Doug Powers

2245 wines • 112 followers • 112 following

Cedarville Vineyard

Viognier 2022

9.0

Intensely floral, lemon and pear also show, this seems richer, fatter, and rounder than the 2021, lingering finish, very fine CA Viognier!! — 2 days ago

with Jim

Tom and Chris liked this

Christian Ducroux

Exspectatia Beaujolais Gamay 2015

Doug Powers

8.8

Some animal/barnyard/bretty aromas and flavors, lovely redfruits as well, even at age 10, this lovely Gamay (wine is labeled “Vin de France”, so maybe grapes are outside the Beaujolais AOC (??)), is still singing, nice acid balance, medium-long finish, very good Gamay!! — 5 days ago

with Jim

Dave, Tom and 4 others liked this

Three Wine Company

Old Vines Field Blend 2019

Doug Powers

9.0

Spivey, brambley, red fruits, definitely ripe (15.2% ABV), but nicely balanced and with a long, lingering finish, very enjoyable Contra Costa County field blend!! — 7 days ago

with Jim

Tom, Brian and 5 others liked this

Singlefile Wines

Denmark Family Reserve Chardonnay 2022

Doug Powers

9.3

Lovely buttery oak notes up front, great weight and texture, acidity is firm, very long, lingering finish, I just wish Singlefile wines were distributed in the U.S. — 8 days ago

with Jim

Ira, Bob and 8 others liked this

Bob McDonald

@Doug Powers My wife and I had a tasting at the winery a few years ago. It was owned by a South African family (and probably still is). Not a big production.

Cedarville Vineyard

Viognier 2021

Doug Powers

9.1

Lemon, floral, mineral, slightly honeyed, lovely texture and cleansing acidity, this should continue to age gracefully for 2-3 years, my favorite domestic Viognier, kudos to Jonathan! — 2 days ago

with Jim

Ira, Tom and 2 others liked this

M. Chapoutier

Monier de La Sizeranne Hermitage Syrah 1990

Doug Powers

9.4

Earthy, a little gamey, smoky, animal/bacon fat, fruit is not quite as youthful as an identical bottle from a friend’s cellar tried last month, long, lingering finish, outstanding Hermitage, should continue to develop for another 5+ years!! — 6 days ago

with Jim

Kland, Dave and 9 others liked this

ESF

great pull

Tom Casagrande

🤌

Peter van den Besselaar

Jealous 😏

Bedrock Wine Co.

California Syrah 2023

Doug Powers

9.0

Effusive and up front red fruits, smooth and balanced, really a fine drinker, longish finish, very nice Syrah! — 8 days ago

with Jim

Bob, Hermes and 8 others liked this

First Drop Wines

Mother's Milk Shiraz 2021

Doug Powers

8.8

This remains a wonderful inexpensive Aussie Shiraz, medium-bodied, nice balancing acidity, second to last bottle, but we’ve always enjoyed this eminently drinkable Shiraz!! — 9 days ago

with Jim

Peter, Jan and 7 others liked this

Joh. Jos. Prüm

Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese Riesling 2001

Doug Powers

8.7

I had to recently move some wine boxes in the basement, and found this bottle which had leaked badly (think 35-40% leakage loss by volume) — so I put it in my fridge for 2 weeks, opened it tonight (cork was LOOSELY in the neck, so no corkscrew necessary), and AMAZINGLY, it still shows apricot notes and is not just drinkable, but it’s darn good, from a GREAT vintage!! I have no doubt that a pristine bottle would be 9.2 or 9.3. — 2 days ago

with Jim

Scott@Mister, Ira and 12 others liked this

Three Wine Company

Spinelli Vineyard Mataro 2015

Doug Powers

9.2

128-year-old Mataro vines from the Spinelli Vineyard in Contra Costa County, the dark black fruit aromas and flavors seem unmistakably Californian, quite ripe, still shows lots of structure and old vine intensity, long, lingering finish, last bottle but this is another outstanding wine from Matt Cline!! — 7 days ago

with Jim

Tom, Vin and 6 others liked this

Tom Casagrande

I used to order these wines through Wine Access years ago. I enjoyed them initially but then over time grew a bit weary of them because none of them weighed in at less than 15%. The fruit was impeccable. I love those old CC vineyards. But I prefer it when people like Ridge, Bedrock, and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sandlands, bring in and vinify those gorgeous old vine grapes at a slightly lower level of ripeness.

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said, I wish these 3 Wines were more 14% than 15%, but I’ve way worse from some “name” southern Rhône wines (my favorite region in the wine world) — I guess it’s “climate change”??

Tom Casagrande

If other wineries can source the fruit from the same CC old vineyards and come in under 15, that suggests that the difference is a conscious choice. But in the Southern Rhone, I think your point is more applicable. They’re primarily working with Grenache there, and, particularly in CDP and Lirac, it’s a real challenge to get phenolic ripeness without sugar levels that take you to 15 and beyond. I feel for those folks. Climate change is an existential challenge for them.