Light ruby in color. The nose has bright cherries and a slight earthiness. On the palate, this is light bodied. Thin with tart cherry fruit. There is some earthiness on the palate as well. Long finish. This is easy drinking and refreshing. Drinks fine without food. It will work with light foods too. Drink over the next couple of years.
For those who like a buttery, plenty of oak style California Chardonnay, this is a great option. It can sometimes be found for less than $20! Green gold in color. The nose has fresh lumber, slight vanilla, butter and slight lemons. On the palate, the lemon, oak and vanilla carry thru. Nice texture. Persistent oak on the finish. It will be kind of wine that is divisive; love or not. More for sipping on its own though it will work with roasted fowl quite well. I admit this is not my personal favorite style, so your mileage may vary.
This reminded me of a "classic" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir from twenty years ago. Deep ruby in color. The nose has black cherries, a bit of cola,, spice and a slight funk. Pretty. On the palate, this has sweet black cherry fruits. Moderate tannins. Good acidity. Some depth and complexity. Lot of energy. This is in a great place right now. It should be at this level for another 5 to ten years. It will go well with roasted fowl or meats.
This wine has really taken a long time to come around, but is now drinking great. This is there basic Syrah. Purple in color, deep ruby at the rim. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats and slight roasted herb. On the palate, this is deep and complex. Lovely medium bodied texture. Black raspberry fruit layered with dry, charred earth. Good finish. This should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years. A great match with Indian food, it should also work well with casseroles or roasts.
Served from Magnum. This was stunning. Light gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has smoke, vanilla, lemons and marzipan. A bit tight but opens with air. On the palate, vanilla and lemons with a slight melon note and a charred base. A beautiful backbone of acidity that makes this very food friendly. Long finish. This wine should continue to mature and develop for a few more years and should easily be good for fifteen years, depending on how you like your Chardonnay. It is also fantastic right now. Very food friendly with all but the meatiest of dishes.
One of the better Zinfandel's that I have tasted. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, spice, slight mint and char. On the palate, this has a gorgeous texture. Plush, juicy and full bodied. Black cherries and raspberry fruit with some charred wood and spice. Delicious. Deep. Young and vibrant, it would be a shame not to enjoy at least one this way although it seems to have the stuffing to age for a decade. It will work well with grilled foods or Asian foods and is great on its own.
What a beauty. This wine is drinking great and while it may age gracefully, it won't get more enjoyable for my tastes. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has red licorice, black cherries, cherries and spice. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture. Juicy acidity. Lots of cherry fruit over a bit of char. Long finish. This is delicious on its own. Gulpable. It will work with roasted or grilled meats, veggies or fowl but needs bigger foods. It should be at this level for another five years and then start morphing into more of a claret style.
Ramey makes some of the best California Cabs that are mass distributed. That is not to say they are inexpensive but they are made in sufficient qualtities to be generally available. This one has a light golden color. The nose is pretty with peaches, cream and slight lemon curd. Not as much oak as many Ramey wines. On the palate, this is full bodied with a creamy texture. The peaches and lemon come thru along with a bit of yeastiness. Good finish. This is a robust Chardonnay but has plenty of energy to work with or without food. It will match up well with salads and heartier seafood
This is a bigger styled RRV Pinot Noir but the fruit seems a bit less ripe. It makes for an interesting wine. Deep ruby in color. The nose shows rhubarb, slight cherries, a hint of cola and plenty of oak/spice. On the palate, this is full bodied. It feels high in alcohol without having any heat. It is smooth and easy drinking with a ton of rhubarb and some cherry flavors. Slight tannins. This probably makes a better drink on the deck than at the dinner table. Probably best drunk over the next couple of years.
Sadly Ulises Valdez has passed away too young. This bottle was opened for a time when tasted (I believe for 24 hours), so take that into account. It is drinking very well though. Golden in color with a bit of straw. On the nose, this is nice with slight green apples, some hay and some butterscotch. On the palate, this is full bodied. There is some depth here. Drinking very well with some lemon/citrus and a nice minerality. Good finish. Worked well with some appetizers as we stood around talking.
