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The Hilt
The Old Guard Pinot Noir 2014
Fresh and silky Pinot with a great nose. — 5 years ago
Jonata Winery
La Sangre de Jonata Ballard Canyon Syrah 2010
Give a great wine 8 years and wow! — 6 years ago
Jonata Winery
Todos Ballard Canyon Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
A blend of 47% Syrah, 28% Cab Sauv and adding Cab Franc, Sangiovese, Viognier, Petit Verdot & Metlot. Deep Ruby with complex aromas of dark fruit, spice, almonds and wet earth. On the palate blackberry, currant and raspberry flavors, soft tannins on a long finish ending with leather, pepper and oak tones. Very Nice, a beauty. — 5 years ago
The Hilt
The Old Guard Chardonnay 2016
Re-committing to my long review backlog. This one is a perennial favorite for me, and Wayne does a great job from year to year with this central coast chard. More on the honey/peach side of the spectrum, with a light amount of oak and butter. Definitely one (like Aubert) that benefits from a bit of time in the glass and approaching room temp. — 5 years ago
Wayfarer
Golden Mean Fort Ross - Seaview Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2013
The other wine for tonight’s Asian pork. This was outstanding. Wish I had more of it. Perfect pairing and so multilayered and a good mesh of being American with a solid Burgundian edge to it. — 6 years ago
The Hilt
The Vanguard Pinot Noir 2012
Very enjoyable and in a good spot. I found this to be slightly stemmy and herbal, but plenty of gummy fruit to it. Small whole cluster usage? Spicy too...sweet rhubarb tart with blackberry spice. There is a fleshy profile to this showing soft red plum and mulberries. Acidity is holding strong. This is likely at peak...enjoy! — 5 years ago
Château d'Issan
Blason d'Issan Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Classic Bordeaux profile, with no shortage of persistence or complexity, especially on day 2. — 6 years ago
Wayfarer
Fort Ross - Seaview Sonoma County Chardonnay 2015
Gorgeous Chardonnay of superb finesse and balance, carrying its weight effortlessly all through the palate and buoyed by just the right degree of acidity for the style. Citrus, jasmine, light baking spice and gentle minerality. There is both power and subtlety going on here, great display of dense fruit that is not the least bit heavy or ponderous. One of the best California Chardonnay tasted in recent memory. — 6 years ago
Clive McNish
Interesting wine, much better on day two. Nose was great from the outset, blackcurrant, pencil lead, leather with a floral and herbal, tea like aroma. Day one it starts fruity on the palate but finishes woody and a little dry / sour, by day two the finish is sweeter and a little smokey with a hint of ash. Rich and deep red in colour. Probably needs a few more years in the bottle to really be at its best but enjoyable now. — 5 years ago