Chateau Montelena
Napa & Alexander Valleys Zinfandel 1979
Definitely old color-wise. Brick-orange. Aroma is old bricks and books. Also has a citrus/orange vibe. Flavors are strange and hint funky. Plenty of acid. Still zippy. Complexity has stuck around. The basic background is excellent. A classic aged wine with the strange background of a classic. This has the ghost of Zin in it. Herbal minty side. Not really Zin of today, but strange and fun to try all these years later. A unique wine drinking experience. Held up in a strange and fun way. — 8 days ago
The Originals
Washington State Syrah 2023
Distinctive basic label. Dark as boar blood. Smells like ink, grass, and moss. Very non-fruit driven nose. Flavors however are ripe and full fruit. Like a blackberry pie or black cherry candy with just a hint of smoke. Earth-i-ness goes away on the tongue. Slight licorice root or anise streak. It’s missing the funk, but it’s pretty good for a basic and cheap Syrah. — 16 days ago
Miller Family Wine Company
Volunteer Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
This one is the Sonoma County Cab. Heavy bottle. Dark as a Santa Rosa plum skin in the glass. Hint of incense in the nose. Brooding berry/plum compote too. Flavors are bombastic and overwhelming. Oak, oak, and more oak. This tastes like cherry sauce soaked in a vanilla candle. Slight hint of the potential decent Cab Sauv grapes in the background. But mostly it’s too much barrel not enough finesse. — 4 days ago
Koncho & Co
Saperavi 2021
sort of a critter label with a ram silhouette. Lovely beet juice color. Aroma is tart red berries and a quince jam. Flavors are very earthy and strange. More beets, some cherry cola, a hint of mint. Body is unique. Almost oily. Thick. Tannins are high, but well integrated. Slightest of sauna vibes. Think hot rocks and wet rocks. This is a strange, very old world wine. More on the savory side with just enough fruit seeping through. — 14 days ago
Rinaldi
Eramare Cortese 2023
Critter label. With cool fish on it. Color of golden straw. Hints of wet rocks on the nose. Bit of lemon water too. Flavors are fabulous. Crisp yet complex. Has a minerality and roundness to it. Green fresh Italian herbs like oregano and basil. This is a very pleasing white. Hints of Chardonnay, but with enough acid zip to make it special. — 16 days ago
Bergsträsser Winzer eG
Terra Starkenburg Pinot Noir Lieblich 2023
This is Pinot Noir. Baden. I like the label. Has hillside vineyards on it. That’s Germany. The back label has a sweetness score of three grape bunches out of five. We’ll see. It beautiful in the glass. And it smells the part. Very Pinot nose with fresh fruits and flowers in there. Hint of unburned firewood too. Flavors are simple and lighter with a hint of sweet, but it’s not ripe. It’s just fresh. Has a refreshing freshness. Not a ponderous Pinot, but for a spring evening when you aren’t quite ready to bust out the Rosé this is pretty interesting stuff. Great deal at Trader Joe’s. — 4 days ago
La Czar
Zinfandel 2023
Simple and elegant label. Good color. Deeper maroon than the Zin can be. Smell of incense and fancy hand soaps. Not much jam on the nose. Flavors are complex and fun. Earthy and herbal for Zin. Minerality in this. Tastes like rocks smell. ABV is 14.4%, but it’s not fruit driven. It’s even a bit funky. Streak of acids. This has some nice things going on. Balance is great. Restrained and food friendly for Zin. Great deal at grocery outlet. — 14 days ago
Tree Kilpatrick
Label is ok. Arty grapes. Simple color scheme. Color is deep and dark. Aroma has a ham, jam and molasses blend. Maybe a bit of leather. Both cherry-plum fruit leather and leather belt. Flavors are straight forward and fairly fruit driven, but it’s got a little earth and wet rocks. Can taste some Merlot. Balance is decent. Plenty of acid too. Just a bit too ripe. — 4 days ago