Vitkin Winery Old Vines Carignan 2016, Israel

This 6 year old Carignan from Israel is drinking very nicely now. Tangy and interesting.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing red fruits with wood, earth, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate with a soft mouthfeel, and a nice aromatic nose.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.

I’ve had this vintage before, and this time did not decant it, but I gave it a light chill.

Paired nicely with the mushroom Brie cheese.

Kosher and not Mevushal.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$35.

Hawk and Horse Vineyards Sparkling Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 , Lake County, California

Light salmon in color.

On the nose black currants, raspberries, spices, citrus, green apples, minerals, herbs and earth.

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

Dry on the palate with raspberries, strawberries, cherries, spices, earth, peppercorn, green apples and light grapefruits.

Nice length on the finish with spices and limes.

This is a delicious sparkling Rosé from Lake County in California.

Nicely balanced with nice complexity. Spicy and entertaining. Not bitter nor tart. Just right.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I really enjoy these Cabernet Sauvignon sparkling wines.

Good by itself or with food. Easy drinking and good for parties. I paired it with a pulled chicken salad and a gorgeous view.

12.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$60.

Foyt Family Wines Anniversary Edition No. 61 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one from Mount Veeder.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward, with black fruits, chocolates, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco, coffee, peppercorn and herbs.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from the great 2016 vintage. Already drinking very nicely, even right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter.

Showing nice complexity with a great, spicy mouthfeel.

I had it over a year ago, and it is drinking even better now. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$125.

Chehalem Wines Inox Unoaked Chardonnay 2021 Willamette Valley, Oregon

Pale lemon in color with a green hue.

Nose of citrus, limes, red and green apples, light honey, melons, minerals and light white pepper.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with limes, light grapefruits, spices, herbs and minerals.

Tangy finish with black pepper and limes.

This is a very tasty Chardonnay from Williamette Valley. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. 

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A nice happy hour wine that I paired with shrimp cocktail, by the beach.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged on their lees for 2 months in stainless steel vats.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20.

Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa Valley, California

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, mint, espresso, earth, spices, black pepper, light vegetables, eucalyptus and pencil lead.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, tobacco leaf, chocolates, coffee, green olives, peppercorn, earth, black tea, light vegetables and herbs.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 13 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking very nicely now, although still young.

Gentle, elegant and tasty. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Nicely balanced with lots of fruits.

Tastes very much like a good quality left bank Bordeaux. Loved the nose here.


Will continue age nicely in the next 15 years. Would be nice to revisit it again in 5 years, as I see it becoming even better.

This Single Vineyard is a delicious wine that needs time to open up properly. I gave it 4 hours in the decanter.

Robert Parker 96 points.

Thank you Sonny for sharing this with me.

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

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$600 (current vintage).

Patent Wines Yountville Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Napa Valley, California

Pale lemon in color with a green tint.

Very aromatic nose of white flowers, citrus, limes, green apples, gooseberry, light tropical fruits, spices, guava, lemon peel and herbs.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

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

Spicy finish with almonds and limes.

This is a tasty Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley. Spicy, refreshing and tangy.

Feels very much like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and better after 15 minutes of airtime.

A good pool wine that I paired with a beautiful day by the beach. Will also pair nicely with oysters.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$33.

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Israel

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel. Feels like a Napa Cabernet.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, coffee, cola, spices, earth, chocolates and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward.

Full-bodied and bold with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would Age nicely in the next five to seven years. Has good potential to become a 94+ wine.

Entertaining and engaging. Smooth and elegant.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$53.

Meadowcroft Wines Napa Valley Blanc de Blancs Non Vintage, California

Pale lemon in color.

On the nose grapefruits, green apples, white pepper, light limes and minerals.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity and medium sized bubbles.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, green apples, herbs, spices, minerals and white pepper.

Tangy finish with limes and spices.

This is a very tasty sparkling wine from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and tangy. Spicy and interesting.

Easy drinking and good by itself. Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.

100% Chardonnay grapes from Napa Valley. A tiny production of only 122 cases.

12.9% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$38.

Hawk and Horse Vineyards Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Lake County, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix.  Here is a nice one from Red Hills.

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, raspberries, black plums, oak, light vanilla, licorice, herbs, tobacco leaf, earth, spices, chocolates, dark coffee and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, black currants, oak, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, coffee, cinnamon, earth, spices, light vegetables and herbs.

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

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County in California. Fruit forward with lots of coffee and chocolates notes.

Needs a few hours of airtime to open up, but drinkable right out of the bottle too. Big tannins come out after a couple of hours of air.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel, but still very young, and needs five years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years. Will age nicely in the next 10 years.

I had the 2017 vintage a year ago and it is very consistent.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75.

Chemistry Wines Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019, Oregon

Purple in color with medium intensity and a wide purple rim.

On the nose black currants, raspberries, spices, tobacco, black pepper, light oak, spices and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, currants, red plums, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, dark coffee, light earth and black pepper.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Pinot Noir from Oregon. Soft and elegant. Fruit forward and nicely balanced.

Smells more like a Syrah, and tastes like a blend of a California Pinot and burgundy. Interesting stuff.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. A nice porch wine, too.

Aged in stainless steel and 15% oak barrels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$19.