bryant bickel/ masandra

La Playa Sauv Blanc 2012 Chile.. looking cool in a frosted bottle this was a surprise.. Had been in the store before with a different distributor. creamy and herbal.. lime citrus no big grapefruit bomb..

La Playa Chardonnay 2012.. a blend of chard and viognier.. not a big fan.. a little flabby

Rodolfo Torrontes Argentina 2012.. very sweet floral nose, follows through with a sweet finish... not one of my ffavorite torrontes

Rodolfo Pinot Noir High Altitude 2012  brickish color.. candy apple nose, sweet fruit...nice enough but one note...

La Playa Cabernet 2012  Colchagua Chile  not a lot of nose, some sweet fruit.. a little heat on the palate

Don Rodolfo Malbec Argentina 2012.. one more malbec to add to the list but at least it is pleasant.. juicy and ripe.. made in stainless

Llama 2011 Old Vine Malbec.. dirt nose, with a rich smoky finish. interesting..

Rodolfo Tannat 2012.. dark color and mouth filling juicy character.. would be great with bbq or brisket

La Playa Block Reserve 2010.. made from the best blocks.. a touch watery around the edges... a missing some fruit.. maybe not a good bottle

batasiolo with Stefano Poggi/ Missouri Beverage

Gavi.. a little woodsy, herbal but no wood all stainless. some ml.. didnt catch me

Barolo Bofani 2006 long tannins.. earthy on the palate...needs food

Barolo Boscaneto 2006 not as rustic as the first.. some earthiness and good tannins.. more pleasant

Barolo Cerequio 2006   from the western part of Barolo.. pretty spice on the nose, balsamic vinegar was mentioned... with long lush tannins.. my favorite.. brought in a six pack.

Barolo Corda Della Briccolina 2007  only 3 acres  name is ribbon on the little hill.. or close to that.. the color is more opaque in the glass. a lot more tannic.. needs more time to mellow out... pretty spices but just as good as the Cerequio/

thierry plummentaz with fine wine group.

Scharffenberger Brut Sparkling NV North Coast a little earthier than expected.. pleasant enough mousse.. starting to show the disgorgement date which is kind of cool for a non vintage... that way you can see when it came to the market

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV.. interesting to see the difference between the two sparklings. this one had no malo and a lot more refreshing acidity.

Fleur de Cap Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2012.. oaky and oaky nose.. maibe a little too overpowering

Domaine Ott Rose Bandol... a rose made with all the main black grapes of the Bandol leading with Mourvedre... smelled a touch off to me.. but sometimes the earthy character of the french overpowers

Meerlust Merlot South Africa 2008... doesnt look that old in the glass but very rich... and some richness on the end.

Querciabella Mongrana Toscana Red blend.. sangiovese, cab. and merlot.. the sangiovese definitely comes through..just got some good press from the spectator and I didnt get it..

Marques de Murrieta Reserva 2007.. spice box nose, cedar.. with some brett on the nose, long finish... great steak wine

vintage wine estates. jeff palmer/ major brands

Cosentino The Chard Lodi 2011... creamy and yet good acidity... true california style

Cosentino The Novelist Napa 2011... white bordeaux blend of sauv blanc and semillon soft with a touch of oak

the franc lodi 2011.. juicy dark and smoky.. a touch vegetal on the end but not enough to undermine.

the zin lodi 2011  briary nose, a bit of coffee and mocha on the finish.. pretty long aftertaste

the poet napa valley 2009  a bordeaux blend with more cab franc.. oak well integrated tannins.. and very supple

Rays Station Merlot California 2009  a little bitter and tannic

Rays Station Cabernet California 2009  some bing cherry.. a soft and dull cab.. uneventful

La Tarasque Cotes du Rhone 2010  tarasque is the dragon that ate people in the south of france.. good acidity with my type of finish.. coffee and mocha

craig rohner/major crush..

Chasseur has a second label Vrai Cote

Vrai Cote Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2011  huge oaky mouthfeel.. lots of cedar and not even that much butter...

Vrai Cote Vine Gris Sonoma Coast 2012.. light pink in color.. dirty, earthy  with a strange fish aftertaste

Vrai Cote Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2010... dark fruits long finish.. very nice, especially compared to the first two... light in body and color but nice on the palate

Domaine de Servans Cotes du(r) Rhone 2011... hope this isnt a sign of things to come with the 11 cdr... dark walnut husk on the nose, earthy.. not a lot of fruit showing...

Charles Smith wines with Pinnacle

Vino Pinot Grigio 2012 Washington State... lots of upper notes of bright fruit and mineral but not much depth..

Eve Chardonnay Washington 2011 some pleasant depth and creaminess but after the acidic bomb the Grigio was its hard to find a bearing on this

Velvet Devil merlot 2011.. a bordeaux style merlot.. good tannin not a fruit bomb

Boom Boom Syrah 2012.. very young and juvenille.. needs time

Chateau Smith Cabernet 2011... dark fruit nose with lots of juicy fruit tannin on the finish

Reverly Red Blend 2010  cedar and more cedar..  large amount of cab franc with the tobacco and violet aromas...

Patz & Hall with Lynda Barnes/ A bommarito

paul hobbs worked with mondavi and opus before going to simi and then starting his eponymous winery in the mid 90's... and thank goodness for spell check


Crossbarn Chardonnay 2012 Sonoma Coast  neutral oak and yet surprisingly woody..a little more herbacious than expected

Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay 2011.. not afraid of the oak and yet not over drawn with it either.. very pretty aromas of toast and soft caramel.. nice creamy mouthfeel and long finish. Would never be accused of being french but not over the top

Crossbarn Pinot Noir 2011 pretty color in the glass a touch vegetal on the palate.. cola and tea

Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011 juicy and full bodied.. great mouthfeel and some tar/tobacco earthy notes on the finish.