2012 White Rose Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon $40 91 Points International Wine Cellar Sexy spice laced dark berry, and cola aromas pick up floral and mineral qualities with air. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a bracing kick of peppering spices. Shows a refreshingly tangy bite on the finish, which cling with excellent persistence and a suave lavender pastille note. 2013 August Briggs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, Sonoma, CA $52 Upfront effusive aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, pie crust and pine needles make the bouquet intoxicating. It is elegant and plush on the mouth feel with a mélange of red fruits and toast. The finish is long and lingers for a while which makes you want to take another sip. 287 cases produced. Winery 2013 L Ecole No. 41 Syrah Columbia Valley, WA $32 92Points Wine Spectator "Firm and chewy around a glowing core of blackberry, blueberry and white pepper flavors, this medium-weight style remains focused and spicy as the finish lingers.
2012 Grgich Hills Estate Merlot Napa Valley, California $50 90 Points Wine Enthusiast Brawny and concentrated in black fruit, this wine includes 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and is touted as a Cab-lover's Merlot by the winery. It indeed is, with its juicy blackberry, cherry, espresso and clove notes, while remaining varietally correct in terms of its mellowed tannins. - WE 2013 Shypoke Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, CA $60 Aromatic. Powerful, yet elegant. Dusted summer blackberries and creme de cassis. Fine-tuned French oak is in perfect balance, creating a stage that this amazing fruit plays upon. Silky tannins detail the singularity of Napa Valley cabernet. 2012 Wolf Family Vineyards Phaedrus Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena, Napa Valley, CA $45 90 Points Wine Advocate It reveals a deep ruby/purple color, sweet red and blackcurrant fruit, a fresh. Lively mouthfeel, moderate tannins and a lush style. This beauty will benefit from several years of cellaring, and should drink well for 10-15 years.
2013 Carl Roy Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA $32 Bright violet to the edge. Beautiful aromas of crushed blackberries, light lacing of new wood cedar. Rich, powerful, but perfectly restrained on the attack, with a mouth-filling core of purist cassis. 2012 Matthiasson White Blend Napa Valley, CA $38 90 Points Wine Spectator Elegant and juicy, with yellow raisin, melon, pear and lemon flavors that are fresh and bright. Delivers crushed rock minerality, lemon verbena accents and a tropical fruit hint on the finish. Sauvignon Blanc, Ribolla Gialla, Sémillon and Tocai Friulano. Drink now. 1,092 cases made. 2013 Deer Meadows Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino, CA $42 The nose shows bright bing cherry with some spice and a light mineral tone. The palate has a loamy earth tone with a light spice and some black fruits. - D&M Tasting Notes
2012 Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana Tuscany, Italy $35 93 Points Wine Enthusiasts A delicious blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and a dash of Petit Verdot opens with aromas of concentrated black plum, blackberry, blue flowers and a whiff of leather. The juicy palate doles out fleshy black cherries, crushed raspberries, white pepper, clove and grilled herb while velvety tannins provide the framework. A licorice note marks the close. - WE 2011 M. Marengo Barolo Piedmont, Italy $52 92 Points James Suckling I like the ripe fruit in this red with plum and berry character. Full to medium body plus soft and silky tannins. The combination of ripe fruit, cedar and hazelnut is compelling. Drink or hold." 2012 Acinum Amarone della Valpoliocella Veneto, Italy $55 93 Points Wine Enthusiast Black-skinned fruit, pressed violet and a whiff of chopped herbs lead the nose on this full-bodied red. The bold palate offers high-toned flavors of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, mint and a hint of fig uplifted by fresh acidity. Firm, velvety tannins give it a smooth texture. WE
2012 Dry Creek Vineyards Merlot Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA $26 This classically styled erlot expresses distinctive Dry Creek Valley characteristics with earthy and wild cherry flavors. The wine is elegant and seamless with a lush mouthfeel and lingering finish. This is a well-balanced and food-friendly wine. Winery 2014 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel Califronia $34 91 points - Wine Spectator Plush and jammy, but well-focused, with gobs of fruit and flavors of wild berry, licorice and smoky pepper. Drink now through 2026. 5,000 cases made. 2009 Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie Canon Fronsac, Bordeaux, France $60 90+ Points Wine Advocate 90 Points Wine Spectator This inky purple wine displays notes of Asian plum sauce, creme de cassis and blackberry liqueur as well as a hint of lead pencil shavings. Big, fullbodied, and seriously endowed... everything is present - acidity, tannin, extract and substantial richness. This is an impressive wine as well as a sleeper of the vintage. WA
2013 Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, CA $75 94 Points Vinous The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill Vineyard is a great example of why this vintage is so profound. Unusually dark and deep, the 2013 Tanbark Hill is a huge overachiever. A host of smoke, leather, hard candy, cedar and spices meld around a core of dark fruit. The 2013 is mysterious and brooding, but also sublime. It is also the finest version of this wine I have ever tasted.