First off, this is not the largest roundup I have written – there is a larger one from October 2021. Sadly, that one only had 6 QPR WINNER. This post has 19! Also, we have a shockingly high number/percentage of EVEN QPR score wines, 26 to be exact. Either the price or the quality pushed them to this level. So, without further ado, the 62 wines I tasted over the past few months.

QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Wines

It has been four months since my last QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) post and many people have been emailing me about some unique wines I have tasted and some lovely wines that are worth writing about.

Thankfully, no matter how much garbage and pain I subject myself to, we are still blessed with quite a few wonderful QPR wines out there. This post differs though, this is the first time I have seen so few N.A. or POOR/BAD QPR scores! This is not because things are getting better as much as I am selectively picking wines to taste recently. Still, many of these notes are from KFWE in Los Angeles, so it does represent a proper distribution, IMHO. We have 19 WINNER scores and a few GOOD/GREAT scores. A shockingly large number of EVEN scores, which could have snuck into POOR/BAD, and only 8 POOR/BAD.

Thoughts on the wines

Harkham is back!!!

My interest and love for all things Harkham is well known. I loved discovering the Aziza in Australia, some 13 years ago! I missed Richie that day, but I made up for that many times afterward. I thought the two Shiraz, imported by Kosherwine.com, were solid entries into the Kosher US market. The 2021 vintage was tough in Australia and these wines show Richie’s drive and passion! Looking forward to even more stuff!!

Missed Bordeaux Wines

Between my Royal Wine tasting and the rest of the wines that Avi and I tasted, we covered most of the 2020 vintage in Paris, in Nov 2022. However, we missed the 2020 Chateau Fayat and the 2020 Chateau Meyney. That has now been rectified. The Fayat is an AWESOME WINNER, while the Meyney may come around, otherwise, it is still a solid wine.

Invei Wines

Michael Kaye continues to strive to make wines that are unique while also interesting. Some are hits and some are close but either way, he continues to impress. Hopefully, as he scales up production, the cool and refreshing wines will continue to roll! His website is up and running – Invei WInes.

ESSA Wines

My dear friend Josh Rynderman continues to pump out great wines. The rose and Emunah are prime examples. I liked the rose, it is refreshing and puts a smile on my face. The Emunah is nice, not as balanced as in the past, but a solid next play. I hear more fun stuff is coming soon. Looking forward!

Hajdu Wines

A couple of weeks ago, I was at Covenant Winery to taste the Hajdu wines with my friend Elk. Elk eventually showed up, but either way, it was great hanging out with Jonathan Hajdu and seeing Elk, eventually! The wines that I tasted were all balanced, refreshing, and enjoyable. The rose and Pinot Blanc were lovely wines. The reds were balanced as well.

Herzog Wines

I tasted these wines at the KFWE in Los Angeles and also some were sent to my home to taste. Overall, I was shocked by how good the 2021 Baron Herzog Pinot Grigio and Gewurztraminer were. Balanced, tart, and refreshing, and for the price! WOW! The 2020 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley is a hit as always, on even vintages. 2019 was not bad, but not this good!

Roundup

Overall another nice list of QPR WINNERS. I can always look at these kinds of lists and say there are only 19 wines I would want to buy from this entire list, but that would be a defeatist attitude. The correct way to classify this list is we have 19 more wines available to us and in the end, as I have stated many times now, I cannot buy all the WINNER wines even if I wanted to. There are just too many good wines out there and that is what we should be focused on!

The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my “scores” can be found here and the explanation for QPR scores can be found here:

We have a nice list of QPR WINNERS:

