Alere | Beckman | Betts & Scholl | Big Basin | Bonaccorsi | Chono | Clos du Caillou | Core Wine | Denner Vineyards | Domaine de l’Oratoire | Domaine La Bouissiere | Epiphany | E. Guigal | Jonata | Marilyn Remark | Paul Lato | Perrin & Fils | Pierre Gaillard | Saxum | Sean Thackrey | Stolpman Vineyards | Tablas Creek | Torbreck

Alere

2005 Alere Vineyards Grenache, Blue Oak Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)
No tasting note. (84-86 pts.)

2006 Alere Vineyards Grenache, Blue Oak Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)
No tasting note. (84-86 pts.)

2006 Alere Vineyards Syrah, Blue Oak Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)
No tasting note. (87-89 pts.)

2006 Alere Vineyards Mourvedre, Blue Oak Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)
No tasting note. (85-87 pts.)

Beckman

2007 Beckman Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
Big, earthy and intense, the 2007 Beckman Estate Syrah is packed with earthy dark fruit, asphalt, scorched earth and pepper nuances. Clean and pure on the palate with nice acidity, medium to full body, rich fruit and a long finish. (92 pts.)

2006 Beckman Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
The 2006 Beckman Estate Syrah Purisma Mountain Vineyard offers up clean, fruit driven notes of blackberry, cassis, spice and fresh cut flowers. Medium to full bodied on the palate, this shows nice precision and acidity, impressive balance and a long finish. (92 pts.)

Betts & Scholl

2006 Betts & Scholl Grenache The OG (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)
Sweet and heady, the 2006 Betts & Scholl Grenache The OG is filled with cherry, meat, spice and garrigue aromas that lead into a full bodied, glycerin infused palate. Soft, massively fruited and sweet, I’d drink these over the next year or two. (88 pts.)

Big Basin

2006 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock (USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)
The 2006 Big Basin Rattlesnake vineyard Syrah is a dense, structured wine with fantastic aromatics of smoked meat, tobacco, dark fruit and striking minerality. The palate is medium to full bodied, rich, tannic and structured. This needs time. (91-93 pts.)

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock (USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)
Still in barrel, the 2007 Big Basin Rattlesnake Vineyards is closed on the nose but shows a fantastically rich, full palate and impressive length to the finish. (92-94 pts.)

Bonaccorsi

2006 Bonaccorsi Syrah (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
The 2006 Bonaccorsi Syrah Santa Ynez Valley possesses perfumed aromatics of raspberries, spice, flowers and subtle vanilla notes, medium to full body, a smooth texture and nice length. Drink over the next 5 to 7 years. (90 pts.)

Chono

2007 Chono Syrah (Chile, Coquimbo, Elqui Valley)
Showing lots of herbal, peppery and earthy aromas, the 2007 Chono Syrah improves in the mouth with sweet, rich fruit, nice balance and a clean finish.Very well made and if you don’t mind borderline green and herbal aromas, you’ll enjoy this. (87 pts.)

Clos du Caillou

2006 Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Blanc (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône)
The 2006 Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Blanc shows pretty aromatics of peach, bubblegum and flowers, medium body and a soft, easy drinking style. (87 pts.)

2006 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Exhibiting clean, lifted and perfumed aromatics of raspberries and cherry laced fruit, garrigue and crushed stone and mineral notes, the 2006 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz is medium to full bodied, rich, textured and long. (92 pts.)

Core Wine

2005 Core Cuvée Fletcher Alta Mesa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
Spending close to 28 months in barrel, the 2005 Core Cuvée Fletcher Alta Mesa possesses deep, dark blackberry, black cherry, meat, resin and spice aromas, medium to full body and a long, tannic finish. (92 pts.)

2006 Core Cuvée Fletcher Alta Mesa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
Spending a full 10 fewer months in barrel than the 2005, the 2006 Core Cuvée Fletcher Alta Mesa sees 18 months in large barrel and offers up bright, floral aromas of cherries, meat and spice. In the mouth, this is medium to full bodied with a grippy, rich texture, beautiful density and a long finish. (92 pts.)

2006 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
Smooth, supple and balanced, the 2006 Core Elevation Sensation shows beautiful notes of blackberry, blueberry, earth and sweet spice that lead into a great palate. Full bodied, textured and mouth filling, this shows nice length to the finish. (92 pts.)

2005 Core Grenache Alta Mesa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
Roasted herbs, bright black cherry and asphalt notes jump from the glass of the ripe 2005 Core Grenache Alta Mesa and on the palate, its medium bodied, textured and long. (89 pts.)

2006 Core Grenache Alta Mesa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
The 2006 Core Grenache Alta Mesa shows more smoky notes than the ’05 and has plenty of bright cherry, smoke, earth and vanilla notes leading into a medium bodied palate. There’s noticeable acidity, a compact texture and clean finish. Not quite as charming as the ‘05 but still solid. (87 pts.)

