California White
VGS Château Potelle – Zinfandel 2016, Atlas Vista Vineyard
Moon Mountain, Sonoma
The nose is beautifully concentrated and offers finesse, power and a fine deepness. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, black cherry and small wild berries associated with fine touches of strawberry, varietal as well as very discreet hints of grey pepper, nutmeg and spices. The mouth is fruity, juicy, well-balanced and offers a beautiful finesse and delicacy. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, juicy black cherry and small notes of cassis associated with fine touches of violet, small wild berries as well as subtle hints of liquorice stick and tobacco leaf. Tannins are elegant and offers a good length.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
VGS Château Potelle – Zinfandel 2017, Atlas Vista Vineyard
Moon Mountain, Sonoma
The nose is powerful, fruity and offers a fine concentration. It reveals notes of ripe Boysen berry, raspberry and small notes of crushed cassis associated with fine touches of ripe cherry, hints of violet, rose and nutmeg. The mouth is gourmand and offers a fine richness, a beautiful definition and suavity. In the mouth this wine expresses note of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of violet associated with touches of small red berries as well as fine hints of raspberry and caramelization. Tannins are elegant and fine. A very discreet firmness/chew on the aftertaste.
Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
WHITE WINES
AXR – Chardonnay 2017, Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley, Sonoma
The nose is fresh, fruity and offers minerality and a good definition. It reveals notes of yellow apple, ripe Mirabelle plum and small notes of quince associated with discreet hints of flowers as well as fine hints of brioche and bee wax. The mouth is fresh, fruity, well-balanced, racy and offers a beautiful definition, a fine acidulous frame as well as freshness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/ripe Mirabelle, quince and small notes of fresh pink lychee as well as touches of crushed yellow apple as well as fine hints of brioche/butter. Good length.
Score : 16.75/20 (91-92/100)
Corazón – Gewurztraminer 2016 Anderson Valley, Sonoma
The nose is fruity and offers a fine richness and a fine gourmandize. It reveals notes of quenette, exotic fruits and small notes of ripe citron (mandarine, pink grapefruit) associated with a hint of lemon flowers. The mouth is fruity, wellbalanced and offers a good definition, gourmandize and a fine richness and an acidulous frame. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of quenette, exotic fruits and small notes of ripe pink grapefruit, ripe lemon associated with fine hints of green apple as well as subtle hint of racy minerality.
Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)
Darioush – Shahpar 2012, Late Harvest Napa Valley
The nose is fruity and offers a small concentration and a fine intensity. It reveals notes of candied lemon, candied peach and small notes of candied vine peach associated with fine touches of candied orange zests and very fine hints of green apple and candied ginger. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/finely acidulous frame and a beautiful definition. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of candied lemon, candied pineapple and small notes of candied peach associated with small touches of candied apple as well as fine hints of vine peach flowers, green apple as well as a subtle hint of toasted almond/hazelnut. Good length.
Score : 15/20 (89-90/100)
Joseph Phelps - Chardonnay 2016, PastoraleVineyard Sonoma Coast
The nose is fruity and offers freshness and a small intensity. It reveals notes of green peach, crunchy pear and small notes of crunchy green apple associated with fine hints of juicy quince and a very discreet hint of juicy kumquat. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a good structure as well as tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy pear, fleshy peach and small notes of quince associated with fine hints of juicy lemon and Mirabelle. Very beautiful persistence with very discreet chew.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Melka – Mekerra 2016, Block 7 Knights Valley, Sonoma
The nose is fruity, precise, straight and offers a small straightness. It reveals notes of quince, papaya and small notes of crunchy Mirabelle associated with fine touches of yellow flowers/varietal and very fine hints of citrus. The mouth offers a beautiful definition, a beautiful tension, a vine acidulous frame as well as a beautiful finesse of the grain. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of Mirabelle plum, quince and small notes of juicy citrus as well as hints of exotic fruits, yellow fruits and butter/beeswax. Good length.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)
MerSoleil – Silver Chardonnay 2017 Monterey County, California
The nose is fruity and offers minerality and a very fine intensity. It reveals notes of fresh quince, fresh zests and small notes of crunchy nectar associated with fine touches of small yellow fruits and hints of flowers. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/finely acidulous frame. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe lemon, juicy/ripe quince and small notes of juicy nectarine associated with fine touches of juicy/ripe plum as well as a subtle hint fresh pineapple.
Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)
Quintessa – Illumination 2017 North Coast, California
-The nose offers power, intensity and a fine grain. It reveals notes of lemon zests, dry kumquat and small notes of fleshy pear associated with fine touches of fleshy brugnon as well as fine hints of quenette. The mouth is fruity, wellbalanced and offers a juicy/mineral frame, definition as well as a beautiful tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of quince, ripe lemon and small notes yellow peach associated with small touches of fleshy pear as well as hints of guava, quenette and a subtle hint of lychee. Good length.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Quintessa – Illumination 2018 North Coast, California
The nose is fruity and offers power / intensity. It reveals notes of lemon, zest and small notes of kumquat associated with fine touches of ripe pear, Brugnon as well as discreet hints of exotic fruits and white pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a fine acidulous frame, a good definition, dynamism as well as freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of lemon, zest and small notes of kumquat associated with fine touches of lychee, yellow apple as well as a subtle hint of quenette, fleshy / juicy nectar as well as an imperceptible hint of lemon flowers. Good length. An acidulous persistence.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
SpottsWoode – Sauvignon Blanc 2018 California (Napa County & Sonoma)
The nose is fruity and offers elegance and a certain deepness. It reveals notes of fresh zests, fresh apple skin and small notes of fresh peach associated with fine touches of fresh citrus and very fine hints of quenette/papaya. The mouth is fruity, fresh, elegant and offers a beautiful acidulous frame, finesse as well as minerality. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of ripe/juicy lemon, juicy green apple and small notes of vine peach associated with very fine hints of juicy pink lychee as well as discreet hints of lemon flowers. Good length.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
ZD – Chardonnay 2018 California
The nose is fresh, fruity and offers minerality and a fine complexity. It reveals notes of crushed Mirabelle, yellow apple and small notes of exotic fruits associated with fine hints of lemon and a hint of lemon flowers. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/Acidulous frame, tension and fat. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of quince, yellow apple and crushed brugnon associated with touches of exotic fruits as well as a subtle hint of mandarine flowers (in the background) and ripe lychee. Good length.
Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)