Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.
Whitehall Lane Winery has a focus on red wines, more Cabernet driven wines. This 2019 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel offers notes of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, boysenberry, and huckleberry. The fruit is fully structured by moderate to mature tannins, the use of judicious oak, and a mild acidity. There are back notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and light campfire. This is definitely a food friendly red wine to pair with a various dishes, but it’s also a wine that makes you remember how good Napa wines can be when they’re treated with restraint.
This is a Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend from Napa. Light green/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is slightly grassy with a touch of lemon verbena. Very clean. Medium bodied. Slightly viscous. Good crisp acidity. On the palate, the lemon is a bit more pronounced with a steely quality. Long finish. Refreshing. This is a very nice white that drinks easy on its own and will work well with lighter foods. A nice wine for Pork Chops. Drink over the next three to five years.
This is Carlisle's basic Zin. Unfortunately, they don't offer this in large allocations or I would buy even more. It is a fantastic value for a quality Zinfandel. It is a blend of 47% Sonoma Valley Zinfandel, Old Hill Ranch, 20% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Teldeschi Ranch, 20% Sonoma Valley Zinfandel, Pagani Ranch, 10% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Mounts Ranch, and 3% Sonoma Valley Alicante Bouschet, Pagani Ranch. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is strong with bramble, red raspberries, some black cherries, char and spice. Full bodied.
Chenin Blanc is one of our favorite grapes and Sandlands arguably makes the best domestic Chenin Blanc wines. Light gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with apples, apple cider, slight orange peel, and minerality. Medium bodied. Good balance. On the palate, this is clean, crisp and refreshing. Flavors of apples/apple cider with some minerals. Dry. Good finish. This is very nice on its own and even better with food. It would work well with grilled trout. Drink over the next ten years.
Very nice showing for this wine. At age 15, it is mature and needs to be drunk.
Made from estate grown fruit on Spring Mountain in Napa. Togni is one of the "old school" producers still making great wines in Napa. It is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright. The nose is tight but in the glass it opens to show cassis, dust, tobacco, cedar and vanilla. Full bodied. Firm tannins. Likewise, very tight on the palate. Cassis, black cherries and spice. Long finish. This (no surprise for Togni) needs time. Ideally, give this five to ten more years in a good cellar
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain in Napa. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is deep and complex with cassis, cedar, spice, slight chocolate, cigar box and slight char. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. Great balance and energy. On the palate, this seems mature but just barely. Layers of cassis, spice, slight chocolate and a lovely herbal note on the finish. Good finish. Really classic in profile. This should go another ten to fifteen years. Great on its own, this will work well with food as well. A nice match with Prime Rib.
