Force of Nature Red Wine - Mossfire Ranch Paso Robles 2013
Deep, bold ruby red to purple, the kind of ruby that would make Barbie blush. The nose reveals a lush fruit bomb with character and style. The ripe, lush cherry, raspberry and plum are foiled by scents of forest floor, oak, dark chocolate and subtle hints of clove. The palate is just as rich as the nose if not more. It's a carnival of freshly crushed ripe red berries with some black berries mixed in for interest. The secondary earth, spice and oak notes are rather secondary as lush, ripe fruit is the focus here. This is a big wine but not at all brooding or flabby. The alcohol is well in check and there is enough acid to keep inviting sip after sip and the cold, black tea tannins on the finish offer structure and depth. $18 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2011
Deepest, darkest ruby red veering toward purple. Vibrant and inviting aromatics of blackberry, cherry, blackcurrant, and plum with accents of mineral, allspice, nutmeg, cocoa nibs, and oak with hints of French roast coffee. The palate is just as complex and sophisticated with tremendous structure and length, waves of ripe fruit, and vibrant acidity. While this is surely a Napa wine it does have a lot in common with the great wines of Bordeaux. Its rich while restrained palate will remind many wine lovers of the modern Pauillac style with an unmistakable Napa heart. $65 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Bodega Garzon Albariño Garzon 2013
Brilliant pale straw. The nose is wonderfully fragrant and complex with notes of apricot, red grapefruit, nectarine, green papaya, dark oolong tea, and mineral. The palate is fully simpatico with the aromatics offering a vibrant entry with lingering ripe and tart orchard fruit notes, accents of ginger, and lemongrass. A beautiful example of the varietal’s panache and power to refresh. $16.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Bodega Garzon Tannat Garzon 2013
Deepest, darkest ruby red color. The nose is rich and super concentrated with scents of roasted black berry, black plum, cherry, and eucalyptus, pomegranate, cigar box, and a bit of lapsang souchong. The palate fulfills the promise of the nose and then some delivering a mouth-coating black fruit essence with plenty of dried leafy herbs, mineral, and cocoa nibs in support. A real beauty that just gets better and better with more aeration so be sure to throw this in a decanter to discover its full potential. $19.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Pietra Santa Signature Collection Pinot Noir Cienega Valley 2011
Deep ruby red color. The nose is complex and multilayered offering waves of mineral notes with a dense berry center and accents of wild flowers, heather, black pepper, and toasted oak. The palate fully concurs delivering a concentrated, fruit-forward core with plenty of tart cherry notes to match the sweet raspberry and strawberry flavors. The rich fruit core is framed by toasted oak, brown baking spices, and omnipresent mineral notes. A generous dose of fresh acidity keeps this Pinot fresh and alluring. It finishes with mild tannins and a pretty spice melange. Please decant this wine and allow it to breathe for 30 minutes to reveal its many charms. $35 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Helfrich Grand Cru Riesling Alsace 2011
Brilliant straw color with hints of gold. The nose reveals a classic Riesling offering waves of orchard fruits with exotic tropical notes, a fine minerality, and varietal/terrior based petrol tones. The palate affirms the nose offering waves of complex fruit, floral, and mineral flavors. Each sip reveals formerly hidden nuances. Perfectly balanced and ideal for the dinner table pairing well with everything from roast pork to grilled firm fish and shellfish. $25 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Pietra Santa Merlot Cienega Valley 2010
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBeautiful deep ruby to garnet red color. The aromatics are complex and refined with black cherries and plum in the lead with accents of dry earth, mineral, cedar, bark and cigar box. The palate is true to the nose delivering a complex and subtle fruit attack with a generous dose of earth, forest floor, black pepper, and semi-tart cherries. Ideally proportioned with a generous dose of acid and moderate, dry tannins. This wine is all about the superb balance. There is plenty here to chew on but the charm is found in its multi layers. Made with 100% Merlot. $18 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Pietra Santa Cabernet Sauvignon Cienega Valley 2010
Deep, dark ruby red to garnet. The nose reveals a classic and nuanced Cabernet offering scents of black cherry, blackberry, and plum with supporting notes of cassis, earth, clove, cocoa, and oak. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose offering layers of dry and ripe berry driven fruit with accents of spice, oak, and subtle earth tones to offer intrigue. This is one beautifully woven set of complex flavors mingling in the glass. Balance, balance, and balance is the hallmark of this beautiful Cabernet. It is not a California blockbuster style - it's absolutely seductive finishing with soft, dry tannins. Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. $20 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
