicy and interesting. Nicely balanced and elegant, with soft earth notes.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets more complex as it opens up.

A little high in alcohol, but not noticeable at all. Good by itself and with food.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses by the lake.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36.

Foyt Family Wines Meritage No 72 2016 Sonoma County, California

Time to add some Merlot to our life, on this #MerlotThursday. This Meritage blend will have to do.

This is a very tasty red blend from Sonoma County. Nicely balanced, spicy and tangy with a nice mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn, graphite and dark coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Good by itself or with food. I let it open up in a decanter for 3 hours.

Should age nicely in the next 5 years.

Paired very nicely with the Camembert cheese.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$38.

RD Winery Hundred Knot Grenache 2019 Sonoma Valley, California

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Sweet nose of cherries, blueberries, sweet strawberries, licorice, oak, tobacco, vanilla, chocolates, spices and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, red currants, oak, tobacco, earth, spices, licorice, peppercorn, chocolates and coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Grenache from Sonoma Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

Showing mild complexity with a nice, soft mouthfeel. Light and engaging and a good summer wine. A nice light chill would be a good idea.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and brings in more structure.

Alcohol is nicely integrated already, so watch out.

Would be nice to see how this evolves in the next 3 years.

I had it by the pool with some dried meats, fresh berries and cheeses.

A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months (20% new).

15% alcohol by Volume.

91 points.

$53.

New Napa Winery

Maritana Vineyards Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2017, Russian River Valley, California

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Light nose of citrus, vanilla, light oak, spices and yellow apples.

Full bodied, buttery and soft, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with light oak and vanilla, citrus, lemons, grapefruits, herbs, earth, spices and white pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with bitter almonds and black pepper.

This is a very nice and elegant Chardonnay from Russian River Valley. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

This oaky Chardonnay, is not the “in your face” kind of wine, and even better with food.

This Single Vineyard is a good quality wine, that will age nicely in the next 5 years.

I paired it with cheeses, and it worked very nicely with the Swiss cheese and the double cream Brie cheese.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$90.

Meadowcroft Wines Louvau Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Dry Creek Valley, California

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

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, cherries, earth, oak, spices, bell pepper, liquorice, tobacco, diet cola, dark chocolates, dark coffee and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, vegetables, spices, oak, light vanilla, coke, peppercorn, earth, leather, tobacco leaf, wet leaves, herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead dark coffee.

Spicy finish with nice length and fine grained tannins.

This is an earthy Cabernet Sauvignon from Dry Creek Valley. Tasty and elegant.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet is tangy with mild complexity a a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and interesting.

Showing lots of earth notes and drinks like a South African Cabernet.

As it opens up, the earth notes calm down and more fruits show up. Definitely more fruit forward after 2 hours of airtime, so if that’s what you like, give it time.

This is a good quality wine that is still young, but already enjoyable. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

I paired it with Brie cheese and light appetizers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$65.

Maritana Vineyards Le Russe Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018, California

Ruby in color with a wide reddish/ cloudy rim and medium-plus intensity.

Strong nose of bing cherry, oak, licorice, blueberries, light earth, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, licorice, spices, light vanilla, tobacco, earth, milk chocolate and black pepper.

Nice finish with spices and tangy cherries.

This is a good quality Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley. Very enjoyable on its own.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel. Exactly what you expect from a good Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Well balanced with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food.

Easy drinking with high alcohol, so watch out. Soft and elegant yet rich and engaging.

Would benefit from a few more years of bottle time.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.

I preferred it with a light chill, and paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$55.

Vincity Wines Vinatlas 2014, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a tasty one from California.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. A very pretty color.

Fruity nose with blueberries, plums, currants, light cedar, vanilla, light earth, licorice, black pepper, spices and chocolates.

Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, sweet strawberries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, coffee, dark chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Medium plus in finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue in the next 5 years.

This 6 year old is showing nice complexity and balance, with a very enjoyable mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, but gets more complex as it opens up. I let it decant for 2 hours.

A good quality wine. Delicious, interesting and engaging.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with meats, cheeses and light appetizers. Was really nice with the Italian salami.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are grown in Napa County and Sonoma County.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60.