Gundlach Bundschu Estate Gewürztraminer Sonoma Coast 2014
Beautiful pale straw color. The nose reveals a classic Gewürztraminer showcasing lovely orchard fruits with accents of jasmine, rose water, honeysuckle, lemon curd, and ginger. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex fruit melange with white peach, apple, and pear in the lead supporting by generous spice, rose water, ginger, and jasmine with mineral and subtle citrus accents. Medium-bodied and incredibly delicate while filling the palate with waves of fruit and spice. Made with 100% Gewürztraminer. $22 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Mount Veeder Reserve Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to maroon color. The nose is wonderfully complex — imagine Bordeaux meeting Napa hillsides. Scents of blackberry, blueberry, plum, and cassis take the lead supported by fresh herbs, toasted oak, allspice, nutmeg, and hints of dark chocolate, leather, and licorice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with a wildly complex mix of earth, cigar, brown baking spices, sweet herbs, and oak to add intrigue. It's certainly full-boded but this wine offers more nuance than heft as it's never brooding while constantly changing from sip to sip. $90 – 5 Stars – 98 points
Cornerstone Cellars Oakville Station Merlot Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics are incredibly deep with layers of red and black cherry with hints of raspberry, blackberry, plum, cocoa nibs, allspice, anise, vanilla bean accented toasted oak, herbes de Provence, and black pepper. The palate is equal to the nose delivering an impossibly complex array of berry fruits with spice, earth, oak, and more subtle nuances than can be documented here. Full-bodied and wonderfully structured and silky with countless layers and perfectly integrated tannins. $75 – 5 Stars – 100 points
Cornerstone Cellars Michael's Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeepest, darkest ruby red color. The rich and dense fruit is the first thing that grabs your attention. Rich, concentrated black cherries take the lead followed by cassis, raspberry, black plum, and wild red berries are supported by a melange of brown spices, earth, and toasted oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, concentrated fruit core that is framed by spice, black pepper, leather, oak, and dusty tannins. It's simply gorgeous and what every Napa Cabernet lover is seeking. Full-bodied with deep, concentrated fruit and spice flavors displaying perfect balance and incredible length. The only down side is that this bold and wine drinks so well now that it won't be properly cellared allowing it to show its full character. $75 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Bargetto Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 2013
Bright ruby red with a translucent center. The nose is complex and deep with scents of ripe and tart black cheery and cranberry supported by generous notes of mineral, plum, toasted oak, allspice, and hints of vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a charming melange of ripe and tart fruit with trailing spice and oak notes that linger on. Perfectly balanced with a vibrant dose of acidity that along with the seductive fruit core keeps you coming back for more. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $28 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Cornerstone Cellars Corallina Rosé of Syrah Napa Valley 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant pale salmon color. The aromatics are decidedly floral with generous scents of wild strawberries, white peach, red cherry, lavender, heather, and orange zest with accents of mineral in support. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex and vibrant core of red berries and cherry, fresh herbs, spring flowers, orange, and mineral. Ultra vibrant with crisp acidity while offering generous portions of fruit with perfect balance and great length. $25 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Lucas & Lewellen Rosé of Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant salmon color with hints of ruby. The nose is quite floral with waves of fresh, ripe berries and a hint of mineral and citrus zest. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, semi-tart red cherry, and plum with accents of mineral, citrus, and cranberry. It's perfectly balanced with a ripe, full center and vibrant acidty. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $18 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Donati Family Vineyard Ezio Cabernet Sauvignon Paicines 2012
Deep, dark garnet red with accents of ruby. The nose is vibrant with scents of forest floor, red and black berries, toasted oak, and loads of brown baking spices and hints of cedar. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich and generous berry-driven core with notes of spice, earth, and oak in support. Big and bold while being perfectly balanced offering a fresh dose of acidity, soft tannins, and long, lingering flavors finishing with sweet spice notes. $40 – 5 Stars – 97 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
