wineries .

M I S C. . R E D S 98 DIAM ANDES 2007 de Uco Gran Reserva; Valle de Uco; Mendoza - Argentina $35 98 LO NUEVO 2010 Garnacha Sorbo A Sorbo; Old Vines - Calatayud - Spain $10 98 SOL ROUGE 2009 Gypsy Rouge Lake County $28 This wine is so consistent it’s scary. Beautiful nose of fresh red fruit aromas, with hints of black cherry, blackberry, spice and floral notes. The palate is beautifully-balanced, tasty, and spicy, with wonderful mouthfeel and a round, very long, lingering finish. 98 SOL ROUGE 2008 Gypsy Rouge Lake County $28 Pretty nose of fresh red fruit aromas, with hints of black cherry, blackberry, spice and floral notes. The palate delivers a beautifully-balanced, tasty wine that you could sip all day. The finish is a little gritty but round and very long. 97 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2008 Cuvee Red Wine - Calaveras County $14 97 FRIENDS.RED 2009 Red Wine Sonoma County $10 97 GASCON 2011 Colosal Red Wine - Mendoza - Argentina $15 97 IRONSTONE 2011 Obsession Red California $12 A nose full of spice and fruit. Plum, red, black and blue fruit aromas complemented by clove, pepper spice, caramel, vanilla and oak. Well-balanced, a tad sticky in the middle, but displaying nice character and a rounding tannin finish. Let breathe for a while and it’ll open nicely. 97 SOBON ESTATE 2009 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 Consistently one of the best primitivos we taste. From the beautiful aromas of red and black fruit, floral spices and a backbone of oak, this silky-smooth wine never disappoints. It blends the best qualities of primitivo with those of zinfandel to offer a wonderfully balanced, mouth-filling, extremely sexy wine that lingers on the palate forever. 97 SOBON ESTATE 2008 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 This is a rich, round, sexy, smooth wine showcasing jammy raspberry, blueberry and cherry flavors wrapped in spice and soft oak flavors. The best primitivo we’ve tasted to date! 96 MCFADDEN 2009 Coro Mendocino Mendocino $37 Deep black and red fruit aromas with licorice/anise hints, light spice and oak. A little tight at this point, but well-balanced and tasty, this wine can use a little more time in the bottle (or should be decanted) to blossom into a smooth, round wine with a wonderful, lasting finish. 96 PASO GRANDE 2010 Carmenere Rapel Valley - Chile $10 96 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD 2007 Brooster Fighting Red Paso Robles $15 96 R&B CELLARS 2009 The Improviser Red Table Wine - California $15 A fresh nose of raspberry, blackberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of blueberry, vanilla, spice and oak. Wonderfully balanced, smooth, and juicy, this wine delivers a lot more than its price tag. Buy this by the case! 96 SANTA EMA 2010 Carmenere D.O. Cachapol Valley - Chile $9 96 SOBON ESTATE 2010 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 Jammy raspberry, cherry, plum and spice, with toasty oak, vanilla and hints of chocolate. This wine has character! From the forward fruit to the nice complement of spice, this well-balanced, fruit-driven wine never disappoints through it’s long, spicy finish. 96 SOBON ESTATE 2010 ReZerve Tannat Lodi $24 Smoky baked wild blackberry, black cherry and plum aromas followed by vanilla and oak and whiffs of cigarette ash. It all comes together on the palate in a nicely-balanced, well-rounded wine that lingers well on the finish. A very interesting wine. 96 SOL ROUGE 2007 The Keep Red Wine - California $60 Elegant nose of black and red fruit aromas, complemented by light blue fruit, spice and tobacco/earth notes. This wine needs to open before it shows its true character of rich fruit flavors layered in secondary elements leading to a firm but nice finish. 96 THE WINERY SF 2009 People's Blend Red Wine - North Coast $16 Nice nose of black and red fruit aromas, with light blue fruit, spice and tobacco/earth notes. This is a really tasty wine for the price. Great balance and mouthfeel, all the flavors come together in a beautiful round, lingering finish. 96 THE WINERY SF 2008 Flower Power Red Wine - North Coast $30 96 VINA ROBLES 2010 Red4 Paso Robles $17 95 BOGLE 2009 Essential Red California $11 95 BRUTOCAO 2009 Quadriga Hopland Ranches - Mendocino $24 Wild blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry and plum aromas are balanced against coffee/black tea, floral/violet notes, minerals, pepper spice and hints of oak. This is a well-balanced wine with a nice blend of red and black fruit leading to a smooth lingering finish. 95 CABLE CAR NV Red Wine California $10 95 EHRET 2007 Bella's Blend Red Wine - Knights Valley $40 A well-balanced, rich, tasty wine featuring ripe red and black fruit, some spice, and a wonderful round lingering finish. 95 FORCHINI 2009 Papa Nonno Tuscan Style Red Wine - Dry Creek Valley $22 95 HOOK & LADDER 2008 Station 10 Red Wine - Russian River Valley $17 95 FIESTA DEL POMAR JUNCTION 2007 Red Wine Central Coast $34 95 BOGLE 2009 Phantom California $16 95 SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS 2010 Zingiovese Amador County $16 Dried red and berry fruits, with coffee/black tea, prunes, cocoa, vanilla and light oak following. This wine comes alive on the palate, with jammy fruit flavors enveloped in a spicy body, leading to a little tight/sticky finish. 95 SOL ROUGE 2008 The Keep Red Wine - California $60 95 STEVENOT 2010 Danza Roja Gran Reserva - Sierra Foothills $24 94 APOTHIC RED 2011 Winemaker's Blend California $14 94 BRUTOCAO 2009 Primitivo Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $22 Dark raspberry, cherry, strawberry and blackberry mingle with light earth notes, spice, vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a spicy wine with good fruit flavors leading to a tough but rounding finish. Give this wine a little time or decant. 94 HOOK & LADDER 2007 The Tillerman Russian River Valley $17 A beautiful blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and sangiovese, this wine is wonderfully balanced, smooth and tasty, exhibiting rich red and black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, leather and herbs, ending in an impressive long, lingering finish. 94 STEPHEN VINCENT 2011 Crimson California $14 93 POSH NV Red Blend California $12 93 SCOUT'S HONOR (VENGE) 2008 Red Wine Napa Valley $38 Pretty aromas of black cherry/cherry, raspberry, blackberry, light herbs and a hint of licorice are met with an equal amount of vanilla and oak. Even though it’s still a bit tight at this point, the wine displays harmonious layers of fruit and spice, ending in a slightly abrupt finish. Give this wine a little age and it’ll soften nicely. 93 STEPHEN VINCENT 2009 Crimson California $12 92 BOGLE 2010 Essential Red California $11 92 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2008 Touriga Calaveras County $24 91 MIRASSOU 2011 Sunset Red California $12 91 THE WINERY SF 2008 Rockstar Red Wine - North Coast $30 90 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS NV Schoolhouse Red Mendocino $12 Dusty cherry, plum, strawberry and raspberry aromas, with light oak and spice following. The palate delivers the same, with a thread of minerals and spice leading to a firm-tannin finish. 90 FORCHINI 2009 BeauSierra Bordeaux Style Red - Dry Creek Valley $28 90 FRIENDS.RED 2010 Red Wine Sonoma County $11