Newly released (3/24); almost colorless but beautiful aromas of lychee and pear; compact on the palate — melon, honeysuckle, more lychee; despite the sweet/floral descriptors it has well defined edges. A great quality Chard at a reasonable price — 19 days ago
Revisiting the 2016 Umino from Chasseur. It is still going strong with vibrant red fruit, earthiness, nice acidity. I will miss these when they are gone (final vintage from Chasseur) — a month ago
Revisiting the ‘20 Old Vines after a year or two in the cellar. Dusky clear purple. Sweet cherries and earth on the nose. Smooth, rich, almost no tannin. A lovely creamy, dark finish like plum pie with ice cream. These Old Vine blends are some of the best values in the Turley line up if not all of CA Zinfandel. — a month ago
The ‘22 B Theriot from Rivers-Marie is a delicious, fruit forward pinot. It’s a dusty, medium purple with a big berry/cherry nose. There’s loads of bright red fruit, with gentle acids and no discernible tannin. It finishes with a slightly smoky undertone. Excellent — 5 days ago
Last of my ‘03 Bransons. Like going to watch a late career slugger, it still had some pop but lacked the intense power of earlier years. Bright, tangy fruit but few layers and depleted tannins. Thanks for the memories! — 24 days ago
It’s early, likely very early, to be messing with the ‘21 Hayne Petite Syrah from Turley. Typically inky, this new vintage has a mineral driven nose that’s crisper than usual. It’s velvety smooth, loaded with plum, lead pencil, and other good dark things. The tannins are firm to steely at this point; the rest are going away for 5-15+ years. — a month ago
The anticipation and patience displayed holding this for 10 years was amply rewarded. Clear, brick-ish color, tight nose that eventually opened to loads of red fruit, Burgundy like in its combination of lushness and reserve. Subtle and layered even after all these years. — 17 days ago
Recently released (3/24), the 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot from Rivers Marie has loads of potential and a great price point. Medium dark, dusky purple. BlackBerry and underbrush in the nose. Light in its feet, rich, a bit of berries and cream, solid backbone of tannin to let resolve. — 25 days ago
Beginning to explore some CA cabs. The ‘21 Dragon Vineyard from Turley, one of my staples for Zins and Petite Sirahs, was deep, opaque purple to the edge; lots of mineral, pencil lead and dark berry scents on the nose; loaded with dark fruits, earthy/woodsy flavors and sharp tannins that will benefit from more time in the bottle. — a month ago
Bruce Dunbar
The recently released (3/24) Bodega Theriot Chardonnay from Rivers-Marie is excellent. Sunlit straw color, subtle nose, beautiful white fruits, crushed stone and the slightest bit of oak at the back to round it off. This should gain depth from its existing heights! — 4 days ago