2013 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla - got to be near the best syrah made in the US. As good as anything I have ever had coming from the Barossa Valley.

2014 Masut Pinot Noir, Mendicino, California.

2014, Loring Pinot Noir Sierra Mar vineyard, Santa Barbara, California

At Ledger David tasting room had my complimentary tasting:
2016 Premoris Chenin Blanc (great complexity for a light white)
2015 Sangiovese (always good)
2015 Syrah good but not their best wine IMO
2016 Malbec their newest release only 120 cases produced and its amazing. I don’t normally go for Malbecs, but I’ll be getting 3 bottles at my discount for $66

Had half a bottle of Costco Cab Suv last week

2014, Irony Pinot Noir Black

Dan's low on beer and whiskey!

Not a chance, just a change of pace.



Spey, I really like the Copper and Thief red but not one that I would want every night due to it's bold flavor. It has it's place and next time around I will pair it with a grilled rib eye or fillet.

I will have to pass on their tequila barrel offering. I saw it recently and immediately struck the Heisman Trophy pose. I have a strong aversion to anything finished in rum or tequila barrels. The thought of either causes flash backs to really, really bad hang overs in high school and college.

2015, Maison Leroy borgogne rouge, Burgundy, France.

If you have the chance to pick up a bottle, treat yourself to this. An absolutly breathtaking wine. Perhaps the best Pinot Noir I have had in the last decade. $55. My score 98 points.

Yesterday:

2016 Joel Gott Unoaked Chardonnay

2016 Menage a Trois Midnight

2015 Beckman Parisima Mountain Syrah, Santa Barbara, California.

2017: 19 crimes red

2016 Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay

2015, Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France.

20 Year Tawny Port by Graham’s. A very oaky Tawny with strong sweet notes.

Other than on the right bank in Bordeaux in my opinion Merlot is a secondary blending grape. Though there are some upper end examples from Washington state that are quite good.

Sangiovese and Merlot are a rather nice combination in wines from Tuscany. The Merlot balances out the tartness of the Sangiovese. It also adds considerably more fruit to the nose.

Sangiovese based wines always work well with red sauces. They have enough acidity to compliment the tomatoes.

All Tuscan wines are Tuscana except one winery. It is allowed to use the term Tuscano. It made the favorite wines of a local prince during the middle ages and he bestowed that honor on them. The tradition is observed to this day. Tuscana is the IGT. IGT is the most basic of Italian wine classifications, but one that many wineries prefer to use. If they classify as a DOC, or DOCG their hands are tied with too many rules. For instance you could not blend Merlot with Sangiovese. But it runs much deeper than that. Basically you can only use the historical traditional indigenous grapes of the region. This is not necessarily bad, just limiting. Great Tuscany Italian wineries classified certain wines as IGT so they could use V Vinifera vines. For example super Tuscans such as Tignanello and Sassicaia are classified as IGT.

The rest of the LD Malbec and some homemade chili.

Sala Syrah 2012 - a bit disappointing at 6 years old

Fank, if it is an Eric Soloman selection it will be good to excellent. That bottling is a wonderful rose made from old vine Granacha if memory serves.

A few other names to look for, Kermit Lynch, Peter Wygand, Bobby Kacher, Jorge Ordonez.

2017 La Crema Pinot Gris Monterey, CA

Jeuvaness Black Muscot

2010 Cricket Hill Rendezvous

2010, Henri Gouges Nuits St Georgs Clos de Porrets St Georges, Nuits St Georges, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France. Before dinner.

2015, St Damian Gigondas La Louisinane, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France. With dinner.

2006, Climens, Barsac, Bordeaux, France. After dinner.

Frank, try Oregon Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Argentinian Pinot Noir from Patagonia, or Red Burgundy labeled Bourgone Rouge. These will be the types of Pinot Noir you are looking for. Also Beaujolais Village or single village Beaujolais, even though this is Gamay you should like these, skip anything by Georges Deuboeufand and Louis Jadot.