2008 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Not quite as good as the 2007, but still excellent.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, black pepper and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, juicy acidity.  Black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  This seems about at peak.  Drinking great on its own, it would also work well with roasted vegetables or meats.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2018 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$115.00USD

This is the basic Cabernet in Myriad's lineup.  A stunning wine if not at the level of the single vineyard offerings.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight tobacco, leather, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, great balance.  Lots of cassis with black pepper and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is not a fruit monster but it is a bigger wine.  At age 5, it is barely showing much development, but is still enjoyable.  Ideally, cellar for five more and then drink for fifteen to twenty after that.  

2007 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

James Berry Vineyard is one of the great Syrah vineyards in the world.  It is the home vineyard for Saxum.  Carlisle's version is a bit less blousy perhaps but really a wonderful wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight gamey meat with some white pepper.  Wonderful, almost seamless, texture.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex and just about at maturity.  Notes of black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2017 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Another classic Chardonnay from this producer.  Santa Cruz is south of San Francisco.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemons, slight vanilla and spice.  Crisp texture.  Great acidity.  This is just starting to open and has a long life left.  Lemons and green apples with some underlying spice.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  

1994 Graham Porto Vintage, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Graham's is one of the top Port houses and 1994 was an excellent vintage for them.  Inky purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has chocolate covered raisins with black raspberries and slight dusty notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, milk chocolate, raisins and alcohol notes.  Long finish with some alcohol showing.  This is in a great place but not showing a lot of age.  Complex.  This should easily go another ten to  twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with chocolate desserts.

2016 Square Nail Napa Valley Red Wine, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

My first time trying this.  It seems to be associated with Ghost Block wines.  This is a blend of 56% Malbec and 44% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, cedar, clay and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, plums with a bit of black raspberries.  More one dimensional with out a lot going on.  It drinks very easy.  Nice on its own, this would be a nice mid week burger wine.  drink over the next five years.  

2001 Bodegas AAlto PS, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

Bought on release and well stored.  On release, this was a very modern take on Tempranillo.  At age 22, it still drinks that way although it has calmed down and matured quite a bit since then.  Still drinking youthfully.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an earthy notes.  With air, more barnyard emerges (Brettanomyces) although not strong.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, raspberries with black cherries and some kirsch.  A bit of char as well.  Long, slightly drying finish.  Complex and deep, this won't get better but shou

2006 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$265.00USD

Always a great night when drinking this wine.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, sandalwood, slight cedar, baking spices, and slight char.  Full bodied.  Tannins are mostly integrated but a few remain.  The texture is beautiful.  Almost seamless.  great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Mature but plenty of life left.  Notes of cassis, plums with underlying char.  Long finish.  Complex, it unwinds in the glass.  This is wonderful on its own, and will work well with bigger foods.  It would work well with roasted chicken or duck.  At age 1

2015 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$220.00USD

This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cassis, cedar, black cherries, slight dried tobacco, spice and an interesting menthol note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spices and graphite.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It is great on its own and would work well with roasted meats and/or root vegetables.  It will still improve.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

2016 Torbreck RunRig, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$177.00USD

This is a blend of 97% Shiraz (Syrah) and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  Thee nose is great with boysenberries, blueberries, slight dark chocolate, dust and char.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, this is both huge and tight.  Black berries, black currants, some blueberries, a bit of alcohol with underlying char.  This is deep and almost impenetrable.  Long finish.  This is outstanding today, but a huge and unwieldly wine.  Give it another five to ten more years in the cellar and it will flirt with a top score.  If opening now, give

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