Live Oak Vineyard Estate Syrah 2016, San Diego County, California

Reddish in color with medium intensity and a wide reddish/ purplish rim.

Pretty nose of Mediterranean spices, blueberries, black plums, overripe cherries, tobacco leaf, milk chocolates, light oak, earth and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, peppercorn, spices, light oak, wet leaves, herbs, dark chocolates, red chili pepper and earth.

Long tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old is showing very nice complexity. Elegant and easy drinking. Fruit forward, gentle and warm.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Spicy, entertaining and very engaging. Loved the nose and kept smelling on it for a while.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Aged in Hungarian Oak barrels for 30 months. A small production of less than 300 bottles.

91 points.

$30.

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Mount Bullion Vineyards Casto Oaks The Dream Mourvèdre 2019, Calaveras County, California

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

Strong nose of black cherries, black plums, black currants, cherry pie, light oak, spices and milk chocolates.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity and long skinny legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, light alcohol, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty Mourvedre from california. Spicy and entertaining. Feels like an elegant California Zinfandel. Interesting stuff.

This 3 year old is already showing nice complexity, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.

Fruit forward and tangy. Elegant and very pleasant.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. A good party wine as well. Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 93% Mourvedre with 7% Syrah. Aged for 21 months in neutral French Oak barrels. A small production of only 115 cases.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25.

Caiarossa Aria di Caiarossa Toscana 2013, Italy

This is a very interesting red blend from Italy.

Medium bodied and extra smooth with medium acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, vegetables, herbs and black tea.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a good food wine. Elegant and fruit forward. Easy drinking and good for parties.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly. It is worth it to be patient.

A blend of Cabenert Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 14 months in oak barrels, and then 6 months in concrete vessels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Mount Bullion Vineyards Casto Oaks Man’s Best Blend 2015, Sierra Foothills, California

This is a delicious red blend from Sierra Foothills in california.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Showing black fruits with tobacco, vanilla, licorice, herbs, cedar, light vegetables, earth, black pepper, pencil lead and chocolates.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old is drinking very nicely now. Nicely balanced with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. I’ve had it a year ago, and it is drinking even better now.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 45 minutes of airtime.

Really enjoyed the nose, and a great value too.

A blend of 37% Syrah, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. Aged for 19 months in American oak barrels (30% new). A small production of only 7 barrels.

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$27.

Toca Madera Winery Toca Madera Vineyard GSM 2015, California

This 7 year old GSM from California is still drinking nicely, although definitely not at its peak any longer.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, espresso, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard is easy drinking now, and good for the pool or beach.

A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier and Grenache.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$32.

Leverage Wines Trajectory 2017, Paso Robles, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, blueberries, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, vanilla, coffee, tobacco, earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, tangy raspberries and red chili pepper.

This 5 year old GSM blend from Paso robles is drinking very nicely now.

Showing nice complexity with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Creamy and tangy. Fruit forward and spicy.

Will continue to age nicely in the next few years. A delicious wine.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. I paired it with brie cheese.

A blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre. Aged for 18 months in (40% New) French Oak barrels. A small production of only 7 barrels.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$64 (current vintage).

Buccella Winery Mixed Blacks 2014, Amador County, California

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, sweet cherries, light cedar, licorice, Indian spices, wild flowers, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, tar and earth.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, licorice, cedar, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth, mint and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious GSM blend, with a twist of Petite Sirah. Fruit forward and complex with a nice mouthfeel.

Right out of the bottle it feels like a Cabernet blend from Napa. Only after 3 hours of airtime, it changes and feels more like a Napa Merlot. Interesting stuff. Peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food too. I paired it with a Brie cheese and Duck Pâté.

A blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 14% Grenache and 6% Mourvedre. Aged for 22 months in (50% new) French oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined. A tiny production of less than 1,500 bottles.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$130.

Sean Thackrey Rossi Vineyard Old Vines Orion 1998, Napa Valley, California

Really pretty teeth staining in color.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, must and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins.

This 24 year old Syrah is still delicious, but on its last leg. Smooth and elegant. Fruit forward and tasty.

This Single Vineyard is good right out of the bottle, and better with food.

I did not decant it, and it didn’t last long. I had this vintage a year ago, and it lasted much longer.

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

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$130.

Mollydooker Wines Velvet Glove Shiraz 2018, Australia

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, alcohol, licorice, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, milk chocolates, tobacco and peppercorn.

Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

On the palate black currants, cooked plums, sweet cherries, vanilla, spices, cedar, espresso, cola, light herbs, licorice, mocha and red chili pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Shiraz from Australia. Big and bold, and somewhat sweet. Has a lot of acidity on the finish for all that fruit. Rich and extracted.

Very much “in your face” kind of wine, and not for the faint of heart. Feels very much like a Napa Syrah, with a teeth staining color.

Needs a couple hours to open up properly, which I didn’t have, as it finished too quickly.

Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and calm down a bit. Will be a 95+ wine in 10 years. Will age nicely in the next 15 years.

Wine Spectator 95 points. Robert Parker 96 points.

Good as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$215.

Nana Estate Winery Cassiopeia 2019, Israel

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and very fruity, with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, cooked plums, sweet cherries, oak, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, black pepper, dark coffee, herbs, chocolates and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 3 year old Syrah blend from Israel is very interesting. Fruit forward with a smooth mouthfeel. Rich and flavorful.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Very easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

A blend of 85% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Petit verdot. Grapes are grown in the desert. Aged in French oak barrels for 14 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$42.