ESF

9.0

what @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego said - lip smacking vibrant zesty hot weather quaffer w/some guts — a month ago

Dave

9.0

This wine has the kitchen sink in it. Dark fruit is hiding under the prominent leather, herbs, mint, tobacco, and earth. It's a fine sipper for jazz nights by the fireplace. Made my teeth red.
Listening to Bill Evans — 7 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Beautiful blend from Paso. Balanced and elegant. 60% Syrah, — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

The 2020 Red Fiction, a California kitchen sink blend, offers up plenty of expressive dark fruit qualities along with suave floral topnotes. Juicy and energetic, it shows very good depth. Gentle, rounded tannins frame a long and focused finish that leaves sweet cherry and cassis notes behind. $20.00 (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2022) — 4 years ago

ESF

9.1

Kitchen sink blend from South Africa: sorta all over the place, complex nose of lemon custard, apple, orchard fruit, white flowers, roasted nuts, butterscotch & honey. Silky suave on palate, oily, vibrant acidity - clean finish w/lanolin - quinine. Don’t know if these varietals belong together but it holds together just enough to pull it off. — 5 years ago

K J

9.2

Hell’s Kitchen. Slightly yeasty. Bright. Acidic — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

We started enjoying Davis Estates Chardonnay with their 2014 vintage and now starting to drink their 2016 vintage. Each has been really good with excellent QPR.

We don’t drink a lot of CA Chardonnay as most are over structured and oaked. We prefer White Burgundy on most occasions. The Davis Estates Chardonnay’s are the exception to that rule.

As for this 2016, it’s their best of three vintages we have come to know. It is spectacular!

A number of people love Aubert Chardonnays. We like them too but, for the money, give me this 2016 all day over the Aubert’s. It’s less than half the price! I find some Aubert characteristics & style in each glass of all three Davis Chardonnays vintages we’ve had.

The nose reveals; butterscotch, honey, green apple, slightly sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, ripe, green melon, white peach, cream, beeswax, vanillin, caramel, toffee notes, light white spice, beautiful, understated chalkiness, hints of saline, soft volcanic minerals, tree bark with drips of sap, mixed greens, spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine.

The body is thick, full, round and waxy. It’s simply delicious as it guilds over the palate. Loads of butterscotch, honey, green apple, some golden apple, slightly sour lemons, lime candy, overripe pineapple, ripe, green melon, white peach, haunting banana now & again, cream, beeswax, vanillin, caramel, toffee/creme brûlée notes, light white spice with just the right amount of heat, beautiful, soft, chalkiness, hints of saline & flintiness, soft volcanic minerals, tree bark with drips of sap, mixed greens, spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine. The acidity is round and near perfect. The long finish is, lush, ripe, soft, flat out elegant, well balanced and persists minutes. Beautiful CA Chardonnay in every way. Paired with soft white cheese.

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Cheers! 🥂

@Ron R You gotta get some of their 16. Like a case!

Photos of; their Estate vines as viewed from their terrace, tasting room with their kitchen for food pairing in the back, entrance and their rotating water ball just of their terrace. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First a note about the 2012 Napa vintage. Good, right? Yes. While the fruit was abundant & nicely fruity, for me, lacked tannins, skin/juice ratio out of balance which created a lack of tannic depth and will not cellar like 13 or 14 etc..

When I visited w/ The Stag’s Leap Winery Winemaker, he told me, they normally make 75,000 cases of Artemis. In 12, they made 100,000 cases. They grow their own fruit but also contract fruit. While there are terms in their contracts w/ growers to refuse fruit, they could not refuse any. The fruit was that good. They even had to take Artemis out of tank early so they could finish their higher-end Cabernets.

This 12 JC Muds Kitchen was made by Charles Hendricks. His second to last vintage at JC. One of the more unknown & underrated Napa Winemakers. James & Coleen misstepped in the separation but understand Coleen’s reasons. Charles Hendricks Apprentice, went his own way. Can’t say I blame him, just not a fan of his post work. Ok, but not the follow up I wished.

Nose; a dark core of currants/cassis, ripe/lush, blackberries, both plums, mulberries, dark, sweet cherries, black raspberries, strawberries and haunting blueberries, softly, layered baking spices, anise to black licorice-liqueur, sandstone/limestone, steeped fruit tea, melted, dark chocolate baking bar, sweet tarriness, French espresso, withering/candied/slightly floral, dark & red flowers framed in lavender/violets.

