Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia 2013
Smooth and open-hearted, Dinastia Vivanco’s Crianza Rioja 2013 is an effortless plunge in to ripe plums, juicy black cherries, vanilla, wafting anise and lavender notes followed by a daub of earthy soulfulness. Composed of 100% Tempranillo, this is a fresh, round Crianza framed in black tea and ripe tannins. Easy to drink and even easier […]
Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015
Fortunate to have tasted some absolutely stunning wines while in the Terra Alta region of Spain last week, including this delicious wine from Herencia Altés. La Peluda is from the little known hairy Garnacha, translated, Peluda literally means hairy—despite the name, the wine itself is delicious with earthy, seductive aromas brimming with underbrush, bright red […]
J Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2014
Flat out pretty, J Estate Vineyards Grown Pinot Noir 2014 is sourced from the River Valley and is a shade more nimble than expected. Robed in translucent garnet, and delivering a pent-up array of woodland berries and raspberries still on the vine, underbrush and rose petal and a dusting of warm spice. It’s a poised […]
Talbott Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2014
The brawny side of Pinot Noir, Talbott’s Sleepy Hollow Vineyard is located in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There, Pommard and Dijon clones burrow deep into Chualar gravelly loam soil and sand, resulting in a wine with an equal measure of weight and acidity along with steeped raspberry, cherry, rose hip, underbrush, and spice notes. Bordering […]
Locations I-4 NV
Of the trio sampled from the Locations project, I-4 is a non-vintage, multi-regional blend featuring Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from Puglia and Barbera from Piemonte has the most body. Lots of richness in this wine, with an alluring nose of black plums, black cherries, leather, Dr. Pepper, allspice, and anise. It’s voluptuous without being overripe, […]
Locations F-4 NV
From yesterday’s virtual tasting hosted by talented winemaker and founder of Orin Swift, Dave Phinney, this non-vintage blend from the Locations project. The blend from France is especially compelling, laden with black currants, roasted strawberries, and a slightly wild, earthy streak of underbrush, damp tilth, dried mushroom, and spearmint. Fruit sourced from the Rhone, Roussillon, […]
Locations E-4 NV
From yesterday’s virtual tasting with founder Dave Phinney of Orin Swift, this series of Locations wines based on regional blends that defy AOC labeling laws. Locations E-4 (E is for España) boasts a nose of stunning complexity. Cherries and Damson plums, rick dust, and balsam wood overlaid by finer, more savory notes—tomato paste, underbrush, and […]
Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
An fine pairing with this evening’s steak fajitas. Grgich Hills wines have impressed me as more restrained stylistically speaking, the 2012 Cabernet is brooding, though neither glossy nor opulent as so many Napa Cabs can be. After an hour, it’s finally relinquishing black currants and plums, incense and Christmas cake. On the palate, fine, silky […]
J Vineyards Pinot Noir Monterey, Sonoma, & Santa Barbara Counties 2015
J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir is a blend of Pinot Noir from three AVAs: Monterey County, Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County. It’s a big, voluptuous wine, not quite opaque and neatly inlaid with black cherry, roasted strawberry, warm brown spices, and decaying rose petal. Silky on entry, with well-integrated tannins—the acidity hits at […]
Columbia Winery Red Blend 2014
50-year old Columbia Winery is sporting new packaging, I’m always glad to be in the know of such things. The more important question, however—does the packaging match the contents? A supple blend of 40% Merlot, 39% Syrah, 8% Cabernet, 7% Cab Franc, and 6% Malbec the NV Red Blend sports a classic Columbia Valley profile […]