Sinewy structure meets harmony and polish in this red, which offers vibrant raspberry and blueberry flavors that take on accents of violet, crushed stone and dusky spice. Finishes with refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. From Oregon.
Aromatic and generous, with notes of pineapple upside-down cake, ripe and fleshy peaches as well as a whiff of salted butterscotch. Vibrant, crisp acidity keeps the flavors balanced and focused. Long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030.
Blends tension with fresh and lovely fruit, such as raspberry and blueberry. Draws in accents of black tea, forest floor and dusky spice as this builds richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, cassis, black pepper, dried herbs and black cherries. Flavors of cassis, plums, currants and raspberries. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with air or hold a little longer.
Vibrant yet tightly focused, with tart red and blue fruit laced with forest floor, black tea and dusky spice, building tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.
This strikes a balance between ripe, generous flavors and a thread of savory elements, with lanolin, toasted sesame and sea salt details to the core of lemon curd, mango and peach flavors. A note of nutmeg lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2032.
This distinctive white offers a mix of marzipan, spice and fresh hops to mingle with the citrus, apple, pear and tangerine flavors, with a fresh thread of acidity and a smooth texture working in harmony. Drink now.
Strikes a terrific balance between crisp and minerally notes, with ripe peach, melon and tangerine flavors that show a touch of orange blossom on the finish. Drink now through 2030.
Honeyed citrus and stone fruit flavors are generous and plush, with a touch of vanilla bean and sea salt that lingers on the elegant finish. Drink now.
Honey, date and dried floral notes add a richness to the core of spicy peach, pear and apple flavors, firming on the finish with robust acidity. Drink now.
Robust, with crisp and juicy pineapple, citrus and melon flavors that show hints of lemon blossom, nutmeg and orange sherbet on a full, broad frame. Drink now.
A forward, inviting style, with creamy textured plum and cassis notes laced with sweet toast. Features a faint savory echo through the finish. Drink now through 2024.
Plush and seamless, with ripe peach, apricot and crisp apple notes that show a touch of salted butterscotch on the finish. Drink now.
Those who enjoy rose and forest floor, cranberry and orange zest aromatic PN should try their Land’s Edge Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2018, 93 McD, gets 1 price point under $40. Dense, still tannic, color says no problem, balanced aromas, acidity and flavors. Finishes with sea breeze tang.
The 2019 is more citrus and floral, bright acidity, it needs time, 93 McD under $70. Spent 14 months on French oak so probably hasn’t hit Delaware shelves yet.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cassis, white flowers, plums, cherries and raspberries. Flavors of raspberries, plums and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short to perhaps medium term.
If you see Harford Court Radian Vineyard 2018 from Santa Rita Hills and you love barrel spice, butter and cake with a mix of pear, pineapple and hints of ginger, glom as much as you can afford.
The fruit for this 2019 High Sands Grenache is sourced from the highest plot on the estate, from old bush vines planted in 1946. This an incredibly complex wine that undulates and ripples across the tongue; it brings blood and ferrous, crushed quartz and pink peppercorns, poise and succulence, but never, ever heaviness. Weight: no. This has silken sway and lithe flow, but no heaviness. What an amazing wine that lingers and echoes through the finish. An emphatic, resounding, YES. In fact, I was almost done with this tasting note, and it occurred to me that there is also framboise, licorice, a hint of anise, salami and graphite through the finish. It's a crime to spit this out—so I won't.
The fruit for the 2020 Ovitelli Grenache is sourced from bush vines planted in 1946, just after the second World War. This is incredibly fine. It is pure and layered with blood, red licorice, crushed minerals, black tea, satsuma plum, black cherries and framed by ferrous tannins. What a joy this is... it lingers in the mouth long after the wine is gone, allowing for a bit of chew and thought before the next sip. Elegance 101.
The 2014 The Revivalist Merlot is being released alongside the 2020 as a museum offering, and it is abundantly clear that it is really coming into its own now, at eight years old—there is very slow evolution, super impressive. The 2014 has gained in complexity, weight and polish over the years, but it has retained its leafy and detailed character. Very impressive, and given the arc of development, this has a long way to go yet.
The 2020 Hickinbotham Grenache was sourced from estate-owned bush vines (planted in 1962 at 225 meters in elevation) and was fermented and matured entirely in concrete egg shaped amphorae called "cocciopesto." Darker and denser than the Ovitelli, this shows a splay of blood, shaved deli meat, pink peppercorn and satsuma plum. It is heavier and more tannic too, delivering more intensity and gravitas, if that's what you're into. Another impressive release, it lingers long and fine.
The 2020 The Revivalist Merlot comes from vines that were planted 1971. The fruit here is leafy and decidedly pink in its fruit profile. Classic and elegant—the tannins are very soft, and the fruit is delicate. It is concentrated in a pure kind of way. Nicely done.