This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 2 months ago
2018 Far Niente Cabernet. Love this vineyard and their signature cab is outstanding! Very nice bouquet, rich with dark fruits, blackberry, plum and light earth notes. Thick long lasting legs. Very smooth on the palette. Rich ripe fruit at the start with blackberry. Finish is smooth with light berry notes. Very low tannins. Love it! Paired well with a big Italian meal with lasagna and sausage. — 3 months ago
Kind of a “stealth” wine, with no description of the component varietals, but it’s an easy drinking accessible red wine, medium body, not too much tannin and ready to drink. — a month ago
Nice but not quite at the true top level, especially given the price. Decanted 4 hours which is necessary at this point. Nice pairing with a big T-bone steak cooked in the Tuscan style. Could use more acid on the finish. Probably needs a few years to come together. — a month ago
HOMESTEAD
2018
33% Carignane, 25% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre & 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
CALIFORNIA HOMESTEAD PAINTED BY MATT JONES - mattjonesart.com BOTTLED BY BIG BASIN VINEYARDS, BOULDER CREEK, CA ATION@BIGBASINVINEYARDS.COM -831-621-8028
% ALC BY VOL 13. — 4 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2019 “Isosceles” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark brambles, crème de cassis, tobacco, Fresno chilis, Mexican chocolate, dry earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This is a big, powerful wine but it’s fairly balanced. I would drink now though it probably wouldn’t struggle to see past 2029. — 22 days ago
Love this one — 3 months ago
Dennis Hogenkamp
12.5% ABV Light thin mouth feel. Pear and apple. Ancient ocean & Volcanic soils. Proprietary white blend. “Spirit of Oregon in a Bottle” label states.
Dry blend:
50% Riesling
30% Gewürztraminer
12% Early Muscat
5% Pinot Blanc
2% Sauvignon Blanc
1% Indicator Planting — a day ago