| Winery | Special Designation | Vintage | Varietal | Rating | DateTasted | Notes | Buy Again? |
| Dylan`s Ghost | Stags Leap District, Napa Valley | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | 98 | 4/23/2026 | Blackberry, cocoa, dill, leather, licorice, black plum. It has a plush nose, velvety.
And the flavors and body are more than full. Some who like European style wines would say this is just a big, jammy, Napa wine. But this wine has so much to say for itself. To us, this is really lovely wine with huge intensity and concentration. It is following in the footsteps of many of the amazing 2023 cabs that we have tried already. And this is just the beginning. | y |
| G by Alex Guarachi | Atlas Peak, Napa Valley | 2022 | Red Blend | 97 | 4/23/2026 | The nose has intense cocoa, vanilla, blackberry, red plum and licorice. And like a good Atlas Peak wine it has a hint of wet potting soil.
The body is full, the finish is long. The tannins are medium and nearly silky. It is very concentrated with a very intense flavor of cocoa. At first, this unbalances the rest of the fine flavors on the palate. But after a good hour breathing, the blackberry emerges past the vanilla and cocoa. It is a find bottle of wine given the time.
And any good Atlas Peak wine is always a pleasure to try. | y |
| Tongue Dancer | Pinot de Ville, Sonoma Coast, 10th Anniversary Edition | 2023 | Pinot Noir | 96 | 4/23/2026 | Just a classic. So rich on the nose with all the raspberry, strawberry and red cherry you can ask for. A hint of lime, juniper, pine and wet soil. A very enticing nose that goes beyond the standard pinot noir.
And the palate is perfectly balanced with fruit and acidity. A long finish, full body and super concentration. The tannins coat the teeth luxuriously.
This is the pinot we were hoping to find at Tongue Dancer. This is nice, collectible wine. It is plush and cohesive with interesting flavors that make you want another and another sip. You almost do not want to drink this with food. This wine wants to stand on its own! | y |
| Tongue Dancer | West Sonoma Coast, Putnam Vineyard | 2023 | Pinot Noir | 94 | 4/21/2026 | Raspberry, strawberry, red cherry, bramble stems, lilac and forest floor.
A long, rich finish of floral and berry that has a texture like light Jello. The concentration and intensity are med+. The tannins are light, the body medium. This wine has a brambly roughness that is really pretty. This is the best kind of wine. It is interesting.
West Sonoma Coast is the newest AVA in Sonoma County. And the wines we have tried that are now designated at West Sonoma coast have been great. This one is fascinating and falls outside of the usual Pinot Noir profile. It is worth trying just for the experience. | y |
| Tongue Dancer | Rambling Fox -- Anderson Valley | 2023 | Pinot Noir | 92 | 4/20/2026 | A classic Sonoma County nose with raspberry, strawberry, cherry, lilac perfume and earth. And the concentration of scents is very pleasing.
It has some nice medium tannins that coat the teeth with raspberry. Most of its attributes are medium. The finish has a 15 second length, but the concentration of fruit is very nice. The lilac is very pronounced and really pleasant.
We love the Tongue Dancer logos. It is great art that reminds one of Wind in the Willows characters. We have 6 wines to review and started with the most regional of them all. But the pricepoint on this one is great and worth the money ~$41. | y |
| Tongue Dancer | Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County | 2023 | Pinot Noir | 94 | 4/20/2026 | Nice nose with raspberry, candy red cherry and strawberry, wet soil, pencil lead and lilac.
The tannins are med+ with a thickness that coats the teeth with sweet fruit. The body is full, the finish is long, the concentration, intensity and finish are full/high. This has rather a nice texture with tactile berry fruit. It is nicely intense.
This is a nice Sonoma Coast blend. It is always nice to try the less expensive blends. Often, we like them the best. And the price is nice: $55. | y |
| Trader Joes | Grand Reserve, Cru de la Vallee to Rhone, Cairanne Lot# 147 | 2022 | Rhone Blend | 92 | 4/20/2026 | First off, what is Cairanne? This is a village and AOC (Appellation Origine Controlee) in the southern Rhone valley of France. The grape generally used in these wines are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault and Cousoise. And there can be others.