2006 Core Hard Core (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
The 2006 Core Hard Core offers up pure black cherry, smokey earth, oak, and mineral notes. Medium bodied, balanced and clean, this shows nice richness, ripe tannin and a long finish. (91 pts.)

Denner Vineyards

2008 Denner Viognier (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
The slightly off dry 2008 Denner Viognier shows pretty peach and white flower aromatics, full body and a viscous texture. There’s notable purity and edge here to go with gobs of ripe fruit. (88 pts.)

2007 Denner Grenache (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
The 2007 Denner Grenache shows great aromatics of sweet black cherry, earth and spice, medium to full body, impressive concentration and a long finish. This has nice edge and precision to go along with very ripe, sweet fruit. (90-92 pts.)

2006 Denner “The Ditch Digger” (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
A blend of 37% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre and 9% Cinsaut, the 2006 Denner “The Ditch Digger” shows a mourvedre driven nose with loamy earth, dark black fruit, meat, leather and some down right funk thrown in for good measure. I love the complexity on the nose and the palate is medium to full bodied with a full, rich texture, impressive balance, pure fruit and a long finish. (93 pts.)

2006 Denner The Dirt Worshipper (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
Made in a Côte-Rôtie style, the 2006 Denner The Dirt Worshipper is a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier and offers up lifted, bright aromatics. Meat, earth, herbs and subtle floral notes jump from the glass and this has deep, rich fruit, medium to full body, nice acidity and a medium to long finish. Drops off slightly on the finish. (91-93 pts.)

Domaine de l’Oratoire

2007 Domaine de l’Oratoire St Martin Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne Cuvée Prestige (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne)
The 2007 Domaine de l’Oratoire St Martin Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne Cuvée Prestige is impressive with rich black cherry and dark fruit, minerals, earth and peppery aromatics. This leads into a concentrated wine with solid structure, depth and length to the finish. (89 pts.)

Domaine La Bouissiere

2006 Domaine La Bouissiere Gigondas (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas)
No tasting note. (88 pts.)

Epiphany

2008 Epiphany Grenache Blanc Camp 4 Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
No tasting note. (89-90 pts.)

2007 Epiphany Roussanne Camp 4 Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
No tasting note. (87-89 pts.)

2007 Epiphany Inspiration (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
No tasting note. (89-90 pts.)

2006 Epiphany Revelation (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
No tasting note. (91-93 pts.)

E. Guigal

2002 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie)
The 2002 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline shows complex, meaty notes of both red and black fruits, spice, smoke and bacon that lead into a medium bodied, balanced palate with nice length. Drinking beautifully now and seems to have plenty of life. (92 pts.)

2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie)
The 2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis is bright and crisp with raspberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with smoke, minerals, meat and spice. Medium to full bodied and balanced, this shows fantastic delineation, clean fruit and a tannic, structured finish. Tasted twice. (94+ pts.)

2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie)
While the 2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde doesn’t possess the edge and cut of the ’05 d’Ampuis, it shows beautiful, smoky, meaty aromatics of dark fruit, tapenade, smoked meat and herbs that lead into a medium to full bodied palate. Textured and rich, there’s a healthy dose of ripe tannin adding length. (93 pts.)

2007 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu)
Showing pretty aromatics of flowers, spice and honeysuckle mixed with serious stone and mineral notes, the 2007 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane is medium to full bodied and possesses nice acidity to go with its rich, full texture. This firms nicely up on the finish. (92 pts.)

Jonata

2004 Jonata Winery La Sangre de Jonata (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
The 2004 La Sangre de Jonata is a big, ripe, full bodied wine with meaty blackberry, earth and asphalt aromas and flavors. The fantastic fruit really shows on the long finish. (94 pts.)

2004 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
No tasting note.  Recommended.(92 pts.)

Marilyn Remark

2006 Marilyn Remark Grenache Los Ositos (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County)
Showing crisp black cherry, herbs and spice aromas, the 2006 Marilyn Remark Grenache Los Ositos is medium bodied with sweet fruit, nice texture and slightly jarring acidity on the finish. (86 pts.)

2006 Marilyn Remark Grenache Wild Horse Road Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County)
Much ripper and lush than the Los Ositos Grenache, the 2006 Marilyn Remark Grenache Wild Horse Road Vineyard offers up sweet raspberry and wild strawberry fruit aromas paired with subtle herbs and earth notes. The palate shows nice fruit with a soft, lush texture and a medium length finish. (89 pts.)

2008 Marilyn Remark Roussane Loma Pacific (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County)
No tasting note. (88 pts.)

2008 Marilyn Remark Viognier Loma Pacific (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey)
No tasting note.(89 pts.)

2008 Marilyn Remark Marsanne Loma Pacific (USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County)
No tasting note.(90 pts.)

