Sisters Ridge Sauvignon Blanc North Canterbury 2018
Arresting aromas of lime zest, gooseberry, boxwood, and freshly cut herbs. In the mouth, there’s ample body nicely balanced by an energetic acidic spine that delivers tart white grapefruit pith, lime, lovage, and white pepper. It’s a complex offering from North Canterbury and one that’s well worth exploring. 13.5% ABV | Sample Mt. Beautiful 90 […]
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016
The bottle, a Napa Valley Cabernet from Louis M. Martini tumbled headlong off the rack before I could grasp it—most of it instantly lost save for a glass which I ran through a filter. It’s a classic Napa Cab, totally opaque with a violet rim and glass-staining legs followed by heady aromas and flavors of […]
Saint Tryphon Chardonnay 2015
Heavily laden in fruit, Saint Typhon’s 2015 Santa Barbara Chardonnay explodes with aromas of mango, yellow peach, pineapple, vanilla, acacia blossom, and spice—in some ways, the expression is reminiscent of a lightly styled Sauternes. It’s concentrated, on both the nose and in the mouth, with lush and voluminous fruit that drenches the palate. As with […]
History Upland Vineyard Muscat 2014
Burnished gold in the glass, and crafted from Muscat Hamburg planted in 1935 within the Snipes Mountain sub-appellation of Yakima Valley—Stoller’s 2014 History Upland Vineyard Muscat is imbued with complex, layered aromas of preserved lemon, baked apple, dried orange peel, chamomile, wild daisy, and granulated honey. The lilting florally that’s present on the nose and […]
LXV Wine Crimson Jewel 2017
Glinting, translucent garnet in the glass, the 2017 Crimson Jewel is brimming with earthy sensuality. Amarena wild cherries and Mirabelle plums rest beneath lighter, more ethereal notes of baker’s cocoa, underbrush, chalkboard dust, dried oregano, and basil. Stylistically it’s a touch lighter than the 2015 vintage—round and elegant on entry, pleasant tannic grip imparted by […]
Cattleya Alma de Cattleya Rosé of Pinot Noir 2018
Rose gold in the glass with copper inflections, the 2018 Alma de Cattleya Rosé of Pinot Noir possesses a kind of kinetic energy that’s hard to resist. The nose is a riot of white peaches, wild salmonberries, blood orange, and melon—like so much brightly-hued damask silk fluttering in the wind. In the mouth, racy acidity […]
Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2017
Talley Vineyards 2017 Arroyo Grande Estate Chardonnay displays copious amounts of baked apple and poached pear, buttercream frosting, hazelnut along with a dash of toast. Minerality shines on the palate, from entry to finish—infused with its terroir, both saline and limestone elements that form an energetic spine, nicely balancing out rich layers of toast and […]
Stoller Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Aged in 30% new French oak with partial malolactic fermentation, Stoller’s 2016 Reserve Chardonnay opens with an opulent profusion of d’Anjou pears and golden apples followed by hawthorn flower and baker’s spice. Round and silky on entry, the palate tension between fruit and acid is simply gorgeous. Flavors evolve and linger; white peach, lemon curd, […]
Au Contraire Chardonnay 2016
The 2016 Au Contraire Chardonnay is a full-bodied effort, offering up classic aromas of orchard fruit—bruised pear and yellow apple followed by freshly buttered wheat toast and preserved lemon. Lots of juicy yellow fruit and creaminess at the core; the interplay of acid and toast is nicely done. Aged eight months in stainless steel and […]
LXV Wine Summer Satine 2018
In the past, LXV’s Summer Satine has always been a Condrieu-style Viognier, the newly released 2018 vintage holds court as a flaxen-hued Arneis, sourced from the only vineyard in Paso Robles that grows it. Ebullient notes of pear, underripe pineapple, and lemon zest are followed by lighter tones of citrus blossom, crushed herbs, and crisp […]