This wine starts with a really lovely nose. It has raspberry, strawberry, dried cherry, dried herbs and perfume. The intensity on the nose is med+.
The palate is very dry, medium bodied, high acid, medium+ finish, concentration and intensity. It`s very good and super approachable right out of the bottle. This wine is a standout from the other French wines that TJs has put out in the last year. It is a really fun wine that you`ll want to sit and sip. Drink this is creamy salads, grilled chicken, hummus and pretty much any Mediterranean food! | y |
| Trader Joes | Reserve, Paso Robles, Lot# 273 | 2023 | Merlot | 89 | 4/20/2026 | The nose has a vegetal/eucalyptus note, bright red cherry and a scent of Jello. You get raspberry, blackberry, oak, cedar, clove and lilac.
It has fairly firm tannins that hit the teeth as dryness. The acidity is high, the body, finish and intensity are medium. The palate is not going to blow you away, but it has some good concentration.
But as merlot from Paso, goes it is not a bad effort. Keep this one in your back pocket. The nose has good intensity. It is just a bit disjoined on the palate. It could be a great food wine with meats that are not overpowering. It would be a great Thanksgiving sipper with all those savory flavors. | y |
| Dehlinger Winery - Garbro Ranch | Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | 2024 | Pinot Noir | 95 | 4/19/2026 | Firm notes of raspberry juice, red cherry, strawberry, wet soil, phreesia, perfume and cocoa.
The palate shows firm tannins, long berry finish, high acid balanced with concentrated flavors. The intensity is bordering on high.
We stopped and picked up a bottle at Dehlinger on Friday. The 2023 last year blew us away. And this new vintage is equally good, but higher in tannic body. And that plus the high acid and firm concentration of fruit should give it even more ability to age gracefully. | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Columbia Valley | 2023 | Syrah | 96 | 4/19/2026 | Blackberry, nori, toasted meringue, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, lilac, game.
High acid, long umami finish, full body, dark fruited, leathery intensity and concentration. The tannins are silky but high. It has just incredible, plush, dark fruit with such concentration that this stands out from so many other Washington wines.
Strongly recommend decanting or open and leave for two to three hours let it fully open up. Larry is making some lovely, massive wines that would go great with steak or any grilled meats. We enjoyed this wine with garlic and lemon zest sauteed chard, BBQ salmon, spanakopita and tzatziki. | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Horse Heaven Hills | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | 986 | 4/18/2026 | Classic blackerry, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, dried black cherry, graphite, nectarine pit, cassis, spearmint, toasty oak and raspberry. All of these notes are very dark and rich.
High tannins, acid and body give this a firm mouthfeel. Pretty much everything is firm with this wine including the concentration and intensity. The finish is delicious. Yah, this is a monster of a cab.
But do not think about opening this and trying to drink it right away. This puppy needs a good three hours. We let half the bottle sit overnight and tried it again. Those tannins needed that long to loosen up. So, this review is on the second day tasting. And the wine has lost nothing. It just got better.
This wine is so like a Napa cab with all the same notes as Rutherford or Oakville. Horse Heaven Hills is growing some mighty cabs. We cant wait to try this in 5 and then 10 years. This is a wine with a solid aging potential. | y |
| Zeitlos | Sealift Vineyard, West Sonoma Coast | 2022 | Pinot Noir | 92 | 4/17/2026 | | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Walla Walla Valley | 2023 | Syrah | 98 | 4/16/2026 | Bright black raspberry, blackberry, toasted meringue, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, lilac, leather and cinnamon.
The palate is ripe with silky tannins, cocoa, cinnamon and raspberry all in a long finish that goes on and on. The fruit concentration and intensity are over the top. The high acidity balances the fruit nicely. This is the Washington version of the best Hermitage from the Rhone.
