| Winery | Special Designation | Vintage | Varietal | Rating | DateTasted | Notes | Buy Again? |
| Reverie II | Limited Reserve Kenefick Ranch, Napa Valley | 2018 | cabernet Franc | 95 | 11/11/2024 | Blackberry, pencil shavings, licorice, leather, perfume, dusty rose, black currant, black cherry, pine and potpourri. The nose is really intense -- you can smell the wine 6 inches from the glass.
The palate has fine, high tannins, long finish, high acid, amazing concentration, intense flavor and full body. There are no holes in this wine.
This was a gift from a friend and what a gift! The tannins in this beast are lovely, thick and ripe. But it still has a huge ability to age. We wish we had a couple cases of it.
This is one of a trifecta of wineries owned by the same folks including Aonair and Blue Oak. Try them all! | y |
| Hollys Hill | East Slope El Dorado | 2021 | Syrah | 92 | 11/9/2024 | A lovely Syrah with rich black fruit. On par with Cote Rotie. | y |
| Hollys Hill | Grenache Noir El Dorado | 2023 | Grenache | 93 | 11/9/2024 | Red fruit, spice, minerality. This is great southern Rhone stuff. | y |
| Trader Joes | Grand Reserve, Carneros Lot# 20 | 2023 | Chardonnay | 91 | 11/7/2024 | Great effort by Trader Joes. This Chardonnay is buttery with a hint of oak, a cinnamon note, peach and lemon.
But it is on the palate that it really shines. It has a lovely richness, good acid levels, full body and long finish.
Great wine for sea food, bread, olive oil or just sipping while making dinner. It can easily stand alone. The only thing it lacks is minerality, but that aside, it is really well balanced between the rich fruit and the acidity. | y |
| Trader Joes | Reserve, Santa Barbara County Lot# 241 | 2022 | Pinot Noir | 94 | 11/7/2024 | The nose is redolent of rhubarb/strawberry jam. It has red cherry, raspberry and sweet baking spice. A hint of mushroom as well.
But the mouthfeel and the concentration are pretty amazing. It has the concentration of a much more expensive pinot. The acid is med+, the body full, the finish long. There is little tannin to speak of ? in other words it is really smooth wine with great flavor intensity.
This wine knocks it out of the park. We need to be telling the pinot lovers about it!! | y |
| Trader Joes | Platinum Reserve, Carneros | 2022 | Pinot Noir | 94 | 11/7/2024 | The nose has cherry cola, strawberry and wet tree bark. Really lovely. Med+ concentration on the nose.
The palate has full concentration, full body, long finish, high acid and great intensity. Tannins are light, but present and coat the teeth with sweet berry flavors.
And I will say, having tried dozens of Carneros Pinots this year on our many tasting trips, this one bucks the Carneros trend of light, strawberry, mineral wines. This tastes more like something out of Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey. A very powerful, balanced pinot that needs to be noticed!! | y |
| Maison Bouachon | Dedication Chateauneuf-du-Pape | 2017 | Chateauneuf-du-Pape | 89 | 11/6/2024 | | n |
| Mommessin | Julienas Grand Vin Fin du Beaujolais | 2020 | Gamay | 90 | 11/5/2024 | | y |
| Bonpas | Croix de Bonpas Cotes-du-Rhone Villages | 2019 | Rhone Blend | 86 | 11/4/2024 | | n |
| Louis Bernard | Vacqueyras | 2018 | Rhone Blend | 85 | 11/4/2024 | | n |
| Emeritus | Hallberg Brut | 2020 | sparkling Wine | 92 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Emeritus | Hallberg Blanc | 2023 | Blend (White Table Wine) | 94 | 11/2/2024 | Stellar wine | y |
| Emeritus | Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley | 2018 | Pinot Noir | 94 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Emeritus | Pinot Hill East | 2018 | Pinot Noir | 95 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Emeritus | Pinot Hill West | 2018 | Pinot Noir | 93 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Emeritus | Wesleys Reserve | 2019 | Pinot Noir | 93 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Emeritus | Pinot Hill Elite Sonoma Coast | 2019 | Pinot Noir | 96 | 11/2/2024 | Finest wine at Emeritus | y |
| Emeritus | La Combette Clone 37 | 2019 | Pinot Noir | 95 | 11/2/2024 | | y |
| Radio-Coteau | Savoy Vineyard Alexander Valley | 2022 | Chardonnay | 91 | 11/2/2024 | | n |
| Radio-Coteau | Savoy Vineyard Alexander Valley | 2018 | Chardonnay | 91 | 11/2/2024 | | n |
| | | | | | | | |
| << Prev Next >> |
|