Byron C Mayes

9.0

Deep ruby. Abundant nose of red cherry. Structured medium-bodied palate (medium minus tannins) yields red cherry and black tea with a lengthy dark finish. Medium acidity wraps it up making this a classic food PN that some may enjoy as a sipper. Excellent example of what the Russian River Valley can do for this variety. Drink now through 2026. — 6 hours ago

Byron C Mayes

8.8

Bright purplish ruby in the glass. Nose of dark black cherry. Palate echoes adding strong hibiscus/black tea. Medium acidity throughout with medium minus tannins cleaning up back palate through the medium finish. What can I say? This has to be the standard for full-bodied Willamette PN. An excellent foil for classic PN pairings (salmon with BBQ seasoning tonic ÜT), but built to handle more hearty red fare. Got a lighter cut of beef under Bordelaise? A fatty duck with cherry sauce? A meaty (dare I say it?) casserole? This is your Pinot. Drink now through 2028. — 23 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Deep garnet purple in the glass. Abundant nose of cassis and graphite, echoed on the palate with a bit of additional black fruit. Medium acidity. Medium tannins. Lengthy, dark finish. Classic right bank Bordeaux that’s drinking very well now, but still has a few good years left. Filet with Bordelaise is a natural, but work your way out from there. — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Deep gold. Abundant nose of dried apples and golden raisins. Sturdy full-bodied palate echoes the nose with a hint of yellow flowers. Strikingly firm acidity from entry to finish. Has clearly held up well over the decades, and is showing graciously now. A tasty treat in its own, but really shines paired with tarte tatin. — 2 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Deep ruby purple in the glass. Abundant nose of cassis, rhubarb, and light graphite. Fruit forward, full-bodied palate echoes the nose with medium acidity and medium plus, dusty tannins. Long, dark red finish wraps it all up. An excellent match for my cowboy rubbed porterhouse, and the perfect subject to test out my new Repour stoppers. ITD great now. I’ll be back over the course of the week to see how it fares. IF I don’t finish it all tonight! 😉 — 4 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.7

Bright straw gold. Inviting nose of lightly spiced quince. Medium palate echoes the nose with hints of mineral, birch, and butter. Medium plus acidity makes for both a sipper and a table wine. Solid varietal offering from a classic Burgundy producer. Drink by 2020. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Showing very well right now. Deep garnet in the glass. Nose of raspberry and vanilla. Full-bodied, fruit forward palate yields black raspberry, cassis, and light vanilla oak. Medium acidity and medium plus tannins make for a fine food wine, though just bright enough for a sipper (for some). An excellent, lighter option for when its son, Cab Sauvignon, is too heavy. Take it anywhere you’d take Bordeaux or California Pinot Noir. Now if only we can get Brian Graham to make more. Drink now through 2026. — 2 months ago

with Jay

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Bright straw gold. Abundant nose of white flowers and dried yellow tropical fruit. Full-bodied palate echoes the nose adding white pepper, honeycomb, nuts, sweet corn, and a host of smaller layers. A firm backbone of acidity runs throughout from entry to finish. We all know CdP as a red wine, but its white counterpart should be on everyone’s list. The offering by Domaine de la Presidente (from the classic 2015 vintage) is an excellent entry point into this facet of Rhône wines. Well suited to pair with roasted chicken, pork loin, swordfish, game fowl, or root/green vegetable combinations. Drink now through 2025. — 15 days ago

Byron C Mayes

8.8

This vintage of Monte Clavijo’s Rioja Blanca is actually Viura and Tempranillo Blanco. Bright straw gold. Inviting nose of pear and sweet straw. Echoed on the palate with citrus rind and white pepper. Firm, bright acidity shores it all up and leads to a lengthy quince and pepper finish. An excellent food wine that would make a pleasant and slightly complex sipper. Drink now. — a month ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

This Rosado is a vibrant and deep salmon fuchsia. The nose is one of the most earthy I’ve ever experienced in a rosé, yielding an almost leathery soil-encrusted watermelon. The palate: yikes! Am I still drinking rosé or did someone slip a big red in my glass!? Earthen, dark red fruit is ushered in by firm, mouthwatering acidity and led out on a lengthy black raspberry finish. But it’s the earth that rules here. Not your grandmother’s rosé, and definitely not for the Real Housewives or Vanderpump set. No, this Angel shouts. Serve with hearty summer fare, maybe even in place of lighter reds. Drink now, of course, but save one for five years on. Just to see what it’s like. — 2 months ago