2017 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

It has been a bit since I tried this producer.  The wines used to be everywhere, but they don't seem as prevalent these days at least in the stores I shop in.  That is a shame as these are very good and reasonably priced wines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight peach, bits of lemon rind and wet rocks.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is quite tasty.  Lemons, minerals and slight peach.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks easily on its own (9% abv) but also will work well with lots of food.  Thai food would be a great choice.  

2001 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Wow, this is stunning.  What a great vintage.  Medium gold in color with slight darker hues, clear and bright.  The nose is big with apricots, honey, orange peel and  crème brulée.  Full bodied.  Viscous texture.  Excellent acidity.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Layers of fruits, dried fruits and other tastes.  Apricots, honey, oranges and caramel.  Long finish.  This is fantastic on its own and will work great with a plain cookie or cake.  Drink over the next thirty years.  

2017 Tablas Creek Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a winery only release from this winery who makes quite a few different wines only sold as such.  It is cooler climate in style.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, smoked herbs, slight bacon fat and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, boysenberries with some char.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It went well with Indian food.  Drink over the next five to ten years.

1995 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Port, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This was a fun wine to try.  19.1% abv.  Bottled in 1998.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and some alcohol note.  Viscous texture.  Tannins all resolved.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Warm on the finish but otherwise very  smooth.  Tasty and a nice way to end an evening.  It does have many Cab qualities but also some Port notes, too.  It appears they used to produce this every vintage, but only once since 2004. 

2019 Château Fombrauge, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

It seemed like a bad idea opening such a young Bordeaux, but this was surprisingly still open and drinking well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, chocolate and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with black cherries and underlying char.  Plenty of depth.  Complex.  Good finish with some milk chocolate notes.  This is delicious.  It will be interesting to see where this goes from here.  Does it shut down?  Does it develop more with cellaring.  In any event it is excellent right now. 

2016 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon The Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

Always great to try one of these!  Still one of the better Cabs coming out of Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has cassis with slight cedar notes and underlying spice and char.  It is still tight and young but already drinking well.  Ideally, it could us another five to  ten years in the cellar, but otherwise give it plenty of air.  It has a nice complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Great on its own, this would be classic with a steak, but would be great as well with a bowl of hearty c

2008 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Pop and pour, this wine is in a great place right now.  Purple in color with slight ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with spice, cassis, earthy and some  hay notes.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Complex.  On the palate, cassis, and black cherries with some char.  Long finish.  At age 15, this seems at peak.  I don't think it will improve but it should still drink well for seven to ten more years.  Great on its own, this will work well at the dinner table.  It went great with a pasta dish and a lentil salad.  

2012 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This is in a very nice place right now.  It needs a bit of air to open and then is drinking well.  2012 is an excellent if not flamboyant vintage.  Coupled with this very structured wine and it does need some coaxing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with graphite, cassis, spice and cedar.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is very concentrated.  Cassis, pencil lead and char.  Long finish.  Great balance.  It is drinking well today but not yet at peak.  This should easily go another twenty years.  Great on its own, this will be excellent with foo

2018 Opus One, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$380.00USD

This bottle had been opened at 9:00 am for serving around 7:00 pm.  It wasn't enough, so it got decanted around 6:30.  Still was quite tight so it was left to sit in the glass for another hour where it eventually opened up.  This bottle needs time.  A 24 hour decant might not be out of line at this point.  This is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight earthiness, graphite, chocolate and slight roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palat

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

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

This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for 30 minutes.  Great showing.  At age 17, this is just getting to peak and really firing on all cylinders.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is impressive with cassis, leather, slight damp earth, graphite and char.  Complex and deep.  It makes you take notice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Seamless texture.  On the palate, cassis, plums with char.  Complex and layered.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is fantastic on its own and will work well with all sorts of meat dishes.  It went well also with a pasta prima vera.  Drink

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