1. 2020 Chateau Fayat, Pomerol – Stunning wine! Enough said
2. 2020 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Special Reserve – Great wine!
3. 2021 Hajdu Proprietary Red, Napa Valley, CA – Big and bold wine, but balanced
4. 2020 Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe – This wine scares me but it may eventually come around
5. 2020 Terra Di Seta Guiduccio, Toscana – Same with this one, it scares me but should come around
6. 2020 Elvi Wines El26, Priorat – Big, bold, but far more balanced than others here
7. 2021 Hajdu Menagarie, California – Nice wine
8. 2021 Harkham Hark Angel Shiraz – Harkham is back in the States! Lovely wine!
9. 2021 Hajdu Barbera, Sierra Foothills – Nice, tart, and balanced wine
10. 2020 Hagafen Rose, Brut, Napa Valley, CA – Nice bubbles!
11. 2022 Invei Gewurztraminer, Dry, Clarksburg, CA – Huge ABV but you do not feel it – loved it!
12. 2020 Chateau D’Arveyers, Bordeaux Superieur – Great Mevushal Winner!
13. 2022 ESSA Liv & Luv Rose, Durbanville – Not bracing with acidity, but balanced and refreshing.
14. 2021 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, Galilee – A nice Sauv Blanc – enjoy!
15. 2021 Baron Herzog Gewurztraminer, California (M) – Impressed by this wine, refreshing
16. 2022 Hajdu Pinot Blanc, Anderson Valley, CA – Floral and joyous
17. 2022 Hajdu Rose, California – Nice, and refreshing
18. 2021 Baron Herzog Pinot Grigio, California (M) – Another impressive Herzog Baron that is tart and refreshing
19. 2022 Goose Bay Pinot Grigio, South Island (M) – One of their best Pinot Grigio, tart and refreshing

There were also a few wines that are a slight step behind with a GREAT or GOOD QPR score:

1. 2021 ESSA Emunah, Western Cape – Ripe, balanced, and enjoyable for the next few years
2. 2021 Invei Muscat Canelli, Dry, Clements Hills, CA – Nice but not as lovely as the previous vintage
3. 2022 La Maison Bleue Sauvignon Blanc, France (M) – Nice enough and refreshing
4. 2021 Baron Herzog Zinfandel, Lodi, California (M) – Solid Mevushal Zin
5. 2020 Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, California (M) – Solid Cab for the Mevushal needs
6. 2020 Netofa Latour, Red, Galilee – Wish it was more like 2018 but nice enough
7. 2021 Hagafen Pinot Noir, Coombsville, Napa Valley, CA (M) – A bit ripe for me
8. 2021 Goose Bay Chardonnay, South Island (M) – A nice enough Chard
9. 2021 Invei Rose, Malbec, San Benito, CA – A bit ripe but nice

There are a few wines that got a QPR Score of EVEN – meaning expensive or average:

1. 2020 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap – Nice wine but at the price, it is an average QPR
2. 2021 Herzog Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Special Edition, Russian River – Nice enough, but price-wise too steep
3. 2019 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Forebearers, Herzog Ridge Vineyards – Nice Napa Cab but for the price?
4. 2020 Herzog Late Harvest Chardonnay, Forebearers, Napa Valley – Fun but pricy
5. 2019 Herzog Zinfandel, Forebearers, Herzog Ridge Vineyards, Napa Valley (M) – Not as fun as I hoped
6. 2021 Capcanes La Flor Del Flor De Primavera, Old Vines, Grenache, Montsant – Ripe
7. 2021 Harkham Aziza’s Shiraz, Hunter Valley – Nice but off balance
8. 2020 Matar Stratus, Galilee – Ripe and not refreshing
9. 2022 Invei Gewurztraminer, Semi-Sweet, Clarksburg, CA – Nice enough but not my cup of tea
10. 2018 Capcanes La Flor Del Flor Samso, Montsant – Another ripe Capcanes
11. 2021 Chateau Roubine Inspire Rose, Provence – Nice enough
12. 2020 Herzog Quartet, Special Reserve, California (M) – Not my kind of wine
13. 2021 Herzog Pinot Noir, Special Reserve, Edna Valley, California – Not as interesting as in the past
14. 2021 Nana Estate Tethys, Negev – Not as good as previous vintages
15. 2022 Hagafen Dry Riesling, Coombsville, CA (M) – Two vintages of poor dry Riesling – bummer!
16. 2021 Koenig Riesling, Alsace (M) – Nothing exciting here
17. 2021 Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc, California (M) – Not my style
18. 2021 Baron Herzog White Zin, California (M) – Cotton candy fun
19. 2022 Baron Herzog Rose, California (M) – Simple but fun rose
20. 2019 Carmel Volcano Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, Galilee – Another ripe Israeli wine
21. 2021 Baron Herzog Merlot, Clarksburg, California (M) – Wish this had more acid
22. 2021 Herzog Pinot Noir, Lineage, Clarksburg, California (M) – Hot and boring
23. 2021 Baron Herzog Chardonnay, California (M) – A bit too boring
24. 2021 Baron Herzog Sauvignon Blanc, California (M) – No acid
25. 2020 Matar Cumulus, Galilee – Ripe without acidity
26. 2020 Herzog Malbec, Lineage, Clarksburg, California (M) – Needs help

