Mouth filling, full-bodied notes of balsamic, sandalwood, and graphite. Deeply layered, poignant, and majestic. Black pepper, figs, and Kalamata olive add an earthy, dusty character.
Mouth filling, full-bodied notes of balsamic, sandalwood, and graphite. Deeply layered, poignant, and majestic. Black pepper, figs, and Kalamata olive add an earthy, dusty character.
At a glance, the iconic yellow label connotes and invites celebration—and with one sip, the vibrant Pinot Noir–dominant wine inside invariably gets it underway. Aromas of baked apple and quince are energetically dappled with salted almond and white blossom, while the fairly fleshy mouthfeel intersects neatly with firm acidity amid inimations of red berry and pastry.
) As always, the name fits: The 2015 vintage of this celebrated label, a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay (with 13% red wine), is at once statuesque, gracious, and vivacious. Coral pink in the glass, it smells of smoked cherry laced with beguiling traces of lavender, white pepper, and even Madras spice that inform its flavors of green and ripe strawberry, raspberry, blood orange, and red licorice, which in turn engage with luminous acidity within its shapely body. White truffle grazes the finish like fingertips.
Leading with notes of sage, balsamic, black olive, and anise, this is a savory, earthy, old vine Tempranillo. Blackberry and black currant are surrounded by toasty oak. A fine backbone, good acid structure, and strength of character unite.
Two stops short of becoming hedonistic, this 15.6% abv Zin gathers momentum by delivering a seductive entry. A just-right acidity level brightens blackberry, vanilla, and sweet tobacco. The textured, creamy mouthfeel expands with a freshness that balances the finish of walnut and oak.
Bourbon lovers tend to like a little hint of sweetness in their whiskey, and they’ll find a hint in this wine, regardless of whether it results from the bourbon barrels used for aging or the vinification of the ripe grapes behind the wine. Aside from that sweetness, there’s nothing overtly “boozy” about the wine, which is deeply flavorful and quite soft in texture, which will endear it to many tasters regardless of their relation to Bourbon.
Toasty, rich vanilla aromas lead to more tempered flavors on the palate. Minerality rears up to claim a wash of creamy lemon meringue. The mouthfeel is clean and medium-weighted.
It isn’t as burly as many examples of Lodi Cabernet, and is well-structured and balanced, gaining approachability by way of its medium-bodied profile and finely woven integration of tannin and fruit. Time in bottle has helped with that, but the juice was clearly good from the outset, as time can’t cure all sins.