Aged Wine Reviews

2017 Ken Brown Wines Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

A beautiful example of what put Sta. Rita Hills on the map of world’s best Pinot Noir regions.

Tasting notes: red fruit, spice

2014 Ecluse Wines Improv

A great example both of the winemaking style from Écluse Wines and and the ageability of their wines (and red wines from Paso Robles).

Tasting notes: black fruit, smooth

2018 Tabalí Talinay Pai

Talinay is like Bourgogne in Chile, but with a fruit forward, new world sensibility. This is a winery to know if you like Pinot Noir (or Chablis-style Chardonnay)

Tasting notes: black cherry, berry, spice, bright

2018 Château Cordet Margaux

On the palate I tasted red fruits, blue fruits, black fruits (all the fruits, no, not really). The tannins were slightly grippy.

Tasting notes: red fruit, leather, grippy tannins, black fruit, blue fruit

2014 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Geisberg

This 2014 riesling was dry, but with a hint of sweetness in the finish. I had not tasted an aged riesling before and was enamored with the complexity, richness, and structure (and really wished I had another bottle).

Tasting notes: lemon, pear, slightly sweet, aromatic

2017 Ken Brown Wines Envision Pinot Noir

The 2017 Envision, a blend of some of SYV’s best vineyards, represented a classic style of Pinot Noir common to the area.

Tasting notes: smoky, red fruit, bright

2018 Dragonette Cellars Vogelzang Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

It is a medium-bodied, medium-acidity Sauv Blanc with Meyer lemon and grapefruit on the palate, more muted butterscotch than the nose, and at five years old, just a hint of oak.

Tasting notes: citrus, butterscotch, oak, tropical fruit

2018 Lone Madrone Chenin Blanc

With 4+ years of age on it, this Chenin was not especially fruity, but still aromatic and honeyed. The acidity and body were beautiful, offering interesting textures as the wine moved across my palate.

Tasting notes: bright, honey, apple

2018 Lone Madrone Oveja

I enjoyed: white fruit cocktail, banana, lychee, something like Petrol (from the Picpoul), and mandarin. Still food-friendly, after all those years.

Tasting notes: bright, stone fruit

2012 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva

Rioja Alta (both a region and the winery which produces this wine) is an insider favorite, typically because it offers such great drinking value and ageability.

2017 Zenato Amarone Classico della Valpolicella

This wine was magnificent and has made me completely rethink what I know of Amarone. The critics were mesmerized and so was I.

Tasting notes: cassis, liqueur, cherry, fig, prune

2017 Thacher Winery New Routine

Big, mouth-coating red wine featuring dark red fruits, black fruits, and a host of other savory flavors.

Tasting notes: dark red fruit, black fruit, pepper

2015 Camaraderie Cellars Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

I enjoyed this Cabernet Sauvignon, which I often don’t. A blend of Cab Sauv from multiple Washington AVAs and 15% Merlot to soften the edges even further.

Tasting notes: black cherry

2015 Hersly Wines Hersly Lazare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

A true Napa Cab somewhere in the middle of its transformation from young and chewy to smooth and supple. Fruit flavors are fading faster than the tannins are integrating.

Tasting notes: spice, chocolate, dark fruit, grippy tannin

2015 Anthem Winery Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s hard not to be a fan of Anthem Winery’s transparency on their wine bottles, but what’s in the glass is always enjoyable, too.

Tasting notes: dark fruit, stewed fruit, soft tannin