Arg! Wrong year, it was 2013. And it was very good.

Boulard Calavados Pays d'Auge

Try a Chilean wine. They are the only ungrafted wines in the world, with one exeption that I know of. In the 1970's the phloxyra louse decimated the wine industry world wide by eating/ infecting grape roots. Most of the wine in Chile comes from valleys surrounded by high mountain ranges that the phloxyra louse does not come over. This allows ungrafted vines to thrive there. You will find the wines have a different flavor because of this. I particularly like Syrahs from there. If you enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon they are quite good also, just not a grape I enjoy. To try something unique, Carmenere is a Merlot like grape, that seems more flavorful than Merlot. Most of the whites are from ungrafted vines also. I am not familiar with them since I do not drink much white wine. When I do drink white wine it is from particular places.

I have a few close Chilean friends from my neighborhood. Chile is a most interesting country in that they have developed many things and ideas without outside influence...their western border is all ocean and their eastern border is mostly mountain.

Not the "typical" South American society.

Try salting you wine glass for improved flavor. Pour a little wine in the glass, coat the entire inside of the glass, pour wine from the glass into the next glass and repeat. After al the glasses are salted, no idea why this is called salting, pour you wine as usual.

Try swirling you wine in you glass for about 10 seconds. This will release the aromatics.

If your wine is to tight and not showing well it should have been decanted. If the wine is already in glasses grab an additional glass. Pour the wine back and forth about 30 times. This will add about 3 years of oxidation to the wine and it should open up and taste great. Do not do this with Pinot Noir, it is to delicate.

2014, Beckman Syrah Purisima Mountain, Ballard Canyon, California.

Can't find a wine you want? Become familiar with back labels. The importer/wholesaler is listed there. Become familiar with who the importer/wholesaler is of the wines you like. Odds are you will like another wine of theirs. This is also a great way to try new wines you will also like. The back label often has tasting notes, and grape blends, also useful information when picking a wine

2015, Wine Gurilla Sonoma County Zinfandel.

Grilled pork tenderloin.
Sweet potatos.
Tossed salad.

Initiale Saint Chinian 2016 Rose
Domain Des Jougla

sirloin strip steak
steamed broccoli


Spey, says Languedoc Roussillon wine on the back...what is/are the grape(s)?
Light, dry, really like this bottle.

Syrah 35% , Grenache 25%, Carignan 20%, and Mourvedre 20%. The Carignan, if old vine, which it probably is makes this rose very interesting. It adds a soft, delicate high note to the wine. The Mourvedre also adds to the complexity of the wine, in fruit with acidity way.

couldn't find the blend on the label, thanks.

That was specific to that bottling. There are somewhere around 60 different southern rhone grapes.

Underwood Pinot Noir - Oregon

Wine in a can. Strange, but not bad at all with strawberry, cherry and a little chocolate. Enough for two glasses for the wifey and I when you don't want to open a whole bottle. Easy to transport and keep cool with the beer for outdoor events.

2016 Mbali chenin blanc (79%)/viognier (21%)
quite delicious, after cod with broccoli

^ good stuff. If you find pine ridge it is worth trying.

noted.

2014 Zaca Mesa Z blanc white, Santa Ynez Valley, California. 66% Roussanne, 28% Grenache Blanc, 6% Viognier. Very good.

2012 Orin Swift Machete last night with dinner (filet, bake potato, & asparagus). First time I'd had the Machete. It was pretty big and bold and a great combination with dinner. 🌫

Rick, apparently you're not the only one that liked that cab franc:

https://thepourfool.com/2017/07/12/ledger-david-cellars-nearly-speechless-in-seattle/ 

We visited about 15 wineries and tasted maybe 60-70 wines when we were there for a week. I don't remember any being close to that wine.