Kennedy Shah Merlot Columbia Valley 2012
Deep garnet red color. Dense, concentrated red and black berries take the lead with mineral, earth, and brown spices in support. The palate is just as rich with black cherry taking the lead with accents of cassis, coffee bean, earth, and oak. This is a bold Merlot with moderate, firm tannins, and long lingering earth tones. $14 – 3 Stars – 85 points
Kennedy Shah La Vie en Rouge Columbia Valley 2012
Brilliant ruby color. Deep black plum notes take the lead with scents of raspberry and blueberry with hints of earth, spice, and black coffee. The palate confirms the nose with a ripe berry fruit focus supported by notes of tart cherry, brown spices, oak, and dried herbs. Round and full with great balance, complexity, low-tannins, and a very welcomed moderate dose alcohol. $14 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Chateau Lassègue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeepest, darkest ruby red from center to the edges. Dense, ripe cherry, cassis, and plum with supporting notes of chocolate married with bright herbs featuring a bright, sweet rosemary note free of pine-like resin with hints of mineral and toasted oak infused with brown baking spices. The palate reflects and extends the complexity and richness of that which the aromatics promise. The fruit is layered with mineral, earth, oak, and spice. Intense with tight aromas and flavors that will not reveal themselves unless given time to breathe. The tannins are quite formidable at this stage but a few hours of aeration begins to soften the edges. $150 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Cornerstone Cellars Black Label Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant deep ruby color with scarlet highlights. After aerating (you should decant this wine) the true aromatics emerge offering scents of ripe raspberry, cherry, and red currants with cranberry, tart cherries, mineral, thyme, cranberry, toasted oak with subtle hints of vanilla, and nutmeg. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich and broad palate that focuses on the interplay of ripe and tart berries with supporting earth, oak, and spice notes that add intrigue. Simply beautiful. The ideally balanced wine is rich while vibrant and multilayered with great length and soft, chewy tannins. $45 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon California 2012
Deep, bright, ruby red color. The nose is filled with the scents of black currant with ripe cherry, blueberry, toasted oak, vanilla, mineral, black pepper, and brown baking spices. The palate is equal to the aromatics delivering lush, ripe fruit with accents of oak, earth, and spice with a hints of cigar box. Nicely balanced with a lingering dry finish and moderate chewy tannins. Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. $12 – 3.5 Stars – 88 points
Bogle Sauvignon Blanc California 2013
Very pale straw color with perfect clarity. The nose is fresh and vibrant offering classic Sauvignon Blanc aromatics like green grass, lime zest, citrus juice, and green apple, with hints of kiwi. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a sprite fruit core with enough fleshy fruit to offer a modest weight with accents of green apple skins and mineral. Fresh and crisp would sum up this wine as it's ideally balanced with a generous dose of acidity. Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. $10 – 3.5 Stars – 88 points
Bogle Chardonnay California 2013
Pale golden straw color with brilliant clarity. The nose reveals a classic New World Chardonnay with ripe white peach, apple, and tropical fruits in the lead supported by barrel notes emerging as well as vanilla bean, butterscotch, lemon curd, and nutmeg. The palate echoes the nose delivering waves of orchard and tropical fruits with a big does of oak, vanilla, and toasted coconut. This is a pretty intense Chardonnay without being heavy or cloying in any way offering a bright dose of acidity. Made with 100% Chardonnay. $10 – 3 Stars – 86 points
Tooth & Nail "The Fiend" Paso Robles 2012
Deep, vivid purple color with viscosity evident in the glass. The nose is immediately filled with the scents of freshly crushed red and black berries with plum and loads of Herbes de Provence, dark chocolate, cassis, and subtle hints of anise. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose and then some. The rich fruit core is as smooth as silk with layers of berry coming in waves with accents of cocoa, lavender, sandalwood, and allspice. This big red is a mouthful with ripe fruit at its core and virtually no tannins making it ready to drink today. $26.99 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Tooth & Nail "The Possessor" Paso Robles 2012
Deep, vivid ruby red color with viscosity evident in the glass. The aromatics reveal a great deal of dusty, dry earth accompanying the rich black fruits with supporting notes of red cherry, plum, cardamon, allspice, black pepper, dried pine needle, and oak. The palate concurs with the nose as the concentrated fruit core expands and flurishes with flanking notes of earth, spice, and oak with dried herbs making an appearance on the finish. This is a big and bold wine with a rich core and enough acidity and subtle dry tannins to keep it vibrant. $26.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Force of Nature Mossfire Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2013
Deep, darkest ruby to garnet red color. When first poured the nose is very subtle. It requires time to breathe. Once aerated it begins to reveal its true character offering waves of black cherry, plum, and raspberry with hints of blueberry, damp earth, oak, brown baking spices, and cassis. The palate is 100% in agreement with the nose delivering a lush ripe, concentrated fruit core with generous flanking spice, earth, and oak notes. This is a big and bold style that also leans toward the juicy side of the scale. A fresh dose of acidity keeps it vibrant. Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. $22.50 – 4 Stars – 91 points
