Twigs
Kale Wines
Kick Ranch Vineyards Home Run Cuvée Grenache Blend 2010
Lineage
Livermore Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
Tasted side by side with the 2012 Lineage. Deep ruby and garnet red that completely coats your teeth. Straight from opening there were notes of iron, purple floral notes and red cherries. As it opened up over the two hour period there was dark berries, especially blackberries. Started out with heavy tannins (8.5/10) but mellowed out to a moderate tannins (6.5/10) over the two plus hour decant. Still a little bit of heat on the palate that dissipated with time, this wine needs some more bottle age. Full bodied with a long semi dry cherry filled finish. Started off with red cherries and minerality on the palate as well as some spices, savory herbs and raspberries. Over time notes of cassis, of the front end with a ton of red cherries in the mid-palate. Very interesting note of bark and broken twigs just before the finish. Great backbone from the balanced acidity. Give this a little more time in the cellar, the long you wait the more complex this will become, but if you cannot wait give it a nice long decant. Just like the 2012 this has a ton of potential. Another fantastic wine Steven! (92+) — 8 years ago
Spell Estate
Nichole's Blend Pinot Noir 2014
Decided to try out the entry level Pinot Noir from Spell Estate. A mix of crimson and garnet red. Initially tight on the nose and finally opened up with some dried herbs, floral notes and some toasted sandal wood. Definitely the most floral of the four Pinot Noirs. Some perfumed wood too. On day two and three some meaty and candied notes appeared. Cherry cola on the palate, with the texture too. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and balanced acidity. Lots of dark black cherries, herbs and twigs. Medium body with great structure. Very approachable with a long finish. Drink till 2024. — 9 years ago
Vignobles de Gascogne
Reserve des Tuguets Madiran Tannat Blend 2012
Astonishingly good wine. Most guides tell you to pay more than £8 at least and that's wise, but this tipple was infinitely better than the Malbec reserve that set me back £9 from sainsbury. It's silky, deep, vanilla-cherry and unctuous. Can't see through the liquid, buy it by the case before the maker twigs. — 9 years ago
Produttori del Barbaresco
Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2010
Earthy notes (twigs and tan bark) mix with beautiful florals and red currant notes. Palate is a combination of mid-palate juiciness and drying, sustained tannin. Beautiful stuff and will last for years. Need time and air. — 10 years ago
Onannon
Gippsland Pinot Noir 2012
Pink, perky, hazy unfined and unfiltered Pinot Noir. Strawberry and rhubarb compote, red berries, smoke and snapped twigs, lovely line and length. Refreshing and a joy to drink. — 10 years ago
Efeste
Feral Evergreen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013
This is the 2013 Petit Verdot Taylor Mag Vineyard.
Sample. Deep and dark ruby red. Dark nose with notes of leather, broken twigs, leaves, cherries and blue fruits in the finish. Even something a little metallic but it wears off. Moderate palate (6.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Rather nice on the palate; notes of dark black cherries, dark cocoa, cherry cola and a little savory too. Full bodied and excellent Petit Verdot! Drink till 2023. — 8 years ago
De Toren
Z Merlot Blend 2011
Deep garnet red. South African funk, like damp leaves, wet clay, sundried tomatoes and red cherries in the finish. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) probably will grow once it airs out. Balanced acidity and semi dry. Broken twigs with red currants and cherries. Needs some time to open up and develop. Medium bodied with a medium plus finish but potential is there. Drink till 2021. — 8 years ago
Ruggabellus
Efferus Red Rhone Blend
Red currants and tart cranberries neatly foiled with twigs, briar and dry herbs. Tasty drinking - 2015 — 9 years ago
Jon Nathaniel
Lavender Hill Chardonnay 2014
This was the first of the three Chardonnays we got from Flora Springs Winery for #ChardonnayDay. Beautiful moderate intensity yellow, completely clear. Definitely a little tight with some slight creamed butter and corn. Later that evening it developed a more complex nose, with a little nuttiness, wet grass, freshly broken twigs and a slightly perfumed undertone. Moderate acidity (6.5/10) with lots of citrus notes. A little sharp to start but definitely smoothed out and became more rounded with more citrus and light oak influences. Slight tanginess, with a medium body and long finish. Needed the time to balance out and was worth the wait. Drink till 2020. — 9 years ago
