Byron C Mayes

9.0

Bright polished brass in color. Spiced baked quince on the inviting nose. Echoed on the full-bodied palate which adds very ripe lemon and clover honey. Cut through with bright medium plus acidity. Moderate finish continues the palate. Classic CdL that's all set for (British or bread) puddings, fresh or baked stone fruit, or various cheeses with dried fruit on a plate. Drink now through 2040. — 12 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Glassy, almost water clear pale beige. Shy nose and crisp, medium light palate of lime rind and underripe quince. Slight mineral touch on entry that returns on the moderate finish. Bracing acidity throughout. A new way to experience Malbec that takes it even farther afoot from its SW French origins. Still, it's interesting, tasty, and most importantly great with food. Where traditional red Malbec is a beef natural, pair this with pork or heartier poultry dishes. Drink now. — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Transparent garnet red. Herby black cherry on the inviting nose. Medium palate confirms the nose adding light vanilla oak, medium plus acidity, and present and pliable tannins. Finish continues the palate with emphasis on the light oaky notes. An excellent alternative to its cousin that adds an herbal note to the overall cherry-ness. A better option for the seafood and pork side of cuisine. Drink now through 2028. — 3 months ago

Byron C Mayes

8.8

Vibrant salmon pink. Montmorency cherry on the nose and slightly oxidized medium full palate. Off-dry residual sugar levels, low acidity, and a lengthy finish. Fun newer category that needs to standardize on some things, sweetness levels in particular. This one is toward the drier end of "off-dry" with tawny style oxidation, while others are bright fruity and candy sweet. Nice over ice or with tonic water as an aperitif. — 20 days ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Byron had this 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

Byron had this 3 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Bright beige gold. Slight haze after aeration (unfiltered?). Abundant nose of kumquat rind and balsa wood. Echoed on the medium full palate which adds form acidity, underripe quince, and a bit of white pepper. Lingering finish continues the palate. Excellent upper-end Bordeaux Blanc for any and all special dinners. Rich seafood dishes (scallops, trout almandine) are its friend. Drink now through 2027. — 3 months ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark ruby. Meaty blackberry on the nose. Less meat and more blackberry plus some stewed red apple on the juicy, medium palate. Medium plus acidity. Medium, surprisingly assertive tannins. Moderate finish that continues the complex palate. A food wine out of Austria that's perfect for Germanic fare (pork, sausages, noodles) or the typical American cookout. Drink now through 2027. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Hazy deep yellow gold (unfiltered? skin contact?). Caramelized balsa and menthol peaches in the abundant nose. Confirmed on the medium full palate which adds layers of dried quince, baking spices, pickled watermelon rind, and a host of other subtle flavors. Medium acidity from entry; bitter almond on the lengthy, non-stop finish. More complex than you might be expecting, this is a white for hearty fare. Drink now through 2027. — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark red purple with near opaque black core. Violets and dried blueberries on the inviting nose. Echoed on the medium full palate which adds black chalk and desiccated blackberries surrounded by medium plus acidity and velvety, medium tannins. Fruit blossoms to the fore and the chalk settles into a more flavorful graphite with some air. 2018 was a classic vintage up and down the ranges. The Naujan is an excellent Right Bank wine to pair with all of the classics as well as more contemporary fare. I'm having Wellington. You can have a mushroom cheeseburger. We'll both be happy. Drink now through 2028. — 3 months ago