The others are essentially either OK wines that are too expensive, duds, or total failures:

1. 2020 Herzog Chardonnay, Special Reserve, Russian River,  (M) – Riper than I like and expensive for the quality
2. 2020 Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc, Judean Hills – Ripe and unbalanced
3. 2022 Hagafen Rose, California (M) – Not sure what happened, I like the Beret normally
4. 2019 Herzog Petite Sirah, Winery Reserve – This is an unbalanced wine that tries to be too bold
5. 2018 Tabor Special Edition, Galilee – Tabor seems to have lost its way
6. 2022 La Maison Bleue Merlot, France (M) – Too ripe and unbalanced
7. 2020 Carmel Volcano Merlot, Single Vineyard, Galilee – Ripe and unbalanced
8. 2022 La Maison Bleue Cabernet Sauvignon, France (M) – Feels off and unbalanced

Some things that made me stand up and take notice (AKA QPR WINNERS):

Of the long list of WINNER wines, the best by far is the 2020 Chateau Fayat. Followed by the fantastic 2020 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Special Reserve. The 2021 Hajdu Proprietary Red, Napa Valley, CA, is big and bold but balanced. The 2020 Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe is one of those wines that may come around or may not, only time will tell. The 2020 Terra Di Seta Guiduccio, Toscana is TDS’s first Super Tuscan and while I liked it, the wine is pushed and does eventually come around. Finally, the 2020 Elvi Wines El26, Priorat is an example of big and bold but balanced from the start.

There are a bunch of fun and enjoyable whites and roses, so a nice haul indeed!

Other wines of note (AKA QPR GREAT or GOOD):

While the wines here are not bad, the ESSA is here mostly because of its categorization, but the quality score on it was quite nice. The rest are just OK wines.

Wines that are either good but too expensive or average (AKA EVEN):

This list is headlined by the 2020 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap. It is a nice enough wine but for the price, I find it less than what I hoped for. The same goes for the Forebearer wines, all very solid wines but the price puts them here.

After that, the rest of the wines are middling to uninteresting.

Wines that are either OK but far too expensive or bad wines (AKA POOR/BAD):

This round this list is just duds and I will just leave you to peruse the names and scores down below.

Roundup

Overall another nice list of QPR WINNERS. I can always look at these kinds of lists and say there are only 19 wines I would want to buy from this entire list, but that would be a defeatist attitude. The correct way to classify this list is we have 19 more wines available to us and in the end, as I have stated many times now, I cannot buy all the WINNER wines even if I wanted to. There are just too many good wines out there and that is what we should be focused on!

The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my “scores” can be found here and the explanation for QPR scores can be found here:

