Of course, my note made it to Larry’s eyes within hours of me posting it.
2016 Tercero Roussanne Zaca Mesa Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/15/2025)
Not much to say that hasn't been said already. Really long lovely finish. Lots of wax and petrol on the nose, dominating as the fruit has faded. Some ripe pear undertones. After the long finish has ended I breathe out through my nose and I continue to taste and smell it on my palate. Incredible. (93 points)
Well . . . I do check in on CT on a regular basis to see if the million or so people that have purchased any of our wines ( ) are posting any notes on them . . .
2016 Liquid Farm La Hermana
This is one of those ‘this is not white burgundy and I’m glad’ wines. Lovely tropical fruit, hint of a very subtle spice note, acid in balance. These are SO worth the money especially during B-day. Now about that wax…
Medium dark ruby.
Perfumed herbal slightly stemmy aroma, red fruits, maple, with time a lovely sense of mint, graceful aromas.
Round and luscious in the mouth, a touch of heat but, like wood fired pizza with some black spots, that ain’t burnt, this ain’t hot, just appropriately warm. Very fine tannin with a lingering raspberry/zinberry (tm Gang of Pour) bramble fruit finish. Lovely Alexander Valley zin with years to go but no need to wait if you have one and want to pop it. Scherrer is always so good.
In a great place right now but still has lots of life left. Berries galore w/balanced acidity. My last bottle.
You can’t go wrong with Sandler Pinots, especially for the price.
I usually try to drink a fair number of BD wines in December/January, but I started early this year. I have a few bottles that I purchased some years back that I haven’t gotten around to yet. I’m going to try to rectify that.
As always, no score only means that I just didn’t feel like scoring.
2023 Briceland Vineyards Rosé Pét Nat of Pinot Noir Ronda's Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (11/29/2025)
Visually it reminds me of a Provençal rosé, with a hint of cloudiness. There’s some yeastiness on the nose, obscuring red berries. On the palate this closely resembles a rosé Champagne with an earthy/yeasty element, though it lacks the depth of a great sparkling. Fully dry with abundant bubbles. Super drinkable and fun, a very good example of the style.
2019 Big Basin Vineyards Chardonnay Howard Family Vineyard - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (11/22/2025)
Matchstick on the nose on day one that blew off on day two, leaving virtually no scent whatsoever. This wine shines on the palate with lemon, sulfur, and hints of honeydew. Round in the mouth with medium+ acidity. At a nice stage of it’s development. Preferred on day two, so I suggest giving plenty of air. (91 points)
2021 Sabelli-Frisch Riesling Obie Curtis Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/16/2025)
Yellow fruited with floral and mineral notes. Bone dry with high- acidty and a lean body. Finishes a bit short. Quite tasty. A nice expression of the grape.
13% abv. (90 points)
2019 Briceland Vineyards Arneis Spirit Canyon Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (11/3/2025)
I left a bottle aging for science and it impressed. Visually no sound of aging, with aromas of lemons and white flowers.
On the palate, flavors of lemon and minerals with light florals arriving on the finish. Light+ bodied with snappy acidity. Still drinking well, but I don’t think additional aging will yield any benefits. Tasty stuff.
13.0%abv, 176 cases produced.
2015 Briceland Vineyards Petit Verdot Ishi Pishi Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (11/1/2025)
Red fruits and white florals on the nose. The palate echoes the nose, with the addition of a green herbal note. Light+ body with medium+ acidity, good concentration, and fine tannins. An elegant expression of the grape that is drinking well now. Delicious. (92 points)
2019 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Dundee Hills - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (10/17/2025)
Quite pale, with aromas of yellow orchard fruits and pecan (oak). Yellow fruits, minerals, and a reductive note that was more prominent on day one. On day two the wine fleshed out and became a bit more rounded. Quite lovely and delicious.
2018 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Old Corral Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (9/23/2025)
Slightly muddy in appearance with a nose of red berries and florals. On the palate flavors of cranberry, spice and floral notes. Clearly a whole cluster wine, light+ body, and a medium+ finish. Shows its terroir well. Drinking great, but will hold for several years. (91 points)
2017 Vincent Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (9/19/2025)
Cranberry and raspberry flavors, with high- acidity. Medium- bodied; this seems to have put on a bit of weight since my last bottle a year ago. Finishes medium with just a bit of bitterness. Preferred on day one. (90 points)
2022 Sabelli-Frisch Picpoul Blanc Biograf Shergill Vineyard - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Mokelumne River (9/18/2025)
Lots and lots of citrus, with some tropical notes appearing on the swallow. On day one the acidity was a bit screechy, but on day two the wine became rounder and the acidity was less noticeable, leading to a more balanced and harmonious wine. Strongly preferred day two and suggest giving this a lot of air.
