I am privileged to be able to afford to buy my own samples and not be a puppet to the industry like most of the other wine critics. Here are some of the top wines tasted in June.
- 2012 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley (6/25/2024)
Day 1: When people say they like Silver Oak, Caymus and many other more expensive wines I always refer them to Anderson’s Conn Valley. This was purchased for $60 via auction less than a year ago and is amazing. Tobacco, cherry, dried flowers, earth, subtle wood, dust, blueberries and minerals. Super complex and medium plus finish. Nice acidity. Drinking near peak but could age for at least 5 more years. 94 points. (94 points) - 2021 Tensley Syrah – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (6/22/2024)
Day 2: Honestly day 1 this wine was not good and too sweet. The power of day 2 reviewing. Blackberries, plum, spice, black pepper and spice. While a bit sweet balanced overall. A solid effort for sure. 92 points
Day 4: Still going strong and more balanced than day 1 where I thought I was drinking the Prisoner. Blackberries, plum, minerals, spices, black pepper, violets and blueberries and menthol. Medium plus finish and very nice. 93 points
Recommendation: This wine is too young to just pop and pour. Really interesting 4-day transformation from 3 Day Wine Review. (93 points) - 2012 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Petits Pieds d’Armand – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (6/22/2024)
Day 1: Off the charts and great buy for $70 with tax. Natural cork. Old school CDP. Garrigue, minerals, raspberries, white pepper, dust, dried flowers and underbrush. What a beautiful wine and medium plus finish. Good acidity. 94 points
Day2: Equally impressive. Garrigue, menthol, raspberries, white pepper, dust, minerals, underbrush and violets. Good acidity and medium plus finish. 94 points.
Day 3: Maybe a bit more intense than day 1. This has a long life ahead. Garrigue, underbrush, violets, spices, white pepper, earth, dust, raspberries and dark cherries. Medium plus finish and amazing wine. 94+ points
Recommendation: Amazing effort and classic, Old School CDP. (94 points) - 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/21/2024)
Day 1: As a big Reynvaan fan this is one of the better pop and pour wines I have sampled in their collection. Roasted meats, black pepper, tar, earth, spice, dark currants and stone. Long finish and nice acidity. Balanced. 96 points.
Day 2: This is not nearly as good on day 2. Tar, black pepper, dark currants and spices. Lost some of the intensity of day 1. Recommend drink these young and enjoy. 90 points
Recommendation: Not all wines improve over 3 days and this one is clearly in that camp even though it is not that old. (96 points) - 2016 L’Ecole No. 41 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/19/2024)
Day 1: This is still drinking well from the last bottle had in 2022. Natural cork. Blueberries, earth, wood, dark chocolate, cherry and floral notes. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. Drinking well on the pop and pour. 93 points
Day 2: Wood, blueberries, earth, tobacco, spice, dark chocolate and floral notes. Picks up some dust on the smooth finish. A little decline on day 2 but still solid. 92 points
Recommendation: Drink now to 2027. (93 points) - 2016 L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot Estate Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/18/2024)
Day 1: Wonderful again. Great value under $30. Red currants, spice, minerals, sour cherry, earth, mild oak and dust. Very balanced and nice acidity. Wonderful stuff. 93 points
Day 2: Equally as impressed. Aging well with menthol, sour cherry, dust, earth, minerals, wood, floral and red currants. Well made wine and balanced. 93 points (93 points) - 2016 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (6/17/2024)
Day 1: Last bottle of three and in great shape. Cranberry, strawberry, minerals, mushrooms, forest floor and mild spice. Nice fruit on the palate. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. A solid winebid purchase for under $40. 93 points (93 points) - 2019 Ramey Chardonnay Fort Ross – Seaview – USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross – Seaview (6/14/2024)
Great price and will not make it to day 2. Shells, lemon, minerals, chalk, sour apple and mild spice. Medium finish and nice acidity. (92 points) - 2010 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/11/2024)
