Crooked Can Brewing Co.
Enfield Wine Co.
Haynes Vineyard Old Vine Chardonnay 2012
Really nice wine. Elegant and balanced with a long mineral finish. Shows what restrained winemaking can do with great fruit. Loved it with the Sole and Mac & Cheese, yum! — 6 years ago
Clos du Val Wine Co.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
Wine dinner with big group including Butch neighbor Art, Philip and Bewan. Vertical of 2013,1989,1984 and Reserve 1996. ‘13 still young and long aging potential. ‘84 stood out amongst three, ‘89 clearly lesser vintage and heading down. Reserve tastes like a young wine and can feel the tannin. Very interesting growing. — 2 years ago
Realm Cellars
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.
Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.
No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — a year ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red Blend 2019
What can I say? Pleasure in a glass. I just really love me my Bedrock Evangelho and this vintage in particular. Intoxicating aromas of cinnamon, cigar box, sweet berry fruit and dried thyme/rosemary/mint. Full bodied and ripe, but really fine, silty (as opposed to silky) tannins give it structure and there is ample acid there providing a punchy freshness. Most surprisingly of all, is this wine’s deceptively light touch. I’m tempted to polish off the bottle in one sitting, but at 14.5% abv that would be a bad idea. Pair with Snoop’s half time show performance (we just won’t tell him that this puts his 19 Crimes to shame) Prior notes apply. — 4 years ago
La Jota Vineyard Co.
Heritage Release Howell Moiuntain Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
the wine is identified.. can you identify the man? — 6 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Torbreck RunRig Shiraz–Viognier 2021 Barossa Valley, South Australia 🇦🇺
Overview: A monumental Barossa Rhône-inspired powerhouse blend of approximately 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier, delivering extraordinary depth, concentration, and architectural structure while retaining aromatic lift and finesse. This is Barossa at its most commanding yet disciplined, massive fruit density wrapped in precision, energy, and length. A wine that commands attention, rewards contemplation, and delivers relentless momentum from first sip to finish.
Aromas & Flavors: Explosive black plum, blackberry compote, cassis, and dark cherry saturate the nose, layered with violets, smoked spice, cocoa nib, graphite, and subtle savory meat tones. The palate unfolds in waves of black fruit intensity, crushed stone minerality, licorice, espresso, and warm spice, finishing long, deep, and persistently resonant.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, muscular, and impeccably structured with commanding tannins that feel polished rather than aggressive. Immense mid-palate density is balanced by freshness and lift, creating a sense of power without heaviness. The texture is authoritative, layered, and built for long-term evolution.
Food Pairings: Dry-aged ribeye or wagyu. Slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary and garlic. Venison with black cherry reduction. Smoked brisket. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego, or aged Gouda.
Verdict: A truly elite expression of modern Barossa Shiraz, concentrated, complex, and unapologetically serious while remaining beautifully balanced and energetic. This is a reference-point wine that delivers immediate impact and exceptional cellar potential.
Did You Know?: RunRig is sourced from some of Barossa’s oldest and most revered Shiraz vineyards, with Viognier co-fermented in the traditional Northern Rhône style to enhance aromatic complexity, texture, and freshness.
🍷 Personal Pick: This wine completely captured my heart 100%, layered, commanding, and dangerously irresistible. One of those bottles that makes restraint impossible and reminds you why great wine can be genuinely emotional. A true benchmark experience.
— 4 months ago