Quick Reviews
Edna Valley Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – California – 2016
Light fruit light floral notes, mild minerals. Overall tepid, needs more bite.
Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc – Napa California – 2015
This wants to be a French bottle but falls a bit short. Understated sometimes hints at sophistication but in this case it leans instead towards being boring. Not bad but just forgettable. Blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Fumé Blanc.
Montevina White Zinfandel – California – 2015
A bit too sweet and understated. Slightly viscous, with floral notes and peach tones. Low acid. Comes off like a kid’s wine. Rating downgraded since prior Vivino review.
Sea Glass Red Hill Single Vineyard Pinot Noir – Australia – 2016
Drank this while “paired” with a Cuban Montecristo which was a terrible idea. The wine wilted quickly and couldn’t compete with the cigar. I may revisit this but for now I found it unimpressive. Nose was unripe berry, and palate was all tannic black cherry. Very little finish.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon – Washington – 2015
Too many cooks spoil the broth, and fourteen hands spoil the malbec. Fairly dull with zero finish and unmemorable notes. Like a VHS Woody Allen movie.
Trinity Oaks Pinot Grigio – California – 2016
Pinot Grigio? Maybe, but it’s a weird one. Texture is a bit thick, like pear juice, and the main flavor notes are fruity, but not sweet. Not much nose, with little of interest on the palate, but the finish is remarkable: flowers and grapefruit linger around for quite a while. It’s not great but it’s interesting just by being strange, which gives it an extra half-star boost.
Bodegas Navalon Anciano Clásico Tempranillo – Spain – 2004
Tempranillo is usually a favorite grape of mine, but this one has nothing going on. Overall flat and lacking any distinction, this only worsened as it sat. Fruity with sharp tannins but lacking depth and balance.
McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2016
Floral notes will trick you into thinking this isn’t a sauvignon blanc but once down the gullet it’s pretty potently evident. Powerful slate overpowers the fruit here though, and this is drier than raisins soaked in salt on Mars. Would benefit by being a tad less staid.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa California – 2013
Hmm. Certainly this is a fantastic cab that is remarkably made and balanced. It has everything going for it: lovely wood and fruit nose, supple but still evident tannins, flavor notes of berry and chocolate. So what keeps it from a 4 or 5 star rating? The sugar level is just too freaking high. You don’t expect a cab of this pedigree, or bearing this label, to be this sweet.
Kono Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2016
A fine Marlborough SB but it’s bracing rocky mineral taste would benefit from just the slightest bit more sugar. Sometimes a dry wine can be too dry when considering the other elements. But still, a fine, if bold, sauvignon blanc.