Vineyard Creek
Quilceda Creek
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Deep garnet in color with a nice bouquet of mint and an old closet! Eucalyptus and herbaceous notes support dry blackberry brambles amid nicely evolved tannic structure. This wine remains at its peak of expression. — 24 days ago
Heitz Cellar
Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
Jonathan’s 40th birthday wine, also 40 years old. Martha’s Vineyard 1984. Another old classic California Cabernet that won’t quit. Good cork, savory and aromatic, a fine old wine indeed! — 21 days ago
Marcassin
Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay 2011
I’m calling this wine of the lunch imho. Fantastic. Probably over rating since I thought it would be dead. — 11 days ago
A. Rafanelli
Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2022
Poured into a Boa decanter several hours prior to dinner. The 2022 Zinfandel pours a ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of bright brambles: blackberries and raspberries, cherry (some candied, think Cherry Blow Pop), pipe tobacco, black pepper, dry organic earth and gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some notes of mocha added to the mix. The finish is long and delightful. Fun to try in its youth however I expect these will show even better after a few years in the cellar. Best after 2027 and through 2042. — a month ago
Belle Glos
Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 6 days ago
Corison
Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Corison single vineyard release party
2022 Corazon riesling
2015 Corison Napa Valley cab
2015 Corison Sunbasket vineyard cab
2015 Corison Kronos vineyard cab
2015 Helios Sunbasket cab franc
2020 Corison Napa Valley cab
2020 Sunbasket vineyard cab
2020 Kronos vineyard cab
1996 Napa Valley cab — a month ago
Jay Kline
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly fresh, tart, vibrant red fruits: red brambles, red currants and tart cherries with some pyrazines, tobacco, some cool herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and bordering high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the body is perceptibly leaner than both the 1988 and the 2018. That being said, I love its transparency because it is clearly telling part of the story of the vintage. The frost was merciless in Dry Creek in the spring of 2008. So far, the evolution seems slow to me. Drink now with a decant but considering the structure, this has a long life ahead. If I had another bottle, I would open my next after 2028. — 16 days ago