Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, Napa Valley 2012
Deep, dark garnet red with hints of purple. This Cab is very aromatic boasting scents of ripe blackberry, cassis, violets, plum, and black cherry with accents of allspice, anise, vanilla, and forest floor. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a dense and brawny core of fruit that is somewhat restrained but blossoms with aeration. The spice, earth, and fruit marriage is seamless with lingering notes of oak and cigar box. Deep and dense with loads of flavors that both emerge with ease and those that are locked deep inside not revealing themselves for years to come while generous layers of tannins offer structure and length. $55 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Barlow Merlot Calistoga, Napa Valley 2012
Deep, dense purple color. The nose is absolutely beautiful offering up scents of ripe raspberry and red cherry with generous accents of vanilla, wild strawberries, currants, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the nose giving waves of flavors of ripe fruit with semi-tart berry nuance, allspice, vanilla bean, cocoa nibs, and oak. This beautiful Merlot is medium to full-bodied and perfectly proportioned with silky layers of fruit and soft, chewy tannins. $35 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Carol Shelton "Wild Thing" Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino 2013
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is forward and generous with scents of ripe red cherry, blueberry, and blackberry with accents of cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, and boysenberry jam with hints of mineral. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and creamy texture filled with ripe berry fruit with a touch of spice and subtle oak notes. Medium-bodied with a great fruit focus, ideal balance, and a very subtle interplay of oak that allows the fruit to shine. $19 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Pizazz Zin/Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2013
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is quite subtle with soft, ripe red fruits mingling with chocolate, vanilla, and raspberry jam. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an ultra soft and silky fruit-driven core with sweet jam and vanilla accents. Medium-bodied and super, super lush with virtually no tannins at all keeping its structure with a bright dose of acidity. $19 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zinfandel Sonoma County 2013
Deep, darkest garnet red color. The aromatics are dense and with red and black berries supported by dried berries, mineral, vanilla bean, cassis, loads of brown baking spices (especially cinnamon), black pepper, and dried blueberry. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering layers of concentrated berry fruits with generous spice and oak notes giving this wine dimension and depth. Medium to full-bodied with sexy spice and oak notes delivered with perfect balance and length. $35 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Carol Shelton Karma Zin Zinfandel Sonoma County 2012
Deep, darkest garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics reveal a dense and rich Zin with layers of ripe and dried red and black berries with accents of allspice, earth, oak, nutmeg, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. The palate fulfills the promise of the nose showing even more concentration of fruit with generous spice and oak notes adding interest and structure. Full-bodied with great balance as well thanks to a bright dose of acidity and soft, chewy tannins. $30 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Summers Estate Villa Andriana Vineyard Charbono Napa Valley 2013
Deep, dark ruby red color. The nose is complex and unique offering bright scents of red plum, blueberry, bramble berry, and wild raspberry with sweet herbs, cigar box, and earth. The palate echoes the nose delivering a concentrated fruit core that offers wave of red and black berry fruits with spice, earth, and oak. Full-bodied and rustic while being nuanced and sophisticated with perfect balance and silky tannins. Made with 100% Charbono. $34 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Summers Estate Two-Acre Zinfandel Napa Valley 2013
Deep, dark ruby red color. The nose is wonderfully expressive with waves of ripe blackberry, cherry, and blueberry with bramble berry, hints of leather, and rich black fruit jam. The palate echoes the nose delivering rich fruit-driven core with a frame of mineral, brown spice, and black pepper. Full-bodied with waves of dense, concentrated fruit while it offers a nice balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity. Made with 100% Zinfandel. $40 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Tie Dye Red Blend North Coast 2013
Brilliant, deep ruby red color. The nose is intensely fruity and complex with waves of raspberry, black cherry, Boysenberry, and cassis competing for the lead with accents of fresh herbs, eucalyptus, brown baking spices, and subtle toasted oak notes. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush and multifaceted, fruit-driven core with depth and length. The herbal and spice notes rise on the finish that lingers with jammy black fruits. Full-bodied while balanced and complex as it never seems heavy, offering a bright dose of acidity with soft, round tannins. $18.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Bogle Essential Red California 2013
Deep, bright ruby red. The nose is generously proportioned with the scents of freshly crushed red and black berries with supporting notes of brown baking spices, blueberry, black currant, vanilla, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a lush but incredibly vibrant, fruit-driven core with tart fruit acidity, oak, spice, and a hint of earth. Wonderfully intense and rich without being heavy or brooding with a lovely dose of acid and chewy tannins that offer structure. $12 – 4 Stars – 91 points