The palate fruits are; ripe, juicy, fresh, dark core of; currants/cassis, ripe/lush, blackberries, both plums, mulberries, dark, sweet cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, haunting blueberries & pomegranate high tones. Softly, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark, mid spice intensity w/ heat, anise to black licorice-liqueur, sandstone/limestone, steeped fruit tea, melted, dark chocolate baking bar, sweet tarriness, French espresso, dry leather/tobacco, graphite, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, dry crushed limestone rocks, dry oak barrel shavings, withering/candied/slightly floral, dark & red flowers framed in lavender/violets, near perfect acidity with a well knitted/toned/balanced, elegant finish w/ great length that lasts two-minutes and long sets on spice & dry minerals. — 3 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Smells like your kitchen on a Saturday morning.

Warming blueberry pancake syrup, splattering bacon grease, chicory steeped coffee, baked cinnamon and nutmeg, and fresh air passing through open windows directly through a bouquet of violets.

Charismatic and vibrant, it's also chewy with a rich, sweet concentrated core of raisins, dates, and compote.

Not as complex and distinct, and multilayered as I was expecting, but hard to complain in a weekend state of mind. — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Confrérie Des Chevaliers du Tastevin Sous-Commanderie d'Albany, Paulée Dinner; 6 February 2022 at Hooked Market & Kitchen, Latham, NY — 4 years ago

Michelle M

9.1

Sweet tangerine, tart grapefruit, lemongrass, and toasted crackers on the nose. White peach, lime curds, ripe orange on the palate, nice viscous mouthfeel. Should go well with most food. Great value and go-to for entertaining — 6 years ago

Bonnie Kissler

9.5

2/26/2020 dinner with Paul at Kitchen Six — 6 years ago

Richard Alfred

9.5

Ate leftovers from Dry Creek Kitchen dinner on 5/28/19 in our room (16) at Farmhouse Inn. Lamb chops, kale salad, mushrooms, pasta salad, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. All delicious. Wine perfect pairing. — 7 years ago

Edward Nelson

9.0

Found a surprise rib roast in freezer. Turned out great. Bottle was in kitchen so easy choice. Great match. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is more tame than the Mud’s Kitchen. Not as astringent. More 93.5.

The fruit is prettier, nice ripe, not over the top. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, hints of boysenberries, black licorice, tarry notes, Indian spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, salted caramel, mocha powder, dry clay, sandalwood, moist tobacco, moist clay, forest floor, eucalyptus notes, volcanic ash, dark, red, flowers framed in lavender & violets. Nice acidity with a highly structured, well tensioned, nearly balanced finish that last minutes. — 3 years ago

ESF

9.5

Stunner! One of the absolute best wines I’ve had from Chile. This is a kitchen sink blend that poured inky & brooding. No signs of age whatsoever. Immediately wafted gorgeous Left Bank notes of cherry, currant & cassis but there were also plum, blackberry & boysenberry. Distinct charred vanillin almost bourbon oak like. Subtle cedar & medicinal herbaceous quality that added depth & character. Huge plush full throttle on palate, definitely felt the ABV, aromas transferred to flavors all leading to long persistent finish. Kept opening & evolving over several hours. Impressive delineation of flavors, distinctive, integrated tannins, balanced… going back to hunt down every bottle they have. — 3 years ago

M Mastro

9.2

Easter 2022 in new kitchen. — 4 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

Chasing my chaotic self-administered pandemic hair chopping with a Gewurtz from Arroyo Seco which seems to me apropos as I imagine the region as wind-swept and tousled. This wine is not so much and that is a good thing. All is in harmony. There is just the right amount of everything and it hits you in order—the lychees are followed by a green lawn leading to the flower garden full of roses and gardenias all spirited along by a nice amount of acid and powered by a prickling tannin. I’m not normally the biggest Gewurtz fan but I’d reach for this a second time. I’d maybe even pair it with a “hard to pair” thing like artichoke. Something about the floral nature of both I think could line up. Is that crazy? Maybe. But this is coming from someone who just used her kitchen scissors to give herself an intentionally asymmetrical haircut. — 5 years ago

Dana Thompson

9.0

Very nice Cali blend. Not too sweet while it doesn’t give the blend it’s obviously Sauv Blanc, Semillon, Viongnet and..any guesses? I like it more the Conundrum especially at dB below $12 price. — 7 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Smoky matchsticks and green peppercorn with a pickled apricot and gooseberry tinged with banana leaf and grilled corn. Chunky and amber like a sour fossil. Crystalline unsweetened pineapple, burnt lemon, torched matchstick, briny lime, a spray of apple cider vinegar and sauerkraut made with riesling. Really good, like chow chow and the pickled kitchen sink stirred together with a brimstone broomstick! — 7 years ago