Aged Alicante Bouschet. Not the Petite Verdot. Kinda a dramatic yet casino like label. Dark as night. Smells like cassis and cut wood. Maybe some rain on granite. A ‘wine’ over fruit based nose. Flavors are clean and precise. More of the black currant and also black cherry and blackberries. A hint of minerality. This reminds me of a Bordeaux with Merlot. It’s a fine wine. Aged well. Could go for 10 more years. — 9 days ago
Good olden color. Smells like cut grass and lemon grass green tea. Flavors are crisp and fairly ‘sweet’. Fresh green peas, white grape juice and white Oro Blanco grapefruit flavors. Maybe a hint of pear cider without the fizz. This smells great, but it’s a bit soft and boring on the tongue. There is a hint of spice (black pepper or curry) on the finish. It’s a unique white, but it’s a bit too smooth for me. — 13 days ago
This has a 10 % Petite Sirah component in there. Good color. Hint of rust on the edge. Aroma is perfumed with a bit of jammy red fruit background. Little bit of cut wood at the end. Flavors are complex, dense and gratifying. Some inky, juicy black currant flavors. Just a slight herbal streak. This is fancy, silky, high quality wine. Surprised it’s from Temecula, but I’m not familiar with much from there. — 2 days ago
Cool label. Pretty classic NZ Sauv Blanc. Bell pepper nose and plenty of funky bite in the mouth. Gooseberry meets incense. Bit of spice. Maybe black pepper. This will work. Nice stuff. — 9 days ago
This is aged a bit. Funny ‘quirky’ name. Nice golden hued color. Smells like lemon curd and whetstone. Flavors are more lemon stuff and a hint of green apples. Kind of a standard white wine style. Not distinctly Chard-like. But that makes me appreciate it a bit more. — 10 days ago
Cute art for the label. Kinda construction paper mural. Smells like candied lemon peels. Hint pear. Flavors are very light and easy. Bit of peach and Rainer cherry. Pear tarts. This isn’t really sweet, but it’s not super dry either. It’s pretty simple and drinks easy by the pool. Works well in a wine spritzer. — 14 days ago
Big screw-top bottle. One step away from box wine. Looks lighter in the glass. Translucent. Smells fruity and fun. Bit punchy. Flavors are Italian cheap wine style. Bit tart, bit tannic, hint of cherry cough drops. Food wine. Not very Cab like. But it was $5 for 1.5 liters and it goes well with food. It gets a passing grade. — 2 days ago
Has a cool clarkia concinna painting on the label. Definitely eye catching. And it’s a Lake County wine. Always interesting to try those despite my great grandfather hating seeing all the grapes taking over in his backyard (near Middleton). Deep, dark color. A purple core and plenty of maroon. Smells of elderberry, rocks in creek, and fruit compote on the stove. Just a hint of wood oil. Flavors are strange and interesting. Flinty. Very dry. Plenty O’ tannins. Berries. Maybe elder and black currant jelly? Little Oregon grape meets huckleberry. Herbal side too. Even a hint of mint. This is a unique and ponderable Cab. Has some French vibes, but it’s also a bit American. — 6 days ago
Kinda a cool label with nice art. This was a super saver at grocery outlet for like $5 marked down from $40. And it’s local and unique coming from Suisun Valley. Good color. Red of blood. Smells like wet paint, wet rocks and petrichor. Not very ‘fruity’ on the nose. Flavors are juicy yet savory and chewy. Plenty of black currant. Maybe some olive. Dry. This could probably age awhile longer. It’s a well structured and well made Cab. Lots of fine wine elements and just enough Euro style to make it shine. — 11 days ago
Tree Kilpatrick
Label reminds me of early mid 2000’s album covers. Think Coldplay or some alt-electronica stuff. Color is deep dark. Nearly black it’s so purple or deep maroon. Smells of red/black fruits in the sun (or jam pot) and black olive tapenade. Flavors are big yet fairly balanced. Goes right up to the too ripe , fruit m-bombed and over-oaked style and stands on that edge. It’s a New World wine, but it’s just bittersweet and complex enough to made sense. I dare stay they nailed the ‘WA’ style for red blends. Imitate the big fancy CA reds, but inject a hint of Euro style to keep things interesting and honest. — 14 hours ago