Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright yellow gold. Inviting nose of yellow apple ale lightly buttered popcorn. Medium full bodied palate echoes the nose with medium plus acidity. Balance is key. Buttery to be sure, but everything else is there too. If you like the classic California style, this gives it in spades. Pair with lobster, roast chicken, or cream sauces. — 11 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright green gold. Shy nose of green apple and white peach. Echoed on the medium light palate with just enough stony minerality. Medium plus acidity is very well balanced; much more so than the German Trockens I’ve experienced. I’ve always thought that Riesling loses character when fermented dry. Boy was I wrong. This is what dry Riesling should be. Bright but with good fruit and forgiving acidity. Good on its own or with a meal. Pork loin is a natural, but also white fish, poultry, and game. Drink now through 2028. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.8

Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of black cranberry and dark plum. Echoed on the fruit-forward (for Europe) palate with a tart leathery note on the finish. Medium full body. Medium minus tannins make for an elegant sipper or a solid food wine. This vintage continues to overperform at seven bucks. — a month ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

8.8

Bright ruby. Inviting nose of black cherry and patent leather. Echoed on the medium-bodied palate adding red apple and cranberry wrapped in medium plus acidity and medium tannins. A masterful Sangiovese wielding great QPR at ten dollars. Priced for pizza, but built for sturdier stuff. Tomato based Italian fare is its natural friend. Drink now through 2022. — 13 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Bright red purple in the glass. Nose of black cherry and black tea. Medium palate yields black cherry, earthy black tea, and a bit of licorice whip. No discernible oak, so it’s all that typical Willamette dark fruit. Medium tannins are a welcome surprise at this price point, and with the medium plus acidity makes it just as at home with a meal as own its own as a sipper. The good folks at Samuel Robert have upped the “entry level” bar substantially. White flesh fish and citrusy dishes might be a challenge, but enjoy with pretty much anything else. Sustainable, too! — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.7

Dark red purple in the glass. Nose of currant and black cranberry. Full-bodied (but kinda soft) fruit forward palate with medium acidity and medium minus tannins which grow a wee bit more assertive with some air. A solid performer in this range — especially if on sale — but I’d spend the extra seven bucks for the Oakville when they’re regular price. An excellent pair with Filet Mignon and other light cuts. — 2 months ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark garnet purple in the glass. Shy (at first) nose of cassis and dark plum. Echoed on the medium full palate with slight patent leather notes and medium acidity. Low(ish) tannins mean that lighter cuts of beef (Filets, petite sirloin) will be its friend, especially with a flavorful rub. Drink now to 2021. — 25 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright straw gold. Inviting nose of quince and citrus rind. Medium-light palate leads with firm acidity introducing quince, citrus rind, and white pepper, all finishes up with smite stony acidity. A food wine to be sure — though some hearty souls may choose this as a “sipper” — and one that cries out for rich white wine fare. Potato crusted cod with white balsamic green beans was my choice. What will be yours? — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.5

Star bright straw gold. Nose of dried yellow apple, white peach, and wet stone. Echoed on the light-bodied dry-ish palate with firm, bright acidity. Finish is medium short, and a bit rich considering the above. A perfect summer sipper that will also compliment a wide range of warm weather fare. And that price! — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Star bright straw gold in the glass. Shy nose of quince-y green apple. Firm, bracing acidity (the decanter is your friend) introduces a medium light palate of flinty green apple and dried white flowers. Finish is long, but has a fading character: it fades out gradually. For a long time i thought that German Riesling lost some of its character when it’s fermented dry, and to an extent I still do. Still, there are numerous examples of Trocken that display a character of their own. This is one. Not quite as much as a dry Mosel, but definitely more than in a dry Rhein. Rich terrestrial white wine fare (pork, of course) is a natural pair. — 2 months ago