12 PICKS Fall 2021 REDS ONLY
2019 Miro Cabernet Sauvignon Pine Mountain Vineyard, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 92 Points
Juicy, bright, focused and altogether representative of its high elevation vineyard (2600 feet), this bottling lifts aromas of Italian Maraschino cherry, Cassis, blackberry, blueberry, cedar, mace and star anise above a hard-edged mineral background. On the palate, tannin, minerality and youthful zest firm the texture and give the wine a racy, wonderfully food-worthy mouth-feel. Further airing unveils additional generosity and truly impressive length to flavors that are a delicious mirror of the nose, while additional notes of licorice and tobacco are layered in at the end. If an ideal wine for fatty dark meats it is truly appealing on its own and should not overmatch flavorful roast chicken or pork entrees. 192 cases produced.
2019 Sandler Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 92 Points
This is a delightful Pinot Noir: genteel, focused and varietally pure from the outset. The nose is a perfume of bottled red cherry, red raspberry cream sickle, pink rose, dried orange peel, coriander seed and toasted grain. That combination of red fruits, floral notes and understated savory spice fans-out with good concentration but no loss of elegance on the palate. Subtle tannins and pretty zest keep the lingering finish food-friendly, while the lovely cherry-raspberry fruit notes never flag. 76 cases produced.
2017 Vinum “The Scrapper” Cabernet Franc, El Dorado County
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 91 Points
Grown at 1600 feet, this is a varietally near-perfect Cabernet Franc with loads of appeal. The nose fans-out elegantly focused aromas of blueberry, huckleberry, sour red cherry, violet, rose hips and mace. Rich flavors of blueberry, huckleberry, sour cherry, violet, rose, nutmeg, powdered cocoa and toffee are tempered by crushed rock minerality on the palate. The finish is medium weight, dinner-balanced, elegantly oaky, ultra-long and notably dry, yet pretty fruit and oaky spice make the wine easy to sip. It should improve for several more years. 291 cases produced.
2020 Gardienne Zinfandel Rossi Ranch “Old Vine Field Blend”, Sonoma Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 92 Points
This Zinfandel delivers a seamless combination of old vine structure, fruit-forward richness and dinner-worthy appeal. The nose opens as a creamy medley of Bing cherry galette, pomegranate syrup, dark boysenberry, dry dark rose, licorice root, pink and black peppercorn and coriander seed. It is plump and slightly juicy on the palate where brighter notes of Santa Rosa plum, fresh dark cherry, cherry pit, dried cranberry and pomegranate rise above others of star anise, pink peppercorn, caramel and coriander seed. Already an ideal companion to barbecued ribs and the like, it should grow more versatile over the eighteen months. 200 cases produced.
2019 Groundwork Grenache Old Potrero Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 90+ Points
This wine combines focused, piquantly fresh red fruit and floral-herbal accents to produce brilliant food match-ability and easy drinking pleasure at the same time. Vibrant zest and polished tannic grip are part of a lean textural framework that creates an ultra-sleek mouth-feel to carry the strawberry, red plum, white cherry, hibiscus tea, pink peppercorn, dried rosemary and coriander seed flavors through a long-lingering finish of tingling freshness. Serve at cellar temperature, preferably with grilled salmon, seared duck breast and the like. 241 cases produced.
2018 Prima Matiera Barbera Kelsey Bench, Lake County
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 90+ Points
This bottling harmonizes plump body, youthful zest and low-key tannnins to create a dinner-worthy balance. The aromas and the flavors that gradually fan-out on the mid-palate are a medley of ripe dark cherry, dried cranberry, red currant, pomegranate, mace, black peppercorn and toffee. Mineral notes underscore cranberry, pomegranate, red currant and mace at the finish. It is certain to complement a wide variety of cuisines and should be terrific with tapenade and crusty bread. 240 cases produced.