El Vaquero
Bear Ranch Vineyard Petite Sirah 2018
This one isn’t Pinot. It’s Petite Sirah from Bear Ranch in The Livermore Valley. And uhmm, it’s great stuff. Opaque purple-maroon in the glass. Smells like a proper petite with lots of cut wood and dark berry smells (blackberry, cassis, elderberry, etc). Flavors are hearty and tannic as one would expect from Petite. But also clean and gratifying. Has graphite, rocks and licorice to go with the berry sauce. Cassis (black currant) is well represented. This is classic great Petite Sirah. I gotta get more. Think it’s under $10 at grocery outlet right now… — 5 days ago
Château Beaulieu
Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé Blend 2023
Lovely peach/pink color. Aroma is fresh and friendly. Stonefruits and wet gravel. Flavors are excellent. Hint of pink grapefruit or tangerines. Plenty of straw, salmon and yellow raspberry. Balanced and juicy. This is great Rosé for a great deal at grocery outlet. — 8 days ago
A Feeling For
Special Selection Central Valley Pinot Noir 2025
Ok that’s a silly label. But catchy. Screw-top. Nice color. Almost pink. Smells like candies. Cherry-berry candy. Flavors are very easy and meh. This is a cheap, bland Pinot. Not bad, but not really anything to ponder. I got very few feelings for/from it. — a day ago
Stoller Family Estate
Single Acre Dundee Hills Syrah 2019
On a day that the Northern CA rain reminds me of the weather on the day I bought this at the tasting room in OR, I decided to pop this one and see how it stacks up. Simple elegance with the label. Color is red/maroon instead of ink or blood purple. Smells a bit like a berry-cherry tart in a campfire. Matchsticks. Flavors are spectacular. Fruit coupled with savory strange stuff. Minerals. Like lots of them. Flinty. Bittersweet in the best kind of way. Hint of mocha. Complex to say the least. This is a lovely wine. Less tannic and dense than WA or CA Syrah, but bright and strange like the best Syrah’s from France. Almost seems like a GSM blend. Elements of great Grenache in there too. Nice stuff. — 6 days ago
Dom Pierre
Brut California Champagne
This is actually called, Dom Pierre CA Champagne. It’s pretty spot on sparkling white wine. Brut for sure. Dry and crisp. Plenty of champagne vibes. Easy to enjoy. Lively and lovely stuff. — 10 days ago
El Vaquero
Camell Hill Vineyard Syrah 2018
This one is Camel Hill Vineyard Syrah. Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Color of sangre. Rose petal red. Aromas are menthol, tree barks, and elderberry. Flavors are a bit blunt. Hint savory, but slightly muddy and pretty tart. Unbalanced. No fruit just acids and savory earthy stuff. Raw beets with cranberry juice. It’s hot (14.7% ABV). It’s just boring flavor-wise. — 2 days ago
Skyfall Vineyard
Washington State Merlot 2021
Label is catchy, however it’s a bit much. Like too much. Aroma is pat New World red smells. Candles and jams. Flavors are cheap, boring red. This is very CA red style WA wine. Vanilla cherry cola. With a hint of oak sauce. Very disappointed even for $6 at Grocery Outlet. This is meh New World, over-oaked, clichéd Merlot. Not my jam. — 7 days ago
Field Recordings
Zinfandel Noir Old Potrero Zinfandel 2014
Very, very hipster label. Plenty of info on the back. Color is excellent. Smells of older stuff. Books and attics. Maybe some cherry and berry stuff. Horehound candy. Flavors are amazing. Fruit of the tree and vine. A bit of smoke. Balanced. Aged great. I hope they still make this. — 10 days ago
Tree Kilpatrick
Dark. Smells good. Red fruits. Flavors are great. Classic CA stuff. Bit of fruit driven riper style, but tasty. Fresh and fun. — a day ago