Storypoint Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% that’s listed as “other varieties,” the 2017 Storypoint is an excellent value for lovers of California Cabernet. The nose offers up an expressive bouquet of macerated blackberry, plum, vanilla, and a lifted note of tar and dried mint. It’s full-bodied with […]
Cattleya Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Staw-hued, Cattelya’s 2018 Alma de Cattleya Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc is imbued with nuanced aromas of lemongrass, lemon drop, white grapefruit, and unripe pineapple. Sourced from fruit primarily grown in the Russian River Valley, and aged in 100% French oak, it’s medium-bodied with a vivid burst of nectarine upfront that dissolves into a steely vein […]
Cave Dog Albariño 2018
From a plot winemaker Michael Havens established in 1997, the 2018 Cave Dog Albariño opens softly, almost humbly, with lilting notes of cherimoya, lemon tart, and apple blossom. With time in the glass, it blossoms, the expression on the palate is especially delectable. Round and lush, a quartzite vein runs through the center—where it peaks […]
Shared Notes Les Pierres Qui Décident 2017
Savory aromas of freshly cut grass, crushed herbs, alpine air, and pine needle anoint the nose of Shared Notes 2017 Les Pierres Qui Dècident. Crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc clone Musqué and fermented and aged in 100% new French oak, its linear cut and surging intensity is impressive. A beam of acidity arcs across the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Orin Swift Blank Stare Sauvignon Blanc 2017
An energetic whorl of pear and juicy musk melon, Opal apple, stargazer lily, and lime zest comprises the nose of Orin Swift’s 2017 Blank Stare. A blend of 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscat, 20% barrel fermentation and aging in French oak is evident on the nose and palate, lending a just the right amount […]
Onward Pétillant Naturel Malvasia Bianca Capp-Inn Ranch 2017
One of my favorite wines sampled at the My Wine Society – Feast it Forward Grand Opening, Onward’s 2017 Pétillant Naturel Malvasia Bianca is a slightly hazy shade of sunbleached straw, with a nebulous, delicate mousse as one might expect. Lemon biscuit, d’Anjou pear, yellow apple, honeysuckle, and jasmine gives way to a vein of […]
Aubert Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2007
Now a decade on, the 2007 Aubert Sonoma Coast Chardonnay slowly unfurls to reveal lemon curd, poached pear, and baked apple notes, couched in mellow and toasty tones of salted butter, brioche, caramel, and vanilla. Nice delineation on the palate, where voluptuous spiced orchard fruit is neatly intersected by a firm acidic spine and beautifully […]