Wine Knows

09/05/2025

They told me wine was art.
Bu****it.

And the little guy?

No magic dirt. No golden waitlists.
Just sweat, bad luck, and a middle finger
to the sky when it decides to f**k him.

The cult wines?
They’ll always land soft,
cradled by critics and hedge-fund pricks
who wouldn’t know hard work
if it kicked them in the teeth.

But here’s the thing—
the little guy learns.
He adapts.
He doesn’t give a f**k about scores.
He makes wine for people
who drink to feel something,
not to impress some somm
with a stick up his ass.

Drought comes?
He digs deeper.
Floods?
He pumps faster.
Hail?
He patches up the vines
and spits in the storm’s eye.

And—
when the distributors lowball him,
when the supermarkets bury him
between the boxed s**t and the flavored p**s

he bottles it anyway.
Because somebody out there
still wants wine that tastes like honesty,
not some overpriced lie
sold by the ounce.

Yeah, the rich stay rich.
The earth doesn’t care.
But the little guy?
He’s still here.

Still pouring.

And that’s the vintage
they’ll never put on their f**king lists.

By Sierra Wine Guy

Ultra-premium cult wines are surprisingly resilient to weather fluctuations, unlike many other wines which had prices and ratings more affected by climate variability.

31/01/2025

Delicious 2019 Estate Chardonnay.

06/01/2025

And now for something completely different -
This is Pinot Noir from the Sancerre region of Loire Valley.
2018 Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvée Genèse Rouge =
"Sancerre Rouge" -
Nose is cherries with a crisp freshness and the palette follows along with some minerals and an anisette herbality in a light body, very light, smooth tannin dry red wine. Yum. For a light-bodied wine it has a mouth-watering medium finish that just makes you want another sip (or more...) And just look at that gorgeous color!
As good as it is at the moment - it could go another 4-5 years... (thankfully, I have one more... 😉 😮 )
Delicious with veal chop (simply grilled), cauliflower au gratin, and rice at tonight's dinner...

26/12/2024

100% Pinot noir.
Took a flyer on a case of this, just over 3 years ago.
Wishing I had another case (or more…)
Finished our last bottle on Christmas Day…
This is most likely 2013 Richard G. Peterson Brut Rose’ from Yountville, Napa Valley, CA (Amuse Bouche)
Simply delicious no matter what you call it or how much I did or didn’t pay. Rich, dense, creamy, brioche-y, fruity, yet delicate. Strawberries and the lightest whipped cream with an acidic back-bone any PN would be proud to call their own. A balance that isn’t easy to achieve, let alone in an American sparkling. Went excellent with brunch (left-overs from Brunch Snob in Awautukee *highly* recommended in the Phoenix area of cinnamon roll French toast, and barbacoa/eggs/potatoes soft tacos…) The color of the wine was dark salmon – like when salmon fish is raw. Too busy pouring, eating, and enjoying to remember to take pictures... I’ll be dreaming of this one for long time to come as it is somewhat of a benchmark for me…not to mention incredible value…which is a hard combo to forget…

12/11/2024

2019 Martinelli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Dark, deep garnet red.
Oak, a little spice, and jam – black cherry – on the nose.
Compared to the Pinot’s I’ve been drinking – mostly from Sta Rita Hills and other Santa Barbara County AVA – this is a BIG Pinot Noir. Almost jammy in it’s fruit – which is black cherry. Was plummy (cooked fruit) – and not in a good way – upon first sip when opened at a too cool of temperature. Allowed to warm up a bit and it’s a big, round Pinot. A little short on finish and finesse. I usually like Martinelli pinot’s – but this one falls short, and especially at this price point. If you like cherry cola, you’ll love this. If that’s not your cup of tea – not so much…
Seems a little too much "one trick pony" to change much with age...however, if I had more, I'd wait and try again in a year...

12/11/2024

Brewer-Clifton 2021 459 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
Delicious.
Select 459 clones from the Machaco vineyard property.
Medium garnet.
Medium acidity.
Little to no oakiness – all neutral barrels for 12-18 mos.
Fresh, vibrant – but not racy or bracing. Balanced. Medium nose.
Red fruit – cherry, maybe a little pomegranate, on the nose with some fresh, but soft herbs. The palate is red fruits, mostly cherry, and a hint of spice (white pepper?) or similar and light herbaliness. LONG finish. Left me wanting MORE when the bottle was empty.

Whole cluster fermentation gives the structure – herbs & spice – that many other pinots rely on barrels for…

This is a really good pinot for those looking for something with a much lighter touch than Napa, or even Sonoma, but not so delicate as many burgundies. Wonderful food wine! Excellent with charcuterie (YOUR favorite cheeses, meats, nuts, and fruit!)

09/11/2024

66.00

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is [...] elegant and finesse-driven, with a beautiful perfume of framboise, wild strawberries, violets, and sappy flowers. All about red fruits and flowers, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a seamless, flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, good acidity, and just a hint of classic Santa Maria salinity on the finish. Aged 16 months in 21% new French oak, this brilliant Pinot Noir is up with the crème de la crème in the vintage." - Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, 95 Points

"There's a gamy element that extends across much of this Foxen vintage, and it works very well in certain bottlings like this one, which is light in hue but loaded on the nose with roasted berry and porcini aromas. There's a sappy thyme and chaparral scrub flavor to the palate, elevating the freshly smashed strawberry and cranberry core." - Wine Enthusiast, 94 Points

"The 2019 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is translucent, elegant and lifted. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, white flowers, chalk and white pepper give the Julia's a very attractive upper register. This aromatic, mid-weight Pinot impresses with its focus and cut. It is a superbly elegant and nuanced Pinot from the team at Foxen." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 93 Points

09/11/2024

My thoughts to come...

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"The 2019 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard is a super-classic wine from this Sta. Rita Hills site. It offers plenty of bright red/purplish fruit, spice and blood orange are all perked up by bright acids that lend freshness, energy and verve. The Fe Ciega is an absolute standout in this range from Foxen." Vinous, 95 Points

"Cut from the same cloth, the 2019 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard has lots of back raspberry and assorted red berry fruits as well as leafy herb, spice, and earthy notes. I love its tannins, it’s medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, and is just a terrific Pinot Noir that will keep for a decade." JebDunnuck.com, 94 Points

14/09/2024

16/04/2024

-- The answer may not lie at the bottom of a bottle of wine, but you should at least check. --

07/04/2024

“Wine is a product of joy to be paired with food, family, and friends.”
– Opus One Director of Viticulture, Nathalie Buckland