Day 1: Natural cork. Color fading a bit but nose/palate not. Beautiful expression of Syrah featuring black olives, white pepper, stone, dried rose petals, dried meats and spices. Medium to long finish and nice acidity. Nearly 14 years old and no signs of slowing down. All six purchased under $50 with shipping always works! 94 points
Day 2: Still impressive and even more fruit showing. Blue currants, sour cherry, white pepper, stone, minerals, dried flowers, dried meats, spices and forest floor. Medium plus finish and no need to drink these now although impressive. 94 points
Recommendation: These have another 5 plus years of enjoyment. 2010 and outstanding vintage. (94 points) - 2015 Avennia Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (6/9/2024)
Day 2: Last of a five pack for $44 total with shipping. While not a rockstar purchase I have enjoyed all 5. Rustic edge with bramble, spice, floral, minerals, cherry and raspberries. Medium plus finish and flavorful. Nice acidity. 92 points (92 points) - 2015 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Albutom Santa Cruz Mountains – USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (6/7/2024)
Day 1: Under the radar producer that gets over shadowed by Ridge. Used to like Ridge but not the same now. Stone orchard fruit, slate, minerals, sour apple, unripe peaches, floral and mild spice. Super complex offering and while not Chablis there are some similarities. 93 points
Day 2: Not only holding form but better on day 2. The shells/minerals is off the charts. Stone orchard fruit, sour apple, lemon, floral and mild spice. A gem of a purchase on WineBid for $30 with shipping. Wish I had more. 94 points
Recommendation: Easy buy. One of the better Chardonnays I have sampled in a while. (94 points) - 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (6/6/2024)
Day 1: Don’t pop and pour this wine. Wood, dill, spice, cherry, raspberries, earth and bitter chocolate. Medium finish. Amazing wine. 92 points
Day 2: Less dill on the initial pour with wood, raspberries, leather, earth, bitter chocolate, dried flowers and cherry. Medium plus finish. 92+ points
Day 3: These wines are amazing on how long they can age and this wine is clearly still young. Nice acidity. Medium plus finish. 93 points
Recommendation: What a great value at $30 a bottle. (93 points) - 2021 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/5/2024)
Day 2: So much better and mowing my lawn 2 times a week this is the perfect wine. Dark fruits, black pepper, smoke, minerals, earth, stone and blueberries. Medium plus finish. Delicious. 93 points (93 points) - 2020 Tenuta di Arceno Il Fauno Di Arcanum Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (6/4/2024)
Day 1:Natural cork. A bit tight with roasted Chesnuts, red currants, earth and wood. Not showing as well as past bottles. 89 points
Day 2: Better on day two with more robust featuring roasted Chesnuts, red currants, minerals, earth and wood. A very well made wine for $30. 92 points
Day 3: Even better. Again the non believers are clueless. Minerals, sour cherry, earth, wood, tobacco, violets and raspberries. Medium plus finish and super complex wine for the money. 93 points
Recommendation: Easy buy in the Twin Cities at $29.99. (93 points) - 2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender In the Rocks – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/2/2024)
Day 1: Pop and pour and amazing. Green olives, tar, minerals, dust, earth, violets and white pepper. Super balanced wine and good acidity. Wow did this hold up. 94 points.
Day 2: Dropped down a bit in quality.
Recommendation: Drink these right now and don’t wait. (94 points) - 2016 AJ Pearce Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. George Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville (6/1/2024)
Day 1: 8,000 note! This is a stellar wine purchased on my go to site WineBid. Big style wine but balanced overall with soy, minerals, dark chocolate, oak, plum, cherry, minerals and spices. Medium plus finish. While drinking great on the pop and pour I see this improving over 3 days. 93+ points
Day 2: Big style wine with oak, plum cherry, menthol, spices, dark chocolate and minerals. Honestly this wine needs another 5 years to soften. Solid effort for sure. 93 points
Day 3: Still powerful with oak, plum, cherry, dark chocolate, baking spices, minerals and blackberries. Medium plus finish. 93 points
Recommendation: Big style done right. (93 points)