| Winery | Special Designation | Vintage | Varietal | Rating | DateTasted | Notes | Buy Again? |
| 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 |
| Baca | Cats Cradle, Rockpile, Sonoma County | 2021 | Zinfandel | 90 | 4/5/2026 | | y |
| Nicholson Ranch | Cactua Hill, Sonoma Coast | 2016 | Pinot Noir | 89 | 4/5/2026 | | n |
| Paradigm | Oakville, Napa Valley | 2019 | Zinfandel | 89 | 4/5/2026 | | n |
| Status Quo | Russian River Valley | 2024 | Pinot Noir | 90 | 4/5/2026 | | y |
| Tolenas Winery | Totality Suisun Valley | 2022 | Pinot Noir | 91 | 4/3/2026 | | y |
| Trader Joes | Grand Reserve, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Lot# 148 | 2022 | Merlot | 91 | 4/2/2026 | Notes of med+ intensity raspberry, black cherry, black tea, graphite, cranberry, honeysuckle and pomegranate molasses.
This palate is very plush. The tannins are silky/firm. The concentration and intensity of the fruit is fairly high with the fruit predominately acidic pomegranate. It has a lovely sweet/tart mix.
This is a TJs release that shouldnt be sniffed at. They dont always release amazing wines, but this one is pretty nice. | y |
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