2020 Chateau Fayat, Pomerol – Score: 93.5 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is well balanced, with roasted herbs, smoke, licorice, tar, mint, intense graphite, rosehip, savory herbs, and black and red fruit. The mouth of this medium plus-bodied wine is lovely, layered, plush, and extracted, while being elegant, smoky, dirty, and herbal, with loam, and rich saline, all coming together beautifully with sweet oak, dark raspberry, dark cherry, plum, draping elegant tannin, and roasted herb, beautiful! BRAVO! The finish is long, herbal, smoky, tart, and beautiful, with dark chocolate, scraping graphite, and more loam, mushroom, and rich smoke. BRAVO! Drink by 2035. (tasted February 2023) (in New York, NY, and San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2020 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Special Reserve, Alexander Valley, CA (M) – Score: 93 (QPR: WINNER)
We are back to an even year and we once again have an Alexander Valley worthy of the name! This is beautiful, though the 2019 vintage was not bad, this is just so much better! The nose is what I want, green, herbal, smoky, dirty, fruity, with impeccable balance, tart, dark chocolate, oak, mint, basil, and savory. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is lovely, dirty, balanced, and rich, with blackberry, plum, dark cherry, and licorice, with a great fruit focus, plush, complex, showing herbal notes, mint, menthol, nice tannin, nice! The finish is long, dirty, herbal, smoky, and waxy, with tar, smoke, and ripe blackberry, nice! Bravo! Drink from 2024 until 2034. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Hajdu Proprietary Red, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 92.5 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot. The nose of this wine is richly balanced, ripe, herbal, floral, smoky, and meaty, with green notes, black and blue fruit, floral notes, lavender, and lovely anise. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, layered, concentrated, elegant, and deeply balanced, with intense acidity, blackberry, juicy boysenberry, ripe plum, rich earth, mouth-draping tannin wrapping the sweet cedar, and rich smoke. The finish is long, rich, smoky, earthy, and tart, with dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, anise, and plushness that goes on forever. Bravo! Drink from 2024 until 2031. (tasted April 2023) (in Berkeley, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2020 Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is ripe and bold with dark fruit, milk chocolate, violet, roasted herb, smoke, black fruit, roasted herbs, and licorice. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nice, and bold, with spice, earth, smoke, and dirt, with ripe blackberry, cassis, juicy raspberry, rich and layered, and richly concentrated, it is OK, I feel it has a bit of green/hollow notes in the middle, with a nice plush mouthfeel and good sweet fruit focus. This finish is long and a bit round, smoky with roasted oak, leather, floral notes, concentrated fruit, and roasted herb. Drink until 2034. (tasted February 2023) (in New York, NY, and San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2020 Terra Di Seta Guiduccio, Toscana – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot. This wine is pure dirt, and earth, very fruity, dark, and brooding, maybe a bit too much, it reminds me of the old days, with dense red and black fruit, violet, roasted animal, smoke, and candied cherry. The Sangiovese is there but what stands out is the Cab/Merlot blend, it rounds the mouth and adds a punch of acid, loam, and deep focus, very nice! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has great acidity, intensely ripe and fruit-forward, with plum, smoke, crazy oak, dense and mouth-coating tannin, rich smoke, and toast with dirt, licorice, and tar. With time the fruit calms and the Bordeaux fruit shines with lovely oak, sweet plum, earth, blackberry, and dark cherry, very nice! The finish is very ripe, dirty, oaky, and intense with leather, tar, and ripe black fruit. Interesting. Drink until 2032. (tasted February 2023) (in New York, NY, and San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2020 Elvi Wines El26, Priorat – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 90% Grenache & 10% Carignan The nose of this wine is ripe to start at 15.5% ABV which should be clear, still, the brightness is lovely, with root beer, smoke, dirt, and earth, blue and black fruit, Eucalyptus, cola, rose, and tar. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, dense, and candied, with blackberry, dark plum, candied blackberry, and boysenberry, with a plush and ripe mouthfeel, concentrated and expressive with candied meat, chocolate, and minerality. The finish is long, ripe, dirty, smoky, and herbal, with cola, vanilla, strawberry, and graphite! Drink until 2030. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15.5%)

2021 Hajdu Menagarie, California – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot. The nose of this wine is ripe, but balanced, with good fruit, and lovely floral notes of lavender, smoke, earth, mushroom, loam, and nice funk. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is rich, ripe, layered, and concentrated, with blackberry, plum, smoked raspberry, rhubarb, rich earth, mouth-draping tannin, cedar, minerality, blackcurrant, and lovely acidity. The finish is long, earthy, dirty, smoky, and ripe, with minerality, leather, smoking tobacco, and dark chocolate, lovely! Drink from 2025 until 2031. (tasted April 2023) (in Berkeley, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Harkham Hark Angel Shiraz, Hunter Valley – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
Tasting the Aziza side-by-side with the Hark Angel, I can say what ails the Aziza is not an issue with the Hark Angel. The nose of this wine is balanced with good bright fruit, deep black fruit, red berry, tar, smoke, roasted meat, herbs, and sweet oak. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is well-balanced, with lovely acidity, marzipan, blackberry, plum, strawberry, dark cherry