Daniel P. Drake 
Gainey Vineyard
Santa Barbara County Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2016
This afternoon I have opened the 2016 Gainey Vineyard Santa Barbara County Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir. The Gainey Vineyard has been around since 1962 and has been producing wonderful wines since then.
On the nose there is strawberry, raspberry, cherry cola, rosemary, herbal and vegetal notes, slight hint of vanilla and oak with an earthy undertone.
On the palate there is cherry, raspberry, plum, clove, spice, light oak, lavender and an earthy backbone.
This wine is medium bodied with medium + acidity and medium to + fine tannin that leads into a medium long fruit and earthy finish. I hope everyone has had a wonderful long weekend and are ready to get back to the grind. Please be safe and enjoy the short work week. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 19 days ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Réserve de la Comtesse Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
Friday night is here and I have opened the 2015 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Réserve de la Comtesse a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
The nose is is rich in dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, mocha, tar, cedar and dark rich soil.
On the palate the dark fruit continues through with black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, licorice, oak, graphite and rich earthy notes.
This wine is full bodied with a silky mouth feel, medium + acidity and medium + fine tannins that lead to a long dark fruit earthy finish. Have a great weekend, stay safe and have some nice wines. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Saarloos & Sons
Matriarch My Grandmother Estate Grenach Blanc 2014
Sunday night and I have opened the 2014 Saarloos & Sons Matriach Grenache Blanc.
On the nose ther is lemon zest, lime peel, honeydew melon, pear dried herbs and minerality.
On the palate there is lemon, citrus zest, green apple, pear, lime peel, green plum saline and minerality.
This wine is medium bodied with medium + to high acidity that leads into a long clean citrus finish. I hope everyone's weekend went well and we all had a great time. Going into the new week please be safe. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 6 days ago
Fournier Père & Fils
Les Belles Vignes Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Here we are on the presipis of a long weekend called Labor Day weekend. I picked up the 2017 Fournier Père et Fils Sancerre Les Belles Vignes. 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
On the nose I am getting apricot, mandarin orange, orange rind, grapefruit and minerality.
On the palate there is beautiful fruit notes of lime, grapefruit, white peach, gooseberry, herbaceous notes and limestone minerality.
This wine is medium bodied with fresh crispness and high acidity that leads into a long mineral and fruit finish that is bone dry. Love this wine. Let me tell you, on the white side Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are definitely my go to whites. Sancerre and New Zealand have it going on when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc. Have a great long weekend and please be safe. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 22 days ago
Allan Scott
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Tonight's wine I have opened another Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 Allan Scott Family Winemakers Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.
The nose shows expressions of peach, tangerine, grapefruit, guava, lemongrass and minerality.
On the palate the nose is confirmed with grapefruit, tangerine, white peach, orange peel, peach skin and nice mineral notes.
The wine is medium bodied with high acidity that leads to a long clean crisp fruit finish. These New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs really have a lot to offer and I will be drinking more in the coming months. I will also try more Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Alsace Sauvignon Blanc's to try and round out my experiences. We can look forward to the weekend full of family and friendship. Have a plan and be safe. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — a month ago
Domaine de Vigneau-Chevreau
Cuvée Silex Vouvray Sec Chenin Blanc 2011
Saturday night and I have opened the 2011 Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Chenin Blanc.
On the nose there are notes of honeysuckle, chamomile, saffron, sake, marzipan, honeydew melon and brioche.
On the palate there is quince, hints of lemon, marzipan and honey.
This wine is in the stage of change becoming more aperitif like. The wine is medium bodied with medium + acidity that leads into a lightly salted honey finish.ets have a great weekend and please stay safe. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 7 days ago
Dog Point Vineyard
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Tonight's wine of choice is the 2017 Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand.
The nose reveals notes of grapefruit, kiwifruit, guava, papaya, jalapeño, herbs, lemongrass and wet concrete.
On the palate there is pronounced notes of lime, grapefruit, kiwifruit, melon, celery and salty minerality.
This wine is medium bodied with medium to plus acidity that lead into a medium to long clean, refreshing, salty minerality with citrus finish. I hope everyone's weekend was a good one and we all look forward to the week ahead. Please be safe and make the week a positive one. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 13 days ago
Cave Spring
Cave Spring Vineyard Estate Bottled Cabernet Franc 2015
Yesterday evening I opened the 2015 Cave Spring Estate Cabernet Franc Beamsville Bench Niagra Escarpment.
On the nose was cherry, strawberry, raspberry, mint and smokey oak.
The palate had notes of strawberry, raspberry, red currant, green bell pepper, herbs, cinnamon and smokey oak.
This wine is medium bodied with medium to + acidity and medium fine tannins that leads to a medium to long fruit finish. Not as impressed as the 2012 that I had awhile back. Enjoy the weekend and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Luciano Sandrone
Le Vigne Barolo Nebbiolo 2014
Yesterday I had the pleasure of having the 2014 Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo. This was my 4th in succession starting with the 2011 and they were all very similar in style and very structured.
On the nose is the ever present cherry, raspberry, red currant, clove, licorice, dried roses, some alcohol and dusty soil.
On the palate the nose is confirmed with dried cherries, raspberry, red plum, licorice, mint, herbs, graphite, a little burn of alcohol and newly tilled dry soil.
This wine and the others is medium to full bodied with medium + acidity and high fine chewy tannins that lead to a long fruit filled finish. As I went back through the 2011, 2012, 2013 and now the 2014 it brought back memories of each one and how similar they all were and expressing a distinct sense of place. The weekend is upon us and I wish all well. Enjoy a weekend of wine and happiness. Please be safe and have fun. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Daniel P. Drake
Last night I opened the 2006 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Altitude Grapes Selected by Laura Catena, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina.
On the nose there is Brooding Dark and rich dark fruit. Black cherry, blackberry, black currant, chocolate, mint, vanilla, smoke, oak and dark earth.
On the palate for a 13 year old wine I find it still vibrant with lots of life left, black cherry, blackberry, black currant, cassis, herbs, cedar, oak and a rich earthy component.
This wine is full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + gripping mouth coating tannins that leads into a long dark fruit and earthy finish. Enjoy your weekend, be safe and share a good bottle of wine. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 hours ago