Category: Wine Reviews

2019 Brick House Vineyards, Gamay Noir, Due East, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon.The Due East Gamay Noir is wildly exotic, crunchy and spicy with a fabulous array of red fruits…

2018 Jean-Francois Mérieau, Côt, Cent Visages, Loire Valley, France.The Jean-Francois Mérieau label was brand new to me, and certainly I’ll be following these wines going forward after trying this gorgeous…

2019 I. Brand & Family Winery, Old Vine Mourvèdre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley, San Benito County.The 2019 edition of the Enz Mourvèdre, from almost a hundred year old vines…

2017 Storm Wines, Pinot Noir, Donnachadh Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills.Ernst Storm’s 2017 Donnachadh Pinot is dead ringer for a tasty Savigny Les Beaune or a little Volnay with elegant reds…

2018 Sandlands Vineyards, Chenin Blanc, Amador County.Just starting to show its full depth and range of flavors the impressive Chenin Blanc from Tegan Passalacqua at Sandlands Vineyards, sourced from vines…

2017 Château Thivin, Côte de Brouilly, Cru Beaujolais, France.One of the first Gamay producers I started collecting on a regular basis, Chateau Thivin is always a favorite of mine and…

2020 Samuel Louis Smith, Syrah, Sans Soufre, Coastview Vineyard, Gabilan Mountains, Monterey County.Just two barrels were made of this limited release Syrah from Samuel Louis Smith wines, it is a…

2016 Anthill Farms, Pinot Noir, Tina Marie Vineyard, Russian River Valley.Opened for a small family night celebration, the 2016 Anthill Farms Tina Marie Pinot Noir, was a perfect choice with…

2015 Weingut Georg Breuer, Riesling, Rauentaller Nonnenberg “Monopol” Rheingau Germany.The gorgeous and textural 2015 Nonnenberg Trocken is lush and ripe with great tension and energy, it has turned out to…

2018 Grochau Cellars, Pinot Noir, Commuter Cuvée, Willamette Valley, Oregon.I’ve loved this bottling of John Grochau’s Commuter Cuvée Pinot since I first tasted it back in 2012 and this 2018…