12 Picks Winter 2023 Reds Only
Winter 2023 Reds Only 12-picks (2 bottles of each wine)
2021 Exit West Proprietary Red Blend Boatique Estate, Red Hills, Lake County
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 93 Points
This is a delightfully successful Bordeaux-esque blend that goes down with the polish of a much more expensive wine. The aromas are elegantly focused, and the scents of black raspberry, dark sour cherry, blueberry and boysenberry fruit rise above others of sweet baking spice, cedar, vanilla and an emerging hint of star anise. It is beautifully polished on the palate, where the tannins are notable yet never intrusive, and the pretty oak spice notes seem quietly luxurious. The finish is long and satisfying, and if this wine lacks the depth of great Napa Cabernet it is a pure pleasure to drink, especially with food. Expect another twelve to eighteen months of positive evolution. 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petite Sirah, 16% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot and 7 Petite Verdot. 672 cases produced.
2020 Three by Wade Cabernet Sauvignon, California
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 91+ Points
Soft-edged and pretty, this generous Cab offers aromas of red raspberry, cranberry, toasted grain, mace and peppercorn. It is bright and easy drinking on the palate, where raspberry, cranberry, vanilla and baking spice notes hold center stage. The finish lingers and coarse tannins are never an issue, so this Cab drinks well now and can match a wide variety of cuisines. Fruit sourced from Mendocino, Napa, Paso Robles and Sonoma. 6900 cases produced.
2021 J. Runquist Petite Verdot, Creekside Vineyard, Jahant District, Lodi
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 92+ Points
Spicy, varietally on-target and attractively fruity, the nose of this immediately appealing red offers focused aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, pomegranate, toasted cedar, peppercorn and dark earth poised above crushed rock undercurrents. In the mouth it is lean and gutsy yet polished and rich, and the mid-palate fruit is a sweet-natured reprise of the nose. The finish is long lasting and the wine is beautifully food-balanced. Delicious already with winter stews. roasted meats and the like, it is likely two years from its full expression. 1000 cases produced.
2020 Troxel Family Estate Pinot Noir, Elke Vineyard, Anderson Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 91 Points
Focused and age-worthy, this youthful Pinot Noir from the long-established Elke Vineyard has a nose that focuses on dark cherry galette, plum compote, cranberry, toffee, baking-spice and dark forest scents. Things prove surprisingly gutsy on the palate, where a core of coiled cherry and red plum fruit is counterpointed by leather, mocha, toffee, dry sage and forest floor spice notes. Young and lingering, it is built for food service and will serve well with dark, fatty meats, seared duck breast and the like. It should be even better in another twelve to eighteen months. 284 cases made.
2021 Desire Lines Syrah, “Winds of Change”, California
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 93 Points
This terrific Syrah is vivid, focused and notably fruit-driven from the moment the cork is pulled, as chiseled aromas of black raspberry, pomegranate syrup, violet, Schezuan and black peppercorn, beet, clove and dark earth pour forth with more or less equal intensity. It is vibrantly fresh on the palate, where polished tannins frame-in piquant red, blue and black fruits and lots of peppery spice. If sleek in texture and obviously still in its youth, it is nevertheless delicious, long and extremely food worthy right now. Expect at least two years of positive growth. A blend sourced from 68% Santa Barbara fruit and 32% North Coast. Includes less than 1% Viognier. 450 cases produced.
2021 Curran Tempranillo, Santa Barbara County
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 91+ Points
Although California Tempranillos often disappoint, this one is a charmer. The nose is a quietly rich, focused medley of red currant, dried raspberry, strawberry galette, grenadine, mace, hazelnut and quietly earthy scents. It is medium-bodied and gently piquant in the mouth and offers a firming note of tannin in support of red apple skin, red currant, strawberry cobbler, grenadine and mace flavors. Everything lingers, and the wine is elegantly styled for dinner service. This one seems an especially fine match for a crusted pork roast or sausage pilaf. Less than 400 cases produced.