Byron C Mayes

8.8

Star bright straw gold. Subtle nose and palate of quince, baked pear, and brown stone. Medium light body. Sneakily medium plus acidity. A solid, low-cost entry into Bordeaux Blanc. Excellent with a wide range of foods, especially my sweet potato and quinoa bowl. — 5 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright pale straw. Abundant classic Kiwi nose of guava and lemongrass. Bright acidity leads the medium light palate of guava, lemongrass, and soft citrus rind. Finish is typically brief, but strong and a wee bit dark. The standard Marlborough has been aWkne Spectator “Best Buy” for two vintages running. The Estate ”Signature Series” kicks things up a few notches with elegance. Best as a sipper, it will still satisfy with rich “white wine” fare that can use a good cut-through. I’m having KFC, though fried/sautéed fish or seafood would be killer! Drink now. — 17 days ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

This is the Extra Brut Legende Grand Cru. Star bright beige. Small bubbles persistent even in my Bordeaux glass. Toast-laden nose of baked apples and white spices. Deceptively racy acidity belies a rich palate of baked green apples and stony biscuits. Lengthy finish. The one upside of climate change is that these extra brut bottles are nowhere near as scary as they used to be. This is a fully approachable, fruitful wine that will still satisfy the “dry obsessed” in your group (even if it’s mostly psychological). Drink now. They’ll make more. — 25 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.6

Star bright straw gold. Abundant nose of baked quince. Palate of baked quince, wet stone, and classic Pinot must. Medium acidity added to the complexity’s the palate makes for a nice wine to accompany typical white wine dishes, particularly pastas with Alfredo or other white sauces. Drink now. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright straw gold. Nose of underripe banana and white pepper. Palate is full-bodied and yields dried quince, white flowers, and white pepper. Full body. Medium (slightly) minus acidity (of course). Long dark finish. Classically French expression of this wonky Rhône variety. As such it’s more food-friendly than usual, and will particularly complement complex aromatic and flavorful foods. Cream sauces, pesto, and white spices will benefit especially well. Drink now. — 13 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.8

Star bright green gold. Medium nose of yellow apple and white spices. Echoed on the medium-full palate with juicy satsuma and a bit of the rind. Subtle flavors are layered but still integrated. Medium acidity leaves room for spicier foods, and in general the wine calls for robustly flavored fare. We’re having cowboy rubbed, bacon and cheddar stuffed pork chops with Tuscan seasoned broccoli. Drink now through 2022. — 19 days ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright straw gold. Yellow apples and underripe pineapple in the nose. Medium body and the aforementioned fruit plus some brown stone on the palate. Medium plus acidity and a medium finish. Probably the best dry Riesling out there right now, and it’s not from Germany (though it *is* the Germanic part of Italy)! A natural with fish and other seafood, poultry, pork, or light to medium vegetarian dishes. Drink now through 2023. — a month ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark, glass-clinging ruby. Inviting nose of currant and licorice. Palate echoes the nose adding juicy black cranberry. Medium full body; medium acidity. Medium long finish continues the palate. Classic Red Mountain Cabernet that’s made for classic Cabernet fare. Petite sirloin with cowboy rub is tonight’s choice! Drink now through 2026 with a peak around 2021-23. — 14 days ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright and clear garnet. Abundant nose of black cherry and red licorice. Medium-bodied palate of black cherry, black tea, and a hint of vanilla. Medium acidity. Medium tannins. Very much like a young, less austere Burgundy. Not surprising as winemaker Laurent Montalieu is a Burgundian himself. Nice and juicy now, but this should show some development with time. Drink now through 2024. — 24 days ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Star bright straw gold. Quince and white flowers on the nose and medium palate. Medium plus plus (intentional) acidity balances the Spätlese sweetness yielding a wonderfully food-friendly wine. Fits anywhere that Riesling would, but a bit more floral. Delicious. Drink now through 2027. — a month ago