Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Review: Calera 2022 Central Coast Pinot Noir ($32)

 https://www.duckhornportfolio.com/assets/images/contentblock/files/TheDuckhornPortfolio-Calera-PinotNoir-CentralCoast-2022-high.jpg

 I ADORE this wine, and what a great value! This is Calera's entry-level Pinot Noir, and yeah, at $32 it isn't exactly cheap, but wow, what a vibrant, fresh, charming, and layered wine. It smells of dried violet and rose petals, cranberry, thyme, ripe raspberry. It's lively, fresh, and vibrant on the palate with a modest amount of new oak added and a wisp of limestone on the finish. The purity of the fruit and the quality of the winemaking is just off the charts. I cannot recommend this wine more highly. I think this might be the most impressive Central Coast AVA offering from Calera that I have ever had. I just can't stop smiling. This is a wine that just makes me to drink wine, because it is exactly what great wine should be.  (94 Points)

- Tim Teichgraeber

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Review: Duckhorn Decoy Limited 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($30)

The price difference between the regular Decoy offerings (which are not shabby at all) and the Decoy "Limited" series is often only about five dollars. Most of the Decoy base offerings have a suggested list price of $25 versus the $30 price tag of the Decoy Limited or blue label wines.

That seems like a rather fine parse, but I don't run the company. When it comes to sourcing slightly better grapes, sometimes that five dollar difference can reflect a significant upgrade. 

The Limited wines generally come from more confined, more refined AVA's. In this case the Decoy Limited Central Coast Pinot Noir comes from the Sonoma Coast AVA, and absolutely delivers the goods for a Pinot Noir from that zone.It has crisp cranberry, black cherry, and raspberry fruit notes, hints of conifer, dried herbs, and a very luxurious mouthfeel, with a long, supple finish. The balance of focus and plushness is impressive. It is a very well-made wine, and you might be able to find it for a little bit cheaper. (92 Points).

Decoy Limited Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022  Front Bottle Shot

 

 



Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Freeland Spirits Forest Gin Review ($40)

 

This adventurous gin captures the spirit of the Pacific Northwest woods. It's infused with mushrooms, berries, and nettles. That said, it isn't aggressively herbaceous or excessively trippy. It makes a lovely, distinguished gin martini that can be garnished effectively with either olives or lemon. It's 90 proof, so maybe add an extra whisper of dry vermouth. It might not be my first choice for a negroni, but it's definitely not as outré as St. George's brilliant but quirky 'Terroir' gin. (92 Points)

-Tim Teichgraeber

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Review: Brandlin 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley ($60)

Veteran winemaker Steve Rogstad oversees winemaking at both Cuvaison in Carneros, and its sibling brand, Brandlin, which is based on Mt. Veeder. Rogstad makes some interesting, seriously-layered Sauvignon's for both brands using a variety of fermenters, stirring lees, and other craftsman-like tools of the trade. I love this 2021 release for it's complex gooseberry, quince, white grapefruit, cream, and lime curd flavors that delivery both great focus and plushness simultaneously. What a golden age this is for California Sauvignon Blanc. (93 Points)

- Tim Teichgraeber

Estate <br />Sauvignon Blanc bottle shot 

Review: Quivira 2019 Anderson Ranch Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley ($50)

 

This is a lovely example of the increasingly sophisticated, balanced style of Zinfandel that is trending state-wide.  Made by the esteemed winemaker Hugh Chappelle, this organically-farmed Anderson Ranch wine comes from elevated benchlands with well-drained, sandy soils. It has tremendous balance, showing racy, brambly raspberry fruit with notes of mint and bay laurel, cinnamon, white pepper, and cola. Only about 20% new French oak is applied to the wine, and that for a relatively short 8 months before the wine is matured in larger, neutral foudres. Very impressive. (93 Points)


- Tim Teichgraeber

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Review: J. Lohr 20121 South Ridge Syrah Paso Robles, CA ($15)

I have to be honest... I definitely thought that by 2023 Syrah's progress in the United States would have been better. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE Syrah. I love the fact that is is almost a perfect split of fruity notes and savory, bloody, leathery notes, plus some peppery spice drizzled on top. But Syrah's progress in the U.S. has been unsteady. There are some winemakers that have planted it in the right places and handled it well, and there have been many more experiments. And a lot of failed experiments. 

I think it's fair to say at this point that:

1: This grape is far more climate finicky than was previously thought; and

2: The clay and limestone soils that it loves are not that common in California.

The best Syrah from California seems to come from cool coastal regions, some balmier but still ocean-influenced parts of Paso Robles, some coastal parts of Santa Barbara County, and sometimes from the Bennett Valley of Sonoma, which is cooled by the Petaluma Gap.

There are a couple of Syrahs from California that consistently deliver great varietal character and value for under $20. One is this J. Lohr South Ridge bottling, The other is the Qupé Central Coast Syrah. 

It is savory, concentrated, full of generous black fruit, and just a hint of pepper and grilled meat. It's a flavor profile that says, "This is Syrah," and it does it for a very fair price. This is a legit, very consistent wine. 

 J Lohr South Ridge Syrah 2016 - 750MLJ Lohr South Ridge Syrah 2016 - 750MLJ Lohr South Ridge Syrah 2016 - 750ML

J Lohr South Ridge Syrah 2016 - 750ML

(88 Points) 

- Tim Teichgraeber

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Lucia Gamay Noir Santa Lucia Highlands ($30)

 If you've ever happened to have a wonderful experience with a bottle of Beaujolais from France, maybe enjoying the light red with some charcuterie, cheeses, pickles, a couple of cheeses, or whatever you have around, you might have fallen in love with Gamay, the easy-going red grape of Burgundy. The more casual, less pretentious cousin of Pinot Noir. It's the devilishly cool picnic wine, the life of the party, and the grape that is all about the minute, not wanting constant comment and consideration. I love that about Gamay. This wine is all that. It's delicious, juicy, full of cherry and herb notes. It doesn't have some of the mineral complexity of some Cru Beaujolais, but it's technically tight, fresh, joyous, and delicious. And it has my endorsement. I really enjoyed this wine. (92 Points)

- Tim Teichgraeber2022 Lucy (Pisoni) Santa Lucia Highlands Gamay Noir