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Friday, February 12, 2021
2017 Patel Winery Sauvignon Blanc
Thursday, January 7, 2021
2017 Baldacci Vineyards Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
Thursday, December 3, 2020
2016 Patel Napa Valley Malbec
Napa Valley, California
125 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $125.00
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
2016 Baldacci Vineyards Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%
Napa Valley, California
1,027 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $90.00
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
Monday, August 31, 2020
2017 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
Any time we are afforded the opportunity to taste a Cathy Corison wine, we know that we are in for a real treat. The soon-to-be-released 2017 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is absolutely no exception. This bottle was tasted in a line up of other Napa cabs about seven weeks ago and we have purposely held off writing about it until the release date is near.
What immediately struck us was how mature and fine this wine appeared in the glass and on the nose, introducing layers of fresh violet bouquet, cedar plank, dusty spice box and whiffs of tar. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvingon and it rewards the taster with black cherry, plum, blackberry pie with a sweet crust and dried spices. The violets are always dancing in the glass. The finesse on this work of art is evident by the long and memorable, effortless finish. You get mesmerized by the amazing fragrances and stunning color of this wine and it is truly one that makes you wish your glass was bottomless. Incredible!
Friday, July 31, 2020
2018 Baldacci Family Vineyards Fraternity
Monday, July 20, 2020
2017 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Monday, July 13, 2020
2016 Coquerel Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Navigating Wine Country During a Pandemic (aka let's help each other)
- If you're headed to Napa like we are, check out the new health guidelines before you go.
- Bring a mask or several masks. (Nobody wants to wear a wine-stained mask). If you don't have one, stay home. You'll be turned around at the cellar door without one.
- Make reservations because they are required now. Long gone are the days of just "popping into" a winery for a quick tasting.
- Keep your distance and be respectful. Re-opening to the public after being closed for months can be scary and foreign to your hosts. Tread lightly and follow their lead.
- If you like the wine, consider making a purchase and/or joining a wine club. Most wineries are family owned and have suffered greatly because of the pandemic. Show some love and you'll be rewarded with your incredible wine purchases.
- Communication. Seems easy enough, right? You would be surprised. I have reached out to about twenty California wineries during the planning of our upcoming trip. I am amazed at how many of them never even bother responding to an email. We get it; the wineries and tasting rooms are starting to get busy with re-opening in its infancy. But if we have specific needs or your web site scheduling tool doesn't work, we have to email you in order to plan our tasting experience. The lack of communication sends a message of apathy and we could have been your newest and biggest fans. I call this a "don't be a dick rule".
- Create a memorable experience. We understand that some areas and experiences may still be closed, but wineries still have an incredible opportunity to create lifelong memories for their guests. In lieu of a cave tour or super secret hidden gem tasting room that is inaccessible, maybe a sit-down with the vintner or a special library bottle tasting could be an extra-special treat? Or perhaps it is connecting us with the most special wine tasting room host who would blow our socks off with his/her knowledge, personality, humor and kindness?
- Try not to make things too sterile or uncomfortable. We're all scared. And we, as guests, promise to follow all of the rules and breathe the hot summer California air through our uncomfortable masks. We ask in return that the tasting room doesn't smell of hospital disinfectants and everyone doesn't spray us down with Lysol if we clear our throat.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
The $200 Wine Tasting Fee and Why You Should PASS!
Monday, March 25, 2019
2016 Boeschen Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Monday, March 18, 2019
2016 Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
Monday, March 4, 2019
2016 Coquerel Cabernet Franc Bennett's Vineyard
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Arns Winery NV Impromp2 2 Cabernet Sauvignon
2013 Arns Winery Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Arns Winery Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
2014 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Armillary Cabernet Sauvignon
Monday, September 24, 2018
2015 Flora Springs Trilogy
The 2015 Trilogy red wine from Flora Springs is a solid pleasure provider that was the star of the show on Cabernet Day this year, hands down! Incredibly dark purple in the glass, the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (8%) is a slice of heaven in the glass. So much flavor and elegance with sweet plum, tar, black currant, cedar shavings and black cherry showing off the fine tannins and long legs. For such a young wine, this one is incredibly velvety on the tongue and the finish and you would swear it has been in the bottle closer to 10 years. The fruit aromas carry over to the flavors and there is a sweetness that is reminiscent of swirling my vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup together as a kid. The price point adds to the attractiveness of such a remarkable wine and while it would pair amazingly with a brisket, I chose to drink this one unaided and with a smile on my face ... and my glass!
Sunday, July 1, 2018
2016 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay
Monday, June 4, 2018
2015 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious
2017 Patel Winery Sauvignon Blanc
I wish you all could have been here to experience this wine with me. That's not me bragging, but rather telling you that you are miss...


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Man, this one is BIG! I received this bottle of 2014 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Armillary Cabernet Sauvignon last week and let it r...
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Spring is the most pleasant time of the year. Days start to get longer and warmer, and spending time outside suddenly feels very invi...
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Once in awhile you pop and cork and get so excited because of the incredible color that is displayed on the cork. When I pulled the co...
