Aromas of black currant, blackberries, cedar and tobacco leaf flow from the glass. Red fruit makes an appearance on the palate, raspberries adding to black plumbs and black currant. It is elegant and smooth, with hints of clove and spices. Drink with Kansas City Strip and bleu cheese mash. Highly
Aromas of black cherry, nutmeg, and vanilla roll up from the glass. Tighter on the palate, bing cherry, raspberry, hints of licorice and espresso come through in a well-knit supple wine. Drink with seared duck breast. Highly Recommended. 92 points. DBH WHO: Ridge Vineyards WHAT: Merlot WHEN: 2014 DESIGNATION: Estate
This is a delightfully complex and delicious wine. The nose shows apples, pears, and honeysuckle. It's tighter on the palate and could clearly continue to get more round and open over 2-3 years. On the palate it leads with green apples, firm pear, with lemon zest on the mid-palate. The
The nose shows black currant and eucalyptus. Loads of complexity show on the palate, with black currant, mint, and eucalyptus joined by tobacco leaf and high-toned red fruit. Tannins are dusty and acids surprisingly bright. The finish falls off a bit quickly, but everything about this says buy some
Pinot Paradise If I had to name one grape varietal defining the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA in Northern California, it would be pinot noir. There are as many variables to growing Pinot as there are soil varieties, microclimates and vineyards in this mountainous region. You’ll find elegant, refined Pinots and
A very nice, approachable cabernet blend. Attractive nose of ligonberries and anise, even a hint of sugar cookies, of all things. It has the advantage of being 13.5% alcohol, so it does not have the nose burn that so many high-alcohol cabs seem to have these days. Light tannins and
The Kathryn Kennedy Winery website candidly lists some of their wines as "past prime." Luckily, the 1997 offered by my new wine friend Danny had been cellared well, so it fit the promised drink/hold category. And I would put the-read more-
Judicious use of a careful blend of wood adds depth to its fruit, as if pears, a single slice of pineapple, and a fig or two were all very quickly sautéed in butter, then sprinkled with fresh honeysuckle blossoms. Similar-read more-