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. — 7 days ago

Byron C Mayes

Byron had this a month 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. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Like most Rhônes, the composition changes vintage to vintage. Current blend is Rousanne (60%), Viognier (25%), and Grenache Blanc (15%). Bright, brassy gold. Abundant and inviting nose of yellow flowers, honeycomb, and peach butter. Echoed on the full-bodied palate which adds layers of baked banana, mild baking spices, and bitter almond. Medium, food-friendly acidity. Medium long finish which continues the palate. A wonderfully complex Nimes white that will rival many CdP blends, all at an incredibly accessible price. Drink now through 2025. — 2 months 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. — 12 days 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. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

[Consumed from a classic white wine glass] Beautiful rose gold; fine persistent bubbles. Inviting nose of dried apples and toasted coconut. Confirmed on the medium, surprisingly lush, palate which adds a finish of bitter almond marzipan. Finish is very short, but the size on the palate makes it not missed. A very good value Champagne from Lidl. Great for when you want the real thing but don't want to shell out the big bucks. Drink it when you buy it. — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Byron had this a month 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. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark, near black purplish red. Blueberry compote and blackberry cobbler on the inviting nose. Full bodied palate confirms the nose with a bit of ashen oak, medium acidity, and velvety, medium plus tannins. Classic, if common, Napa Bordeaux style blend. Enjoy with higher end cuts of beef (filet Mignon, prime rib), or seriously upgrade your meatloaf as I did. Drink now through 2027. — 2 months ago