Decoy by Duckhorn California Merlot, 2923

Duckhorn and Leonetti are two of the big names in New World Merlot. This Decoy by Duckhorn does not have the class of these wines, either in cost or quality. But it has the rich, luxurious profile associated with Duckhorn wines It was served to accompany a superb chocolate creme brulee with strawberries at Carrabba's wine dinner.

Color may be a tad lighter than that of the Cabernet but still dark and bluish. Dark cherries,  mocha and sweet spices. Silky texture, good acid, delicious fruit flavors.This wine suffers mainly by comparison to the luscious chocolate creme brulee. It has been a long night and a lot of food and wine. I would like to try this wine again with a less fatigued palate.

Greenwing by Duckhorn Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023

Carrabba's wood grilled sirloin steak, topped with spinach, grilled tomatoes, garlic, basil and a five-cheese blend, deserves a good Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Greenwing by Duckhorn  was a perfect fit.

Deep and dark color. More black than red fruit tones but fresh and vibrant. Blackberries, pomegranates, plums. Tastes sweet next to the Goldeneye Pinot Noir but sleek and elegant. Silky texture. Perfect companion to the steak.

Greenwing is considerably less exensive ($15 to $20) than Duckhorn Cabs from Napa, and, though I am not a big Cabernet fan, it is now on my buy list.

Goldeneye by Duckhorn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, 2022

Served with Shrimp Fra Diavolo, this was the second wine of Carrabba's wine dinner. Since I am allergic to shrimp, I had just the linguine with a hot and spicy (and delicious) Calabrian marinara sauce.

Donna and I were introduced to Goldeneye Pinot Noir by our good friends, Dave and Nancy Randall, who live in Redding, CA, withing driving distance of the Anderson Valley. Goldeneye is usually priced a bit high  ($50 a bottle) for my wine budget, but the enjoyment I got from those early bottles lured us into a satisfying relationship with other Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs such as those from Toulouse, Couloir, Mary Elke and Phillips Hill. I was anticipating good things from this Goldeneye Pinot, and I was not disappointed.

Medium light ruby shading to garnet. The lightest color of all of the Duckhorn reds... and rightly so. Haunting smells and flavors: raspberry, cherry, red currants, black tea and a hint of mushrooms. Great acidity to match the spicy marinara sauce. Long, intriguing finish.

Duckhorn California Sauvignon Blanc, 2023

This was the introductory wine, to accompnny spinach arancini, at an excellent Carrabba"s wine dinner in Kalamazoo.

Very light in color, could be mistaken for water. Not your typical Sauvignon Blanc if you are used to drinking inexpensive Sauvignons from New Zealand. Subtle aromas and flavors of lime, lemon zest and melons. Nothing assertive. An elegant white that works well with appetizers or on its own...but not my style of Sauvignon Blanc.

Sokol Blosser Winery Evolution Lucky Number 9 White, 2023

Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser bought prime vineyard land in the Dundee Hills in 1971, long before Oregon Pinot Noir became fashionable. Their wines were a labor of love, and the second generation Sokol Blossers continue to produce top level Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and other wines from their estate and other vineyards they now own in the Yamhill-Carlton area. For income and cash flow, they have also created the Evolution line--lower priced and more suited for every day drinking. 

The 2023 Lucky 9 White wine is a blend of nine varietals--Muller Thurgau (25%), Chardonnay (24%), Gewurztraminer (19%), Sauvignon Blanc (15%), Riesling (11%) and Early Muscat (5%), not to mention Pinot Gris, Semillon and Muscat Canelli. Grapes are not necessarily from the estate or even the Willamette Valley but purchased from other areas of Oregon, Washington and California.

Light, bright straw color. Very forward fruity nose. Apples, lime zest, melon--fresh and lively. If I had to guess (and I did before researching the wine), I would have identified Riesling as the dominant grape, and it does have some petrol tones associated with Riesling. The blend works well, producing a wine of substance and interest that drinks well with just about any meal. Lucky 9 White sells for about $15 but if you are on the Sokol Blosser mailing list, you often qualify for discounts. I have enjoyed the Evolution Pinot Noir and the Evolution Sparkling Pinot Noir. The bottles of single vineyard Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay I had were spectacular.

 

Les Vignerones d'Estezargues Domaine d'Andezon Cotes DU Rhone, 2020

 I had this Cotes du Rhone at the American Wine Society Tasting Project in the Summer of 2023 and was impressed. It is a coop wine and not very expensive ($15) but it was difficult to find in my area. It has a high percentage of Syrah (90 to 95%) which is unusual for a Cotes du Rhone. The soil in this particular part of Sinargues apparently has a sandy/chalky soil that is favorable for Syrah.

Medium deep ruby, bright and clear with good saturation. Smells and tastes like Syrah: black fruits, cassis, black olives and some herbal tones. A bit more stand-offish than it was in 2023, but I think that augurs well for it. Should be even better in a couple of years.

Kirkland Signature Vacqueyras, 2022

 

I am a long-term Southern Rhone enthusiast; as a result, I am a bit reluctant to buy a Southern Rhone at Costco unless I know who produced It. There is no indication on the label, but when I pulled the cork I saw the name :"Guillaume Gonnet." Guillaume and his Australian wife have taken over at Domaine Font de Michelle, a good producer of Chateauneuf du Pape. And the Gonnets are now also producing wines from Gigondas, Lirac, Rasteau and Vacqueyras--all priced much higher than this $11.49 number from Costco.

Medium ruby, clear and bright 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre. The first smells I get are thyme and rosemary, classic garrigue! Also black fruits, fresh berries and plums rather than the strawberries I expect from 80% Grenache. Medium bodied and smooth. Easy to drink but still has some tannins to lose. I bought this in July of 2024; wish I had bought more.