Jay Kline

9.3

It’s always so exciting to try the latest release from McHenry and this just arrived in time to share with family; served alongside our Thanksgiving meal. The 2016 vintage was one of the smallest harvests on record for McHenry’s mere 2-acre, dry-farmed vineyard planted at 1800ft elevation; way up on Bonny Doon road. This was yet another year where they decided not to bottle a separate Swan Clone and instead released everything in the Estate designation. A hardly believable 56 cases were produced. However, the quality is extremely high. Darker fruited, this was more wild bramble and cranberry with some licorice and spice. So pure and delicious. Very primary right now. McHenry wines are quite long-lived with vintages from the 90’s drinking fabulously right now so I’m expecting the best to come. This fan will be tracking its evolution 😊. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Brought from a guest to the house to accompany a dinner last week. My first time trying this producer. It was actually a pretty interesting wine. Definitely made in a more traditional style. Bright cherries and dried herbs. Definitely some Brett but only enough to make it charming. A rustic BdM. — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

For me, this is quite possibly one of the best QPR’s for the year. Fresh, zippy, perfectly ripened fruit with minerals and the sort of “je ne sais quoi” that leaves you bewitched. Finish is long enough. So pure. Incredible accompaniment with a variety of meals. I want to have cases and cases of this. Alas, distribution here is scarce. — 17 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Figured this would be a nice aperitif before Thanksgiving dinner and boy was I right. This was downright gluggable. White peach and lemon curd with a bit of brioche and a nice vein of minerals giving this all the life and lift a Champagne nerd can appreciate. I really dig this. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

I forgot to post this one from a couple weeks back. New to me, but I think this is from one of the Sebastianis. The two most obvious notes I can recall about this wine were the following: it was varietally correct and tasted like it was from Knights Valley, which I always associate plush, lush, velvety fruit. It wasn’t soul stirring but this would undoubtedly be a huge crowd pleaser. File this one away as an option that most people would probably get into; and that’s meant to be a compliment. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Earlier this year when I was first getting acquainted with the 2016 vintage from the Southern Rhône, I made the comment that it reminded me of the 2010 vintage. I’m now more convinced than ever that it is one of the most classical vintages of the last twenty years and will drink well for decades...and 2017 might be nipping at it’s heals. Anyway, let’s talk a little bit about this wine. I’ve never been a huge Vieux Telegraph guy, despite the near universal adoration it received from others. Maybe it’s because it’s such an archetypal wine of the region and therefor sort of bores me. But on its own, in 2016, without other CdP’s on the table, this was really very good and worthy of its merits. Lucious bramble fruit and minerals with black pepper and a lovely lavender/garrigue mix. The tannins are firm but fine, like other 2016’s. And there’s good acid too. Very well balanced. — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

A gift from our friends who are opening up a little wine shop in France. This was a bottle that they thought I would really appreciate and they were right! I don’t often drink Tannat, mostly because I rarely see it, but I would totally be down to drink it more often if this is representative of the grape. On the nose, it was a little horse blanket giving me the impression that there was just a touch of Brett but only just. Mostly, it was raspberries and espresso. On the palate, it was raspberries, tart cherries, dark chocolate and espresso. The tannins seems to build over the two hours we enjoyed the bottle but I didn’t find them punishing. Good acid. I want more of this! — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Oh snap! My first time trying one of the 2017 Mataro’s from Sandlands and this San Benito County is fantastic! Beautiful, pure, fresh plums and other dark cherry with black pepper and other spices. It has an almost ferrous characteristic about it that I find quite charming. Lots of tannin and acid so let this be a note to those who are holding these in their cellar: just wait. This should be killer by 2022 but it’s already pretty exciting to drink. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

A good CC that hits the spot with or without food. Fair QPR. Silly little stubby cork; certainly not meant to age. Drink now and enjoy! — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

On this side of the pond, Mas La Plana is relatively unknown...or at least I get that impression because nobody in my circles ever talks about it. Yet, it is arguably one of the most important and storied vineyards in all of Spain. Maybe it’s because it’s planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and not Tempranillo. Maybe it’s because it’s from the Penedes and not Rioja or Ribera del Duero? Maybe it’s because it’s a Miguel Torres wine? Likely, it’s a combination of all three. However, all of those things cannot take away the fact that this is a world class wine. It’s fruit laden but a little age gives this complexity a deft balance that I usually associate with classified growths from Bordeaux. It’s not French. It’s not international. It’s not even really Spanish. It’s Finca Mas La Plana...and that’s what I love a respect about this wine every time I get to try it. That being said, these do need cellar time to truly appreciate and ten years or so is a good rule of thumb. They will undoubtedly last much longer. — 13 days ago