Frog's Leap
Rutherford Petite Sirah 2011
One of our Napa trip bottles. This is a very elegant grape. Really fresh tasting fruit. Velvety mouthfeel...totally different vibe than the usual big bold cabs, etc. that we usually drink. Would be the perfect pair with some firm cheese. This is kind of a farm-to-table, boutique vineyard, but I have seen it a handful of restaurants down here. — 8 years ago
Noble Vines
667 Monterey Pinot Noir 2014
Tobacco...definitely tobacco. Josh and I smelled apple and vanilla. Decent but nothing special here. Flimsy and forgettable. — 8 years ago
Fattoria la Ripa
Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese
Bought a half case of this babe...this is the third opening. Dry, leathery mouthfeel---definitively Tuscan. A hint of licorice and oak on the finish. Plus it's organic! We are SO green. — 8 years ago
The Cleaver
California Red Blend 2014
Picked this one up at Crown while cheese shopping. Definitely tastes like the young wine that it is. A little flimsy, but has a nice ripe fruit taste. The label connotes a pair-ability with red meat...but I'd stick to pasta, etc. At this pricepoint one cannot really complain, but I likely not revisit this one. — 8 years ago
Silver Oak
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Brought out the good stuff for V-Day. Aerated and decanted this bottle of beast for over an hour. Intensely rich fruit, rounded out by tannins that have clearly softened given the age of this wine. So rare to experience a bottle of this magnitude. The first few sips have been absolute heaven, and the balance will surely get better. — 8 years ago
Slow Press
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
I mean...it's fine? No real depth here...very simple. Not what I want from a Cab. I'll get back to you with something bomb after my month of no drinking. #haveoneforme — 8 years ago
Belle Glos
Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
A little birdie told me today is National Drink Wine Day (as if we needed a reason). I opened this beauty for the occasion. If you like Cali Pinots, this one will knock your socks off. Fantastically fruit forward, but not lightweight---this is a very medium-bodied wine. A hint of spice, a hint of cocoa---would be killer with some dark chocolate. I paired with sea-salted Coastal Cheddar. Stellar stuff. — 8 years ago
King Estate
Acrobat Oregon Pinot Noir 2014
So I've come down off the Silver Oak high, and settled into this Oregon Pinot. This is a goto by-the-glass option for me at J. Marks. Not quite as fruit-forward as its competitor Meiomi, but really expressive flavor here. Markedly different from the CA North Coast Pinots. Im a fan. Paired with Black Diamond Aged Cheddar. — 8 years ago
Decoy
Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Nice little Cab right here. Delicate fruit, no alcohol biting you on the finish. Licorice flavor, on the softer side of the scale. I'd say the 2014 is ready to drink right after opening...but I poured using the Aervana---which, if you're not familiar, is an aerator wine product that basically cheats by speeding up the oxygenation. — 8 years ago
Matt Brock
I've had this bottle in the cellar for a LONG time (probably past peak)...waiting for the right occasion. Here is to ten eventful years of Builders Bargain. Jammy, delicate flavor. 13 years of aging has given this a very earthy quality. Decanted for 90 minutes but should get even more spectacular through the evening. Cheers! — 8 years ago