Paul Lato

2007 Paul Lato Syrah Cinematique Larner Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
Simply a fantastic Syrah, the 2007 Paul Lato Syrah Cinematique Larner Vineyard possesses stunning aromatics of sweet cassis and blackberry fruit mixed with spice, meat and chocolate notes. Full bodied in the mouth with a seamless, smooth texture, beautiful purity, ripe fruit and a long finish. (95 pts.)

Perrin & Fils

2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages)
A screaming value, the 2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages shows good intensity with peppery, earth and dark fruit slanted aromatics leading into a great palate. Medium to full bodied with a full, soft texture, this shows nice structure, plenty of cut and acidity and a long finish. This has quality fruit. (89-90 pts.)

Pierre Gaillard

2007 Pierre Gaillard Cornas Les Combes (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas)
The 2007 Pierre Gaillard Cornas Les Combes offers up pretty aromatics of sweet raspberries, minerals and subtle smoked meat notes. Medium bodied, clean, pure, balanced with a streamlined, lean, medium concentration style. Ripe tannin, nice finish. (87 pts.)

Saxum

2007 Saxum Broken Stones (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
Very rich and dark, the 2007 Saxum Broken Stones has awesome aromatics of spicy, meaty and decadent dark fruit, tar, spice, herbs and stone notes all framed by classy, sweet oak. Full bodied on the palate, this has a superb full, thick texture, beautiful balance and a blockbuster finish. (94-96 pts.)

2007 Saxum Syrah Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
Brighter and more lifted than the ‘07 Broken Stones, the 2007 Saxum Syrah Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard has perfumed notes of sweet black and blue fruits, flowers, and spice that lead into a stunning palate. It’s full bodied, amazingly textured and just expands in the mouth. Despite the size, it shows nice delineation, balance and a blockbuster finish. (94-96 pts.)

Sean Thackrey

1997 Sean Thackrey Orion (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
Boasting fantastic, complex and nuanced aromatics, the 1997 Sean Thackrey Orion has garrigue, raw meat, leather and beautiful fruit notes of black cherry and cassis literally jumping from the glass. These lead into a medium to full bodied palate that is concentrated, beautifully balanced, structured and long. Drinking fantastically well and an amazing wine! (96 pts.)

Stolpman Vineyards

2007 Stolpman Roussanne L’Avion (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
The white of the trip, the stunning 2007 Stolpman Roussanne L’Avion offers up gorgeously pure notes of stone and tropical fruits mixed with serious mineral and slate aromas. The palate is full bodied, very rich and full but also amazingly delineated and cut. Balanced, clean and long, this is a stunning rhone white! (93-94 pts.)

2006 Stolpman Syrah Estate Grown (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
The 2006 Stolpman Syrah Estate Grown possesses impressive, bright aromatics of pepper, cassis, blackberry and earth, medium body, a smooth, balanced character and a long finish. (90 pts.)

2006 Stolpman Syrah Estate Grown Hilltop Selection (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
Richer and fuller than the ‘06 Estate, the 2006 Stolpman Syrah Estate Grown Hilltop Selection is stacked with beautiful blackberry fruit, flowers and mineral notes that lead into a medium to full bodied palate. Beautifully balanced, pure, clean and long, this should drink well over the following 10 to 12 years. (92 pts.)

Tablas Creek

2006 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
With deep, rich aromatics of dark, earthy fruit, minerals, meat and leather nuances, the 2006 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel is a southern Rhone look alike that would hold up well in any Chateauneuf lineup. Full bodied, rich and tannic on the finish, this should drink well for 10 to 12+ years. (92 pts.)

Torbreck

2006 Torbreck Grenache Les Amis (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)
Simply stunning, the 2006 Torbreck Grenache Les Amis possesses fantastic, massive aromatics of blackberry and cassis fruit mixed with licorice, meat and toasted spice. Complex, intense and nuanced. The palate is full bodied with huge fruit, beautiful balance and a structured, tannic finish. A gorgeous wine! (97-99 pts.)

2006 Torbreck Mataro The Pict (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)
Showing big, rich aromas of chocolaty blueberry and blackberry fruit mixed with flowers, spice and loamy earth notes, the 2006 Torbreck Mataro The Pict (100% Mataro) is full bodied, decadent, structured and long. Despite the ripeness level, this has superb structure and acidity keeping everything fresh and interesting. (93-95 pts.)

2005 Torbreck Run Rig (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)
Unbelievably rich and decadent, the 2005 Torbreck Run Rig shows bright, slightly volatile aromas of dark fruit, meat, blood, campfire, chocolate and sweet oak. The slight volatile notes detract but the overall size and intensity here is something. On the palate, the wine is perfect with full body, massive fruit, stunning balance and precision, perfect structure and a long, long finish. (96-98 pts.)

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