Run, dont walk and get some of this limited wine. Let it breath three hours at least to open up. But get a few bottles and try one again in 5 years, and another 10. Kudos to the wine making team! | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Columbia Valley | 2023 | GSM | 98 | 4/16/2026 | Tobacco, cocoa, leather, coffee, dry dill, cola, burnt brown sugar, blackberry, kirsch cherry, red currant, clay minerality.
Super intense dark fruit on the palate, warm, long cocoa ganache finish that goes on and on. The Body, concentration and acid are full leaving this wine to be the full package. All the flavors are very dark and rich. It is like the Cabernet lovers version of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It has all the elements of a good Rhone wine, but the darkness of Columbia valley fruit.
This is lovely wine that will adore a steak, meaty ragu on pasta, wild game and duck confit.
This wine needs an hour to open up. However, you can drink it immediately. But just wait on it. It starts very dark and then has brighter fruit after a good hour. | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Red Mountain | 2023 | Grenache | 96 | 4/13/2026 | Raspberry, strawberry, kirsch cherry, cherry Pez, black pepper, coffee and powdery bakers cocoa.
The palate is medium + body, high acid, powdery tannins, long cocoa ganache finish with ample berry notes. Intensity and concentration of flavors is impressive.
Upon opening, the flavors were muted. But even a half hour later, it was firing on all cylinders and our patience was rewarded. We tried this with spicy Mexican chicken quesadillas loaded with extra sharp Tillamook cheddar and Hatch enchilada sauce. The sharp cheddar absolutely brought out the dried cocoa ganache notes. What a treat! | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Columbia Valley | 2023 | Cabernet-Syrah | 94 | 4/11/2026 | Black cherry, blackberry, flourless chocolate cake, cranberry, fennel root, white pepper, blueberry, toast, clove, red plum, brown sugar, dill
A long, tart berry finish, semi-soft tannins and high acid feel bright and aggressive along with nicely concentrated, balanced fruit.
Give this wine a half hour to open up. It starts tight with all the flavors edgy. But oh boy! Everything smooths out, the wine wakes up! And OH does this wine ache for food ? maybe rack of lamb, spicy tandoor chicken, BBQ sauce. | y |
| Rush Lattin Cellars | Columbia Valley | 2025 | Rose of Grenache | 94 | 4/11/2026 | Lemon drop, pear, stonefruit pit, watermelon, minerality and yeast.
The palate is dry with great fruit that teases that it might be sweet, but it is very dry with really nice acid that balances with the fruit.
Enjoy with creamy pasta, fish tacos, seafood, Thai satay with peanut sauce or simple buttered popcorn. | y |
| Fiddlers Bluff | Columbia Valley | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | 96 | 4/10/2026 | Blackberry, rich black plum, black cherry, black raspberry jam, baking spice, cocoa, coffee and toast.
Intense fruit on the palate with a lengthy, firm berry
tannin finish that last over a minute. Great body, high acid and silky
intensity.
All I can say is this wine is so young. 5 years from now
with proper aging all the rough edges will smooth into an astonishing wine (if you can wait that long). | y |
| Fiddlers Bluff | Columbia Valley | 2023 | Syrah | 94 | 4/10/2026 | Red cherry, black raspberry, pepper, strawberry jam,
black plum conserve, wheat bread.
Super plush palate with soft fruit, medium tannins and
high acidity. The finish is extensive, body medium +, and all with soft, fruity concentration that gets thicker and juicier after the wine opens. | y |
| Fiddlers Bluff | Columbia Valley | 2023 | Blend (Red Table Wine) | 95 | 4/10/2026 | On the nose notes of Coffee, sweet blackberry pie, blueberry, nori, grape sucker, cinnamon, cream cheese frosting.
Beautiful fruit balanced with high acid. The tannins are firm but edging on silky with dusty blackberry fruit. It has a medium body, good concentration and intensity.
This wine has such playful finesse, firm edges, big bones, acidity and intensity that will allow this wine to age 10-20 years with grace. But so much fruit that you?ll want to drink it now. | y |
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