2019 Anabella Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Anabella Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

#40-2021

We sampled a bottle of Napa Valley Anabella Cab from the Michael Pozzan Winery recently, and found it to be a welcome companion at our dinner table.  Of course, I am a big fan of Cabs from Napa, and this is one which I have not tried in the past.  I will make a note to do so again in the future.  For one reason, its hard to find a good Cab from Napa for under twenty dollars.

The nose is inviting with the smell of currants, blueberries and a whiff of black cherry.  The flavor spectrum encompasses cassis, cherry, and a touch of plum, with just a hint of mild oak in the finish.  I found each sip making me want another!   The alcohol content is 13%, and Norm's score is 90.  

A bottle of Anabella is a perfect match for a big slab of beef fresh from the grill, and would also pair well with steaming hot bowl Bouillabaisse!

score: 90

price: $16 - $20

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2019 Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2019 Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay

#39-2021

It's been a long time since Fess Parker played Daniel Boone on TV, and quite a while since he purchased seven hundred-plus acres of land near Los Olivos, Calif, to start a family winery back in 1988.  The winery is still run by the family, and the wine is pretty darn good!  The 2019 Santa Barbara Chardonnay was also a pretty darn good choice for our roast pork dinner the other night.

The nose has an almost perfumey aroma which also suggests honey and almonds.  The flavor is traditional Chardonnay with apple, pear, peach, and a touch of lemony zest in the background.  It finishes clean, and begs for another sip!  The alcohol content is 14.1%, and Norm's score is 89.  

A bottle of Fess Parker Chardonnay would be a good match for Poached Flounder or Chicken Divan, as well as our roast pork.

score: 89

price: $14 - $17

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2019 Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc

#38-2021

There was a little touch of crispness in the air the other night suggesting the approach of Fall, and a reminder to me of one of my favorite dishes once the air becomes a little cooler, which is Shellfish Bisque with Lobster, Shrimp, and Bay Scallops.  We enjoyed this delicious stew with a bottle of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc from the folks at Rodney Strong.

The Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc is rich in juicy fruit, showcasing flavors of peach, Meyer lemon and a little melon toward the end.  It is complex, refreshing, and has a crisp finish.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 89.  

In addition to our Bisque, this one would pair well with Chicken Piccata, and of course, would be a wonderful "Back Porch Sipper".

score: 89

price: $11 - $25

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot

#37-2021

Over the years the popularity of wine varietals  has, like most things, gone through a number of changes.  I like most wines, but Cabernet Sauvignon has always been my favorite.  It was the most popular red in the seventies, but the crown was passed to Merlot during the eighties, and by the late nineties it had become Pinot Noir.  In today's market place Cab is number one, and even out sells Chardonnay.  It has become so prominent that is often hard to find a good selection of Merlots at your local retailer.  So in my search for a good Merlot I came across an old friend, which I last wrote about seven years ago.

The Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot from their Indian Wells vineyard, was rated by me as a 90, seven years ago, and I score the 2018 vintages the same today.  This is a lush, full bodied Merlot with gobs of fruit, and a lasting finish.  The flavors are blackberry, cherry, and plum, with a trace of cocoa, leading to a satisfying, and lingering finish.  The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm's score is 90.  

A bottle of Indian Wells Merlot is great with any grilled meat, and would be superb with Rack of Lamb!  I suggest that you don't restrict yourself to one type of grape when there are so many good choices out there, and even more when you consider the array of blended red wines.

score: 90

price: $17 - $21

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2015 Bogle Essential Red

2015 Bogle Essential Red

#36-2021

Every now and then you find a bottle of wine for sale which is a little older, and if it is red then that is usually good.  A few months back we found a bottle of 2015 Bogle  Essential Red at one of the retailers we sometimes shop with.  This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vine Zin, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.  We let it sit in our wine rack for a few more months and then opened it for dinner alongside a grilled steak, and the extra couple of years made it just right for our dinner.

This blend of grapes is rich and mellow, with the flavors of black plum and dark berries swirling in the glass.  Its twelve months in oak plus a little extra bottle age, have produced a "lip-smacking" wine with a mellow, but lingering finish.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 89.  

I have seen this wine recommended for Burgers and BBQ, but ours was great with grilled meat!

score: 89

price: $12 - $17

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2018 Hawk Crest Pinot Gris

2018 Hawk Crest Pinot Gris

#35-2021

The Hawk Crest Pinot Gris from the state of Washington is pleasing to the palate and quite suitable as a companion for a variety of foods.  We enjoyed ours with a dish of bay scallops and mushroom raviolis in a spicy tomato cheese sauce, and it was most enjoyable.

This Pinot Gris is fragrant and refreshing, with a good balance between the fruit and acidity.  The flavors are green apple, citrus, and a touch of melon.  The finish is crisp, and quite capable of handling spicy fare.  The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm's score is 88.  

A bottle of Hawk Crest would pair well with any summer salad selection, especially one featuring shellfish.

score: 88

price: $11 - $15

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity

2017 Antigal Uno Malbec

2017 Antigal Uno Malbec

#34-2021

The Bordeaux grape Malbec, never seemed to make much of a name for itself in France, but it is a star in Argentina, and one of the better red wine bargains in the marketplace.  The 2017 vintage from Antigal Uno is certainly a best buy in the fifteen dollar range.

It opens with an attractive floral bouquet of violets and lavender.  The flavors are rich and complex with a mix of blackberry and blueberry being most prominent.  The finish is strong with a suggestion of its ten months in the barrel leading to a lingering dose of its heavy laden dark fruit.  The alcohol content is 13.9%, and Norm's score is 89.  

A bottle of Uno Malbec begs to be paired with grilled meat or rich sauced pastas.

score: 89

price: $15 - $18

Wine – God's Proof of His Love for Humanity