Drink the Bottles

  As we write this, I can't begin to tell you how giddy we are about the experience we had with this wine.  The  2022 DAOU Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles was something we were looking forward to tasting, but there was no way we could have anticipated how incredible this is - and the price is as attactive as the label! There are so many layers of both aromas and flavors leaping from this bottle.  Stunning dark garnet color to the edge of the glass.  Ripe berry pie, red licorice, sage, rosemary, vanilla extract and dark chocolate fought for center stage on the nose.   We did not decant, but constant swirling brough additional aromas of cherry cola and hints of clove.   The first taste brought us a huge fruit basket of flavors up front, joined by a grass field covered in morning mist, smoky cedar plank and semi-sweet chocolate bits.  The wine was absolutely mouth coating and provided smiles on our faces as the day was lon...

  This wine is another testament from the pulpit where we continually exclaim that not all wine has to be expensive to be good.  This is a non-vintage Harvester Cabernet Sauvignon from Austin Hope Winery .  Non-vintage generally eludes that this wine is a blend of several vineyards and vintages and the production is on the higher side.  That not only means that this wine is readily available, but it is also affordable.  We originally tasted this bottle at a local wine shop and while it didn't mirror the $100 Ghost Block that we tasted, it certainly held its own. This wine is from Paso Robles and has a pleasant, medium-dark purple color.  The aromas are on the brighter side of red fruits and baked pastry, followed by notes of allspice and vanilla.  On the palate is a plesant and sleek flavor profile of cherry, plum, spices and vanilla.  The wine doesn't linger but the finish is satisfying and this is certainly a wine that would pair well with barbe...

There is little doubt that the first half of 2020 has been anything less than unexpected from what most would consider a 'normal' daily life.  The global pandemic has affected every person in some way, and most people significantly enough to alter their lifestyle, even if temporarily.  Work, school, daycare and financial hardships have reached into most homes, creating a fear of uncertainty and anxiety for many.  But all is not lost.  Whether it is a false sense of security, the need to return to an accustomed lifestyle or a belief that the worst of this virus is over, people are starting to venture out of their homes and travel.   There is no doubt that a large number of the world's population are still cautious and some, even frightened, about the health of the world and those around us.  It's difficult to control the actions of those around us, but by using common sense and social distancing, we can begin to appreciate the lives we are customary of ...

Syrah is a wine I love to drink with hearty meat dishes and beef stew.  But it's also a wonderful, bold wine that can be enjoyed solo - by itself or by yourself!   The 2016 Falcone Family Vineyards Syrah is farmed from Paso Robles vineyards and expresses some familiar dark cherry and smoky tobacco aromas that are hauntingly welcoming.  I really love smoky wines and red fruits; I can get lost in the swirling and smelling.  This has a wonderful deep red to purple color, and the small amount of Petit Syrah they add to this wine builds the complexity.  The smokiness joins black raspberry and cooked cherries with polished petite tannins that lead to a memorable finish.  This is my first bottle from Falcone and I hope it won't be my last.  I think this vintage in another year or two will be even more remarkable, as this has only been in the bottle for less than six months.  Solid wine! ABV: 14.5% Paso Robles, California Suggested retai...