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Welcome to the wine notes page. The idea here is very simple. We have over 5000 ratings in our wine tasting database that we'd like to share with anyone who might find these opinions useful. The number of ratings grows weekly.

Our primary focus is on the wineries of the Sacramento region. We spend our time tasting in Lodi, Amador County, El Dorado County, the valley and the Gold Country. Of course, we attend the weekly tastings at BevMo as well, so we get a good selection of California and world-wide wines in our database as well.

Below you'll find a list of our 20 most recent ratings. But to search the whole database for what you're looking for please visit the search page. We have a total of 7357 wines in our database currently.

WinerySpecial DesignationVintageVarietalRatingDateTastedNotesBuy Again?
WrathSan Saba Vineyard, Monterey2021Pinot Noir9312/11/2024Strawberry predominates with raspberry, red cherry, amaretto, powdered sugar notes, green chili and a gamey note. The acidity is med+, the body full, the finish long, the tannins, medium and the concentration full. The wine is really intense, but has a few holes in the flavor profile that push this one down to a 93.y
WrathMonterey Pommard 4/7772021Pinot Noir9412/10/2024Green pepper-corn notes, cayenne spice, a hint of lemon peel, raspberry, red cherry and mushroom. The palate has high acidity, med- tannins, long finish, concentrated flavors and full body. The intensity is incredible. The sweet berries, cayenne spice, great acidity and lovely minerality make this wine really well balanced. But more than that, its really interesting with all these fascinating notes in it! The 2018 and 2020 versions of this wine were much darker in fruit. This is very bright. This is why this wine is better than the two Wrath wines below. The two ratings below are missing the minerality. This is the pick of the three so far.y
WrathMonterey Clone Swan/8282021Pinot Noir9412/9/2024Raspberry, intense red cherry, strawberry jam, cinnamon spice, forest floor, white pepper. The palate shows very concentrated flavors, med acid, low tannins, long finish and a plush body. Oh, guys, this is intense (see below). This wine has one flaw. it starts as a 95 pointer. However, it fades to a 92 fast after just breathing for ten minutes. But thats the beginning of the bottle. Give it time. After an hour it settles down to a gentle 94. This wine is a joy to drink -- bright, fruity, jammy candy and young. y
WrathMonterey Clone 115/6672021Pinot Noir9312/8/2024The wine has an intense nose of red cherry, strawberry, forest tree bark (really!), baking spice, raspberry and red licorice. The acidity is high, the body full, the finish long, the flavors concentrated and intense. The color is pale and the tannins very light. This is the like a Carneros pinot. Not what wed expect from Monterey, but who cares! This is brilliant wine. For under $40 bucks you cant do better.y
InglenookRC Reserve Rutherford Ca2016Syrah9212/7/2024 y
La SirenaNapa Valley2019Blend (Red Table Wine)9312/6/2024Sort of a goofy label and the description of the wine on the back is all in pirate-speak. But aside from that, this is a really nice blend of Cab Sauv, Petite Verdot, Grenache and Syrah. The nose and palate are soft and velvety. The nose is concentrated and intense with notes of black berry, black cherry, black plum, dried raisin, floral notes, chocolate cookie and perfume. It just wants you to sit, watch TV, and sip it. It doesn?t need food at all. The palate is soft, thick, full and long finishing. It is earthy and vegetal at the back of the palate, balancing wonderfully with the dark fruit and dried flavors. This is a great wine to find and try. It runs around $65.y
Trader JoesPlatinum Reserve, Yountville, Napa Valley, Lot# 1152023Cabernet Sauvignon9212/6/2024A lovely, concentrated scent with good intensity. The nose has scents of blackberry, black cherry, leather, raspberry, greens, dried flowers and herbs, earth, toasted oak and smoke. The palate is concentrated, full bodied, with high acid, soft tannins, and a long finish. This wine reminds us of a chianti in that you get the dried herbs and flowers that give it a wild, earthiness. The concentration is very nice, leaving you wanting another sip. This wine is great with or without food. It would love a vinegary pasta salad with kalamata olives or Greek seasoned lamb.y
Trader JoesPlatinum Reserve, Paso Robles, Lot# 1202023Cabernet Franc8912/6/2024blackberry, red licorice, black cherry, weediness, black pepper, green pepper on the nose. The palate shows high acid, high tannin, full body, med+ finish and med concentration. There is a slight bitterness in the mid-palate. The concentration and cohesiveness of flavors lacks a bit here. The bitterness is a distraction, covering many of the nice flavors that are there. With that said, the wine will be great grilled chicken and other meats. Greek food will pull this wine up quite a bit. We tried it with feta, and it really brought the wine to life.y
AlapaySanta Barbara County2023Viognier9211/24/2024 y
Cordero di MontezemoloMonfalletto2020Nebbiolo9111/23/2024This wine is missing elements. It is far simpler than the ratings it got.n
Figli Luigi OdderoDOCG2017Nebbiolo9411/22/2024Aged notes of raisin, prune, plum, red cherry, light oak, cocoa, game, black pepper and vanilla. The tannins are high, but fine. The acid is high, the finish is long, the body is med+ and the concentration is med+.y
Tenuta CuccoSerralunga d`Alba DOCG2019Nebbiolo9211/22/2024The nose has notes of spicy phreesia, plum, cocoa, dried herbs and flowers. There is a hint of meatiness. The tannins a pretty firm. They took an hour to settle down. The acid is medium, the concentration is med, the intensity is med+, finish is long. And the body is med+.y
Vermillion Wine Company 2021Blend (Red Table Wine)8911/20/2024 y
KanamotaNapa Valley2013Cabernet Sauvignon8811/17/2024This was a purchase from the Wine and Cheese shop in Oxbow Market in Napa. n
Trader JoesPlatinum Reserve St Helena Napa Valley Lot #1142022Cabernet Sauvignon9011/17/2024Blackberry, black currant, black cherry, licorice, anise, leather, petrol.y
MabonSonoma County2021Blend (Red Table Wine)9011/16/2024 y
Beaulieu VineyardSt Helena Napa Valley2018Cabernet Sauvignon9111/15/2024Needs more time to loosen up firm tannins.y
Hall WinesDiamond Mountain District2021Cabernet Sauvignon9511/15/2024 y
Walt WinesClos Pepe Santa Rita Hills2021Pinot Noir9311/15/2024 y
Walt WinesShea Vineyard Willamette Valley2022Pinot Noir9211/15/2024 y
        
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