Fall Creek Vineyards Lescalo Chenin Blanc 2019, Texas

Pale lemon in color, almost see through.

Very aromatic nose of white flowers, grapefruits, limes, green apples, spices, honey and minerals.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with lemons, citrus, green apples, grapefruits, spices, honeysuckle, earth, light river rocks and sea salt.

Tangy finish with light almonds.

This is a nice and easy drinking Chenin Blanc from Texas. Tangy and interesting.

The nose is kind of sweet, suggesting a sweet palate, yet it’s dry. Really enjoyed the nose.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with Ahi Tuna Sashimi.

A blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Sauvignon Blanc.

9.8% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$18.

Baldacci Family Vineyards Allwin Napa Valley Syrah 2014, California

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, peppercorn, tobacco, graphite, dark coffee, cloves, spice box and chocolates,

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, spices, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, tobacco, peppercorn and espresso.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Napa Syrah is delicious. Big and bold with lots of fruits.

This Single Vineyard is rich and extracted, and would age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Needs a couple of hours to open up and show the tannins, although, very drinkable right out on the bottle too.

Wine Enthusiasts 88 points.

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

100% Syrah grapes from Carneros.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45.

Castello di Amorosa Napa Valley Sangiovese 2017, California

Ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

On the nose blueberries, currants, plums, tart cherries, light cedar, vanilla, licorice, light earth, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium-plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, plums, vanilla, licorice, cedar, leather, earth, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite, herbs and black pepper.

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

This is a nice wine from Napa Valley. Tangy, spicy and interesting with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young, but already drinking nicely. Feels like an Italian red with a new world twist.

Easy drinking and needs time to open up a property. I gave it 90 minutes.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Brie cheese. Will pair nicely with pizza.

A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels (35% new).

14.7% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$36.

Adobe Road Winery Knights Valley Bavarian Lion Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Sonoma County, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one from Knights Valley.

Pretty color of dark ruby with a brick rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, cooked cherries, black plums, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, cola, Indian spices, earth, chocolates, black pepper, pencil lead, turmeric, cumin and tobacco.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, dried figs, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, light herbs, cola, turmeric, graphite, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, spices and cherries.

This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County. Showing great complexity and a nice mouthfeel. Nicely balanced with a long, smooth finish.

Good right out of the bottle, but so much better after 3 hours of airtime, when the complexity shows up. Worth the wait.

Loved the nose, and kept smelling on it for a while. Tastes very much like a Napa Cabernet.

This Single Vineyard from the great 2014 vintage is rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward, deep and smooth. Tasty and delicious. Alcohol is nicely integrated by now.

Thank you David for sharing this with me.

A great sipping wine that doesn’t need food at all. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.

Aged for 30 months in 90% new French oak barrels.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$88.

Bellingar Estates South Pass Syrah 2018, Oregon

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of black plums, wild flowers, cooked blueberries, light wood, earth, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, violets and herbs.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, coffee, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This Syrah from Oregon is drinking very nicely now. rich and fruit forward.

Nicely balanced and elegant. Showing nice complexity with a nice, soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up. I gave it two hours in a decanter.

This Single Vineyard is interesting and easy drinking. Fragrant and aromatic with a teeth staining color. Feels very much like a good quality California Syrah.

Aged in French oak barrels (10% new) for 24 months. A very small production of only 100 cases.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.

Notre Vue Estate Winery Balverne Russian River Valley Forever Wild Chardonnay 2019, California

Pale lemon in color with a green/ golden hue.

Nice nose of lemons, cedar, vanilla, toast, limes, grapefruits, honeysuckle, apples, honeydew, earth, minerals, sea salt and light river rocks.

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

Dry on the palate with citrus, green apples, grapefruits, bitter herbs, spices, oak, vanilla, peppercorn, wet leaves and earth.

Nice tangy finish with almonds.

This is a very enjoyable Chardonnay from Russian River Valley. Elegant, fruity and interesting.

Loved the nose here. Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel.  Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime (20 minutes).

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

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged for 5 months in French Oak barrels (20% new).

14.2% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35.

Kukeri Wines Pentaluma Gap Lakeville Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Sonoma County, California

Reddish in color with medium intensity.

Fruity nose with cherries, ripe strawberries, raspberries, light oak, vegetables, earth and spices.

Medium-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, strawberries, bing cherries, oak, wild flowers, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast is drinking nicely already. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Light and approachable.

This Single Vineyard is showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

After after an hour of airtime, it gets earthier, with some bitter herb notes. Would be nice to revisit it in 2 years.

Good right out of the bottle and good with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A very small production of only 5 barrels.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$42.

Podre il Castellaccio Orio Bolgheri 2017 DOC 2017, Italy

Dark ruby in color, almost Inky, with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose blueberries, black currants, black cherries, light vanilla, coke, licorice, Indian spices, tar, light vegetables, earth, tobacco leaf and graphite.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso and earth.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a very enjoyable Cabernet Franc blend from Italy. Tangy and interesting with lots of fruit.

Better after 90 minutes of airtime.
Really loved the nose after 2 hours in the decanter.

Showing very nicely at this point, once it opens up, with nice complexity, good structure and a nice mouthfeel. I love these Italian Bordeaux style reds.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. I paired it with cheeses and Italian dried meat.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 10% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. A small production of only 8,000 bottles.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$28.

Fall Creek Vineyards Grenache Rosé 2020, Texas

Happy National Rosé day!

Very light salmon in color, almost see-through.

Pretty strong fruity nose with yellow apples, peaches, citrus and spices.

Medium plus in body, buttery and smooth, with medium acidity.

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

Tangy finish with limes.

This is a really nice Rosé from Texas. Easy drinking and nicely balanced, with a nice mouthfeel.

A great wine to have all by itself or by the pool. Not bitter, which I really liked.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

100% Grenache grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30.

Hawk and Horse Vineyards Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Lake County, California

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of wildflowers, blueberries, blackberries, light cedar, licorice, spices, black pepper, chocolates, dark coffee and earth.

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

Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, blueberries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, light earth and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County in California. Drinking very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food. Will be nice to revisit this in a few years, and see how it evolves.

Good right out of the bottle, but so much better after 2 hours of airtime, when it becomes so aromatic. Loved smelling on it for a long while.

Grapes are grown on rocky red volcanic soil, at elevation of 2,200 feet. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit verdot. Aged in (80% new) French Oak barrels. 1800 cases produced.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75.