Cave des Vignerons de Saumur
Réserve des Vignerons Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc 2013
Clear pale/med. concentration of ruby hue fading very slightly at the rim. Aromas of bright raspberry and cherry, graphite minerality/lead pencil shaving, violet florals, bell pepper, bramble/twigs. Palate is remarkably similar to the nose, structured with moderate, round tannins and medium/medium (+) acid. Nice restrained, elegant Cab Franc. First Saumur-Champigny. Another solid effort from Cave de Vignerons de Saumur. — 9 years ago
Domaine Calot
Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes Morgon Gamay 2011
Red fruits with some hints of smoke and cardamom. Med + acid, cinnamon, plums, dried twigs. Great easy to drink. #beaujolais #gamay #morgon #gamayzing #unfiltered #redburgundy — 10 years ago
Twigs
Reserva Mendoza Malbec 2008
Very good organic 2008 Malbec! Full of earthy flavors with pepper and sweet notes. ~$15 @ Liquor Mart — 12 years ago
Bodegas Valsacro
Dioro Seleccíon J&D Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001
Deep and dark garnet red with bricking on the edges. Real depth on the nose; lots of smoky notes, cigar box, tobacco leaves, broken branches, earthy dustiness, truffles, forest floor, damp leaves, and light red currants. A bit of stinkiness but not off-putting. Moderate silky tannins (6.5/10) and very well integrated with tons of red fruits as well as unsweetened dark cocoa, twigs, tree bark and a rustic earthiness. Full bodied and well rounded, no sharp edges. More red cherries at the end of the palate with a little vegetal note in the long and lingering finish. Mouth is definitely salivating at the finish too, great acidity. Drink till 2021. — 8 years ago
Viñedos de Páganos
El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2006
Let the dust blow off for overripe baked blackberries, twigs and earth — 8 years ago
Mt. Brave
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Delicious mountain fruit. Deep ruby red with purplish hues. Dark cherries, almost like a cherry liquor on the nose. Dark mountain berries coating the palate. Some blueberry cola, fresh twigs and red cherries. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Great backbone and structure. Dry and long finish. Even has something a little savory on the palate. Great mountain juice built for the long haul. Drink till 2036. — 9 years ago
Jauma
Rachii Wood Vineyard Grenache
Spice and twigs, strawberries. Beautiful feel. 2015 — 9 years ago
Château Gazin
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
Fresh black cherry and blackberry on the nose, I was expecting a bit more earth aromatically. The terroir shows up on the palate with twigs and subtle hints of the soil. The finish is solid but not too tight for how young this wine is. I anticipate a very graceful expression will develop as fruit calms down and nuance creeps forward. Age this guy if you can. — 9 years ago
Tenuta Castelbuono
Montefalco Rosso Sangiovese Blend 2009
Real woody. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Tastes like twigs and branches in the best way possible. — 10 years ago
Highflyer
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2010
Big herbaceous nose at outset. Lots of alcohol in the nose but i know this vintage so let it breathe. Nose gives way to bramble patch and twigs. High alcohol nose betrays the first quaff which is smooth. Smooth leather and bramble berries with an ever so slight cigar note finish. Look-if you can get this for the price do it. Period. — 10 years ago
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Great final night dinner with Kale and Ranko Anderson. First of the reds:
Deep ruby red with purplish hues. Nose started off with very savory with tons of olive tapenade and leather. After around 30 minutes it completely changed with purple floral notes and tight black and blue berries. Well integrated moderate tannins (6/10), and balanced acidity. Plush palate with dark berries and layers of savory undertones and twigs. Excellent structure and built to last. Drink till 2025. — 8 years ago