Nia Pinot Noir California 2015
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby red color. The nose reveals complex aromas of ripe, red cherry with raspberry and tart cherries supported by accents of mineral, dried herbs, and soft earth tones. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit-centric core that features both ripe, sweet cheery along with tart cherries, cassis, and raspberry framed by earth and spice. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with a vibrant fruit core that is flanked by earth and spice notes. $9.99 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Troon MT Reserve Southern Oregon 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep, dark, ruby red color. The nose is very complex and compelling with ripe, red cherry in the lead with hints of boysenberry and cassis with silky accents of allspice. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a dense, red fruit-centric core with waves of spice, rich red jams, vanilla, and subtle brown spice notes. Full-bodied with dense fruit and perfect balance and harmony with a bright dose of acidity and soft, round, supple tannins. $50 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Troon Estate Tannat Applegate Valley 2014
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewDeep, darkest ruby red to purple. The aromatics reveal a dense and complex wine with enthralling ripe, red and black berries in the lead supported by brown baking spices, dried blueberry, and toasted oak with accents of mineral and dried herbs. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a rich and very dense fruit-centric core with waves of spice, soft earth tones, and subtle oak notes. Full-bodied with dense, concentrated fruit supported by spices and earth with bright acidity present to keep it fresh and lively. Made with 100% Tannat. $35 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne NV
Brilliant, pale golden color with a steady stream of fine bubbles. The nose opens meekly but quickly opens up with waves of spring flowers, complex lees and mineral notes, and soft citrus accents. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a complex core of white fruits, toasted brioche, and bright floral notes that linger for minutes while softly competing for dominance. Medium-bodied with a seamless fusion of fruit, lees, mineral, and subtle citrus notes with a vibrant dose of acidity creating ideal balance. $55 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Ayala Rosé Majeur Champagne NV
Brilliant pink color with a steady stream of fine bubbles. The nose is quite vibrant with waves of ripe and tart red fruits mingling with soft floral and mineral accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex but subtle blend of raspberry, boysenberry, and black mulberry that activate the salivary glands with bright acidity. Medium-bodied and very a finesse rosé with prominent red fruits being balanced by the classic lees notes and generous dose of Chardonnay delivering perfect balance. $70 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Run Riot Chardonnay Central Coast 2015
Brilliant, golden straw color. The nose reveals a big and buttery Chardonnay with a generous note of lees harmonizing with ripe peach, lychee, and tropical fruits. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a rich and chewy fruit and brown butter core with flanking notes of tropical fruits, lemon curd, and brioche. This is a big Chardonnay with fat butter and fruit notes foiled by a bright dose of citrus and firm lees accent. Made with 100% Chardonnay. $16.99 – 3.5 Stars – 87 points
Run Riot Pinot Noir Central Coast 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep, ruby red color. The nose presents a dense marriage of black cherries and blackberry with a healthy dose of brown baking spices, dark chocolate, and hints of smoky bacon and cassis. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and jammy black fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices and subtle earth tones finishing with soft, chewy tannins. This is bigger and more jammy than your typical Pinot Noir but it is quite vibrant with bright acidity and framing tannins that provide ideal balance. $19.99 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Troon Black Label G*S*M Reserve Southern Oregon 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, ruby red color. This wine is wonderfully aromatic offering scents of red and black fruits with tart fruits rivaling the sweet ripe fruits and accents of brown baking spices, damp earth, and subtle oak notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich but amazingly sprite fruit-driven core with ripe red cherries and bright cranberries taking center stage with waves of blackberry. Full-bodied while being very nimble with a lovely velvety texture matched by a bright dose of acidity that keeps it fresh and lively. $50 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Chateau Lassègue Les Cadrans de Lassègue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2012
Deep, dark ruby red color. The nose offers bright scents of black fruits with a generous dose of baking spices, dried herbs, earth, and mineral with accents of oak. The palate fully concurs with the nose offering a dry, black fruit, and earth core with flanking accents of spice, black pepper, and subtle oak notes. Medium to full-bodied with dry spice and mineral-soaked fruit that is framed by big but supple tannins. $35 – 3.5 Stars – 89 points
Chateau Lassègue, Lassègue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewDeep, dark ruby red color. The aromatics are quite expressive offering waves of black fruits both ripe and dried with generous accents of cassis, black plum, evergreen shrubs, brown baking spices, forest floor, and toasted oak. The palate brilliantly echoes the nose delivering a dense black fruit core with flanking notes of earth, clove, black pepper, nutmeg, and oak with a silky minerality rising on the finish. This young Bordeaux is wonderfully intense with lush fruit and spice showing incredible depth offering flashes of maturity while the bright youthful fruit still dominates. $90 – 5 Stars – 98 points
