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.

Maritana Vineyards Russian River Valley La Riviere Chardonnay 2018, California

Pale straw in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of citrus, vanilla, spices, oak, yellow apples, pears and white pepper.

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

Dry on the palate with citrus, melons, apples, light grapefruits, spices, hazelnuts, oak, vanilla and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with spices and almonds.

This is a very tasty Chardonnay from Russian River Valley.

Spicy and intriguing. Interesting with a buttery, smooth mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and Oaky.

Right out of the bottle, it is in your face kind of wine, but as it opens up, it calms down a bit with less oak and vanilla notes, so give it 20 minutes.

Will be nice to see how this evolves in 5 to 7 years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheese plate.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$55.

Notre Vue Estate GSM Rosé 2019 Chalk Hill, California

Pretty salmon in color.

Nose of citrus, limes, light raspberries, spices, earth, vegetables and minerals.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, strawberries, cherries, limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, herbs, spices and white pepper.

Nice finish with spices and almonds.

This is a very enjoyable Rosé from Chalk Hill, Sonoma County. Fruit forward and refreshing with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced with a buttery mouthfeel. Better when properly chilled.

Good by itself or with food. I had it by the pool with soft cheeses.

A blend of 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre.

12.7% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$29.

Oakwild Ranch Winery Toboni Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2016, California

Reddish in color with a wide reddish rim and medium plus intensity. Very pretty.

On the nose bing cherries, blueberries, spices, light oak, light red candy, earth and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with bing cherries, raspberries, blueberries, light wood, light earth, spices and peppercorn.

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

This 4 year old Pinot Noir from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Fruit forward and easy drinking with a spicy finish. Fun wine and very tasty now. Alcohol is nicely integrated by now.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle. I gave it a light chill and had it by the pool. Paired nicely with a Double cream Brie cheese.

100% Pinot Noir grapes from a Single Vineyard. A small production of only 92 cases. Aged in 30% new oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$45.

Fallon Place Wines Heritage Vineyard Los Carneros Pinot Noir 2016 Sonoma County, California

Happy Pinot Noir Day!

Here is my delicious contribution to the Celebration.

This four-year-old Pinot Noir from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now.

Medium bodied with medium-plus acidity.

Showing red fruits with light wood, light vegetables, tobacco, dark coffee, light barnyard and black pepper.

Nicely balanced with lots of fruits. Good right out of the bottle, nice and engaging and easy drinking.

Nice and interesting with nice complexity and mouthfeel. A great new world Pinot Noir.

I’ve had this vintage a year ago, and it is getting better, as I expected. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

This Single Vineyard Pinot is tasty.
I gave it a light chill, and paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Great for this hot weather.

Aged in neutral French oak barrels for 18 months. A small production of only 110 cases.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$38.

Leghorn Wine Company Sonoma Coast Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018, California

Reddish in color with medium intensity.

Pretty nose with cherries, sweet strawberries, blueberries, light earth, spices, vanilla, wood, tobacco, dark chocolates and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, oak, light vegetables, tobacco, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very easy drinking Pinot Noir from Sonoma. Fruit forward and tasty when lightly chilled. Nicely balanced with mild complexity and a spicy finish.

A good everyday wine that would benefit from a few years of aging.

Good by itself or with food. A nice porch wine and good for parties.

I gave it a light chill, which is perfect for this hot Florida weather.

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

13.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$28.

Pellet Estate Sunchase Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 Sonoma County, California

Yellowish in color with a golden tint.

Fruity nose with citrus, oak, vanilla, spices, peaches, red apples and white pepper.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with lemons, over ripen citrus fruits, apples, pears, spices, oak, vanilla, ginger, earth, toast and light vegetables.

Long finish with tangy limes and almonds.

This 4 year old Chardonnay is drinking very nicely now. Showing very nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Not too oaky and nicely balanced.

Easy drinking and a good food wine too. A wine you want to share with friends and talk about.

Has high alcohol, but it is very nicely integrated at this point.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Much better when not very cold, and that’s when the complexity shows. Would continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

I paired it with 3 different cheeses, but was perfect with the double cream Brie cheese.

This Single Vineyard is barrel fermented and aged for 16 months in French Oak barrels.

A Good quality wine. Delicious, rich and opulent.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$68.

Robledo Family Winery The Seven Brothers Tempranillo 2018 Sonoma Valley, California

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, light vegetables, chocolates, spices, tobacco and black pepper.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, black cherries, plums, vanilla, cedar, brown sugar, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, spices, maple and peppercorn.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a nice surprise. This is a very enjoyable Tempranillo from Sonoma.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and showing lots of Oak notes, which I actually liked.

Reminds me of a Napa Bordeaux blend.

Fruit forward, spicy, tangy and interesting. Very tasty.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$45.

Leghorn Wine Company Chardonnay 2018, Sonoma Coast, California

Pale lemon in color with a green hue.

Light nose of citrus, lemons, light oak, green apples, light vegetables and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with grapefruits, limes, lemons, green apples, herbs, oak, spicy vanilla, light alcohol, white pepper, spices and light earth.

Spicy finish, and medium in length, with limes and almonds.

This is a nice Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast. Oaky with a nice buttery feel. Spicy and interesting to drink by the pool.

As it opens up more oak notes come in. Better when properly chilled.

I had it by the pool with some cheeses.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$28.

T. Berkley Wines Ophelia Cabernet Franc 2017 Sonoma County, California

Dark ruby in color with a reddish cloudy rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black currants, black plums, black cherries, licorice, spices, vanilla, wild flowers, oak, tobacco, dark chocolates, light alcohol, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, raspberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, tobacco, light herbs, peppercorn, a touch of red candy, espresso, licorice, spices and chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Franc from Sonoma County. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Easy drinking and fruit forward. Tangy and interesting. Loved the finish.

Needs an hour of airtime to open up properly.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Made with 100% Cabernet Franc grapes from Vineyards in Chalk Hill and Knights Valley.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.