Clif Family Winery Rte Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll District 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, light green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of grass, red grapefruit, citrus zest, and fresh herbs with supporting notes of star fruit, green tea, and kiwi. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of red grapefruit, lemongrass, quince, and wet stones. The finish is crisp. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. $30 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Clif Family Winery Kit's Killer Cab Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021
Brilliant, dark ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry, cassis, and dried herbs with supporting notes of earth, blueberry, black tea, and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black currant, raspberry, slate, baking spices, and oak. The finish is long and lingering with supple tannins. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with an opulent texture. $85 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Troon Vineyard Druid's White Applegate Valley 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, light green/gold color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of pear, apricot stone, and beeswax with supporting notes of jasmine, guava, mineral, honeysuckle, and soft cheese rinds. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of nectarine, red grapefruit, quince paste, kumquat, and green apple skins. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. Made with a blend of 35% Grenache Blanc, 35% Marsanne, 25% Vermentino, and 5% Roussanne. $25 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Troon Vineyard Druid's Red Applegate Valley 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of plum, raspberry, and dried herbs with supporting notes of leather, mineral, hibiscus flower, thyme, and hints of cigar box. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, earth, red currant, and mocha. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. Made with a blend of 30% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 19% Mourvedre, and 4% Carignan. If drinking now, open an hour before drinking. $25 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, elderberry, and dried herbs with supporting notes of garrigue, slate, thyme, iron, cocoa, and tamari. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, black tea, and graphite. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. The 2022 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noirs are wines for cellaring — they are noble beasts with dexterity. $75 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
Troon Vineyard Druid's Pink Applegate Valley 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, medium salmon color. The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of kumquat, strawberry, and spring flowers with supporting notes of crushed berries, slate, and red grapefruit. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, star fruit, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering with tart red fruits that present a slight effervecenance. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. Made with a blend of 62% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 7% Carignan, and 5% Counoice. $25 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Grenache Clarendon 2010
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of wild berries, raspberry, and dried herbs with supporting notes of leather, dried fruits, and black tea. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black plum, earth, garrigue, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a voluptuous texture. $70 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Tongue Dancer Pinot de Ville Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry, dried herbs, and red cherry with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, slate, truffle, red cherry, fennel seed, and hibiscus flower. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black plum, five spice, cranberry jam, and wild blueberry with hints of mint. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins and sexy oak accents. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. The 2022 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noirs are wines for cellaring — they are noble beasts with dexterity. $69 – 4.5 Stars – 97 points
Tongue Dancer Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, medium golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of pear, white peach, and citrus zest with supporting notes of kumquat, lemon grass, and honeysuckle. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of lemon curd, apricot stone, slate, oak, and quince. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a creamy but vibrant texture. $59 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
De Forville Barbera d'Alba 2022
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry, bramble, and forest floor with supporting notes of black tea, cassis, and garrigue. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, slate, and five spice. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. $19 – 4 Stars – 92 points
