Lucas & Lewellen Viognier Santa Barbara County 2013
Brilliant straw color. Wonderfully fragrant and floral with scents of honeysuckle, ginger, spring flowers, lychee, and apricot with hints of lime zest, and grapefruit. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a slight sweeter and richer than expected with silky honey and orchard fruit notes flanked by citrus. Full-bodied with waves of ripe fruit while being ideally balanced with crisp acidity. Made with 100% Viognier. $22 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Lucas & Lewellen Malbec Santa Barbara County 2012
Deep, bright ruby with hints of garnet. Scents of ripe and dried black fruits and cassis with loads of mineral and earth in support. The palate is in full agreement with the aromatics with a rich and semi-tart black fruit driven core with flanking notes of black pepper, mineral, and toasted oak. Dense and rich with perfect balance offering a fresh dose of acidity and soft but framing tannins. Made with 100% Malbec. $28 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc Napa Valley 2013
Brilliant pale straw color. The nose is amazingly complex with citrus and green melon scents in the lead with accents of fresh cut grass, gooseberry, red grapefruit, star fruit, spring flowers, and fiddlehead fern tips. The palate mirrors the nose with big fruit flavors at the core supported by notes of green herbs, citrus and oak. It is surely a big style of Sauvignon Blanc with a firm oak note that adds weight and length. $20 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Mud House Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014
Very, very pale straw color. The nose offers a complex melange of citrus juice and zest with red grapefruit in the lead supported by notes of green grass, English cucumbers, and star fruit. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush but sprite fruit-driven core with beautiful waves of semi-tart citrus nd hints of green herbs. This is an ultra refreshing wine with great balance and incredible depth. Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. $16.99 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Donati Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Paicines 2012
Deep, dark ruby red color. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe, sweet cherry with more red berries and accents of vanilla, allspice, and toasted oak. The palate is in full accord with the nose with a lush and silky fruit-driven core with generous brown spice notes, vanilla tinged oak, and hints of cassis. Medium to full-bodied with generous flavors with a good balance and little to no discernible tannins. $25 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Donati Family Vineyard The Immigrant Central Coast 2012
Deepest, darkest ruby red color. The aromatics are quite complex with scents of wet, fallen leaves, earth, mineral, dense black fruits, tart cherry, and brown baking spices accented by a generous dose of toasted oak. The palate echoes the nose with a dense berry-driven core flanked by generous notes of dried herbs, earth, spice, and oak. This is a big wine with impeccible balance and great length with moderate tannins. $40 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Donati Family Vineyard Claret Paicines 2012
Darkest, inky ruby red color. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe red cherry, nutmeg, cocoa bean, and mineral, with hints of dried herbs and toasted oak. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich and bold fruit centered core with hints of tart cherry supporting the ripe red cherry. Medium to full-bodied with great balance thanks to a fresh dose of acidity with soft, chewy tannins and great length. $22 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Donati Family Vineyard Merlot Paicines 2012
Deep, dark garnet red color with hints of ruby. Dense, ripe red and black cherries take the lead with a generous dose of brown baking spices in support. The palate echoes the nose with tart cherries supporting the ripe fruit, notes of wet earth, mineral, toasted oak. and hints of black pepper. This is a big and bold wine with great balance as well offering a bright dose of acidity and soft tannins. $25 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Hudson Shah Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2012
Deepest, darkest ruby red color. Lovely ripe red and black fruits (with red cherry and blackberry battling fore the lead) fill the nose with accents of mineral, spice, and soft earth notes. The palate confirms the nose delivering a juicy, ripe fruit core with tart berries, brown spices, and mineral in support offering complexity. Full bodies and generous with silky fruit and complex spice notes adding interest with little to no tannins in the mix. $14 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Dussek Family Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2012
Deep, dark ruby red with purple edges. The nose is wonderfully fragrant and floral with violets in the lead married with ripe cherry, plum, and cassis with hints of dark roast coffee, allspice, and vanilla. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a rich and concentrated fruit centric core with loads of brown baking spices, cigar box, chocolate, and sweet earth tones in support. This is a generous Syrah with its greatest attribute being balance and complexity. It doesn't hurt that it's a pure pleasure to sip. Made with 100% Syrah. $20 – 4 Stars – 91 points
