The color is fairly pale salmon-pink, but this rosé packs a punch, with concentrated cherry, strawberry and orange rind flavors that could stand up to reasonably hearty food. There's a hint of bitterness on the finish (possibly from some Cabernet Sauvignon included) that isn't unpleasant at all. In fact it gives the wine some structure and makes it oddly refreshing as well. Not cheap, but a high quality wine for sure. (90 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
It's pretty hard to poke a hole in this seamless, lithe, flavorful Russian River Valley Pinot.It's extraordinarily well-balanced, with ample black cherry, black tea, red currant and tarragon notes. Every aspect of the wine seems to be perfectly placed, from acidity to alcohol to tannin and fruit. At 4 1/2 years old, I think this wine has a very bright future, not that I would dissuade you from drinking it now. (96 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
Textbook Provençale-style rosé that would make a perfect poolside sipper. It's light pink in color with a floral nose and tart strawberry and citrus notes. The price is a little high, but this is an estate grown wine and it's considerably better than average to be sure. (90 Points)
There's a lot to like about this Textbook brand from Napa-based Jonathan and Susan Pey. The wines are exactly what the brand suggests: wines that show great typicity of variety and place, and they're made in a very straightforward, direct way. The prices are also pretty damn good. The wine business is tough these days, but that seems like a pretty good formula for success, especially if you're buying grapes in a flooded bulk market. Coming in at a consumer-friendly $20 or so, this is a fine Sauvignon Blanc with the exact grapefruit, grass, and clover notes that you'd expect to get from a coastal California Sauvignon Blanc. The depth of flavor is impressive, and it comes in at a nice, mild 12.8% alcohol. Definitely recommended. (91 Points)
-Tim Teichgraeber
Rhys makes wines from 7 estate vineyards, 6 of which are in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, with the remaining property in Anderson Valley. They focus is on elevated vineyards, many or most located near the San Andreas fault. The Mt. Pajaro vineyard is the southernmost of them. This exceptional Chenin Blanc has notes of lemon curd, honeydew melon, papaya, and thyme (or some other mountain herb). It has great acidity, intense, and complex fruit flavors. It is not an oaky wine. I just tasted a LOT of Chenin Blanc from South Africa and California in the last couple of weeks, and this is certainly up there with the very best of them all. (94 Points)
P.S. If you are interested in Chenin Blanc, you should definitely check out "Hella Chenin," an annual Chenin Blanc festival in Berkeley that takes place in May. The event was very well attended by trade members and consumers, and it was a lot of fun!
- Tim Teichgraeber
I do not tire of Calera's single vineyard offerings (Calera, Mills and Selleck). They almost never disappoint, and they all have their own distinct flair. This vintage of Mills is really hitting a fine stride, showing brilliant, fresh blueberry, boysenberry and cherry fruit with a hint of minerality and some baking spices on the finish. It's not to hard, not too soft, not too fruity, not too savory - just brilliant. It comes from a site at 2,200 ft. in elevation from Mt. Harlan with 14 1/2 acres planted to the original Calera clone that Josh Jensen brought back from France. The vineyard was first planted in 1984. This is a stunning wine. (97 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
This young wine might still have a bit of baby fat in terms of fruit and oak that isn't perfectly integrated just yet, but I think this wine has a bright future. Revisiting it the next day only confirmed my initial appraisal. This Bordeaux-style blend has a really nice combination of fresh dark fruit, acidity, and polished tannins. At first blush, I thought it had some unexpected density for Mt. Veeder, which has a reputation for elegant Cabernet. By the next day, it showed just the elegant, Mt. Veeder elegance that I expected, showing bright black cherry, cassis notes, hints of vanilla and licorice, subtle floral notes, and a very smooth finish. Definitely a keeper, and it will reward the patient. (95 Points)
- Tim Teichgraeber
