Are they over-oaky like so many CA wines?

I was never at the original in Cambridge or Slumerville, but I believe it is called Painted Burro.

This one is small, cool vibe, and gets you out of the city without schlepping an hour.

Rose, there are really three different types and they started in France. Provance, which is comprised of Grenache, Syrah, and various other grapes indigenous to the region. Burgundy, which is Pinot Noir. And Bandol which is Mouvedre, and other grapes indigenous to the region. Mattie is right a Mouvedre based rose is very different. It is somewhat large and structured. And it ages well, probably up to 5 years if you want. Now rose is made world wide from various grapes. A good rose should be bone dry, with a good backbone of acidity. I stay away from Italian and South American rose. They tend to be off dry, not something I enjoy. Rose from Bordeaux, though rare, is also rather large. It can have any of the 4 primary grapes in it. I particularly find Sancerre rose interesting. It is Pinot Noir based, and has a core of interesting minerality, probably due to the limestone in the soil. Most good rose is made through the saignee method. To intensify their red wine a producer bleeds off about 10% of the juice after 2 or 3 days of maceration. That juice ends up becoming rose.

2012 Chateau de Belcier Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux (what a friggin' mouthful/as I read the bottle)

Not normally a huge Merlot fan, but I do like them when they come from Bordeaux.
..and this one is CHEAP. Scored this at Costco for $10. Gonna get a case.
It's not a single varietal, has a splash of Cabernet Franc and Malbec in it to round it out.
It's nice and dry with dark cherry/berry notes. A little thin but very enjoyable, especially for the price.
If you've never tried an affordable Bordeaux, give this one a try, especially to taste the difference between
a California and a French Merlot.

Salut!

I find the more years I get into this, I have been trending toward a little thinner reds. There are times I crave a big red, certain zins or cabs, but I've moved away without really giving it much thought

yeah, i went the same route with cigars too. Bulked up, damaged my taste buds, came back to just north/just south of medium

No worries Frank, you're a stalworth here. I'm just a lowly noob.

2014 Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc...Alsace

What did you think of the Lucien Albright Pinot Blanc? I like his wines.

Thin, or light are good words to discribe many white wines that lack body. Truthfully you have tried light Alsacian wines so far. They get much richer and heavier. I tried an Edelzwicker (noble blend) at work today that was amazing. It was very rich, almost a glycerol mouth feel. It had lush tropical fruit, pineapple and guava. I'll have to do a review in the wine corner.

Michael David Winery
Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, USA - 2014

If you can find it below $20, buy it! I snapped up about a case for $15 a bottle. It was on clearance and consider it my wine find of the year.

2015 Scaia, reviewed it in the wine corner.

Grilled chicken with herbs.
Grilled vegetable kabobs.
Kale tossed salad with poppy seed dressing.
Vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with fig infused balsamic vinegar.

Ledger David Dark Knight (80% Tempranillo Malbec&Syrah)

Cricket Hill Grand Vin Enchanté (40% Cab Franc 60% Merlot)

Both small locals.

1996 Chateau StJean Cinq Cépages

This was rated the #1 wine of the year by Wine Enthusiast in 1997. Wifey and I bought a case months before the rating came out and the price doubled overnight. Still has great fruit, tar and smooth oak after 21 years.

Cinq Cepages is an outstanding wine as is everything from CSJ. Even their cheapo California label is a great value.

They received damage in the Nuns Fire but did not get burned down as first reported.

Nearby Kenwood Vineyards got near missed and are matching Red Cross donations.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/pernodricard-emp

1992 Caymus Cab

After 25 years it still has some good fruit but past it's prime. I guess we need to pay more attention to what is hidden in the Vinotemp. These were drinking beautifully last time we had one about 5 year ago.

Not much of a wine drinker myself,but apple pie with cinnamon ice cream that sounds pretty good.

19 Crimes "The Warden."

Excellent!

Stone Hill- Concord

2012 Weinlaubenhof Kracher Cuvee Auslese, Burgenland, Austria.

Ramos Pinto 10 year Tawny port, Douro Valley, Portugal.

used to get a bottle every year, sort of forgot about it.
was good for the whole family cuz agreeably sweet...right?

2015 Decoy Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2014, Jorge Ordonez Victoria #2, Malaga, Andalusia, Spain.

2016, Leitz Rudesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spatelese, Rhone, Germany.