2003 Château Branaire-Ducru, France, Bordeaux, St. Julian, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$74.00USD

This took about an hour to open and then was drinking great.  It is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4.5% Petit Verdot and 3.5% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, cigar box and cherries.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Ripe fruit.  Lighter tannins.  Flavors of Cherries with some cassis, chocolate and clean(er) barnyard.  Good finish.  This is about at peak now but should be here for at least another five to seven years.  It will go well with roasted meats or fowl. 

2015 Casarena Cabernet Sauvignon Owen's Vineyard, Argentina, Agrelo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has cassis, cherries, bell pepper and slight spice.  On the palate, this is a bit candied (cherry) with some fresh cherries.  There is no bell pepper on the palate.  Medium finish.  This is an easy drinking red that is a nice value.  It should be drunk in the next three to five years.  Pairs nicely with pasta or pizza.  

2013 Peter Michael Les Pavots, USA, California, Sonoma, Knights Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet France, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot.  This is a gorgeous wine but it will need some time to reach maturity.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Cassis, black cherries, dark chocolate, char and baking spice on the nose.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the cassis and black cherries carry thru though concentrated.  Firm tannins.  An underlying char.  Long finish.  This needs about five to ten years until peak and will be good for ten to twenty years after that.  It drinks well on its own and will work with bigger foods especially roasts

2013 Duckhorn Vineyards The Discussion, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$165.00USD

This is the top wine that Duckhorn makes.  It is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, spice and slight chocolate.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  It is not a monster wine, but has a nice elegance to it.  It is younger-ish with firm tannins.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some underlying sandalwood and slight forest floor.  Good finish.  This will work well on its own but also with a wide variety of meats and fowl.  It should be close to peak but should be here for at least another

2014 Realm Cellars The Tempest, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This is a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.  It is a delicious wine that while still young is drinking well.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, cigar box, plums and baking spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Lots of black cherry and cassis with forest floor.  Thick tannins.  Long finish.  Obviously young, this will continue to improve for another seven to ten years and then be good for at least ten to fifteen after that.  It drinks well on its own and will work with roasts or casseroles.  

1992 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1992
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Opened for our 27th Anniversary.  At age 27, this wine is doing well.  Of course, when a wine gets this old, every bottle is different.  This was a good, if  not great bottle.  Opened an allowed to breathe for 30 minutes, then enjoyed over the next couple of hours.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, rust, and slight brown sugar.  The last two suggest a slight oxidation and slight exposure to heat.  It was better, however, on the palate.  Deep and complex with slight layers of cassis and earth.  There was a hint of oxidation on the palate as well but the fruit was still youthful enou

2013 Torrin Tsundere, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Torrin makes some of the best Rhone styled wines anywhere.  This is 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Tannat, so not completely a Rhone styled wine.  Close enough.  There wines are big and generally need at least five years to start to be approachable for my tastes.  This one is just getting there.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, slight black cherries, blueberries, slight dust and spice.  It's great.  On the palate, this is big and wide.  Great texture.  Loads of black raspberry fruit with some blueberries and a bit of black cherries.  It's d

2017 Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvial Selection, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, and spice.  On the palate, this is a bit thinner than the Heritage Selection (but still a big wine).  A bit more complexity if not depth.  On the palate, black cherries continue thru over a smokey (not fire related) base.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This needs five to seven years to peak and should be good for ten to fifteen after that.  It does drink well now on its own and will work well with grilled foods.

2017 Heritage School Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga - Napa Valley Casey's Lakeview Vineyard, USa, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Heritage School is what used to be known as Harris Estate Wines.  David and Linda Jenkins purchased the property in 2014 and renamed the winery and the three vineyards on the property.  Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker.  I was able to taste a couple of these wines and both were excellent.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, cassis and baking spice.  Maybe a touch of soy sauce.  On the palate, this has a pretty texture.  Cassis and black cherries over an interesting chalky base along with some baking spices.  Good balance.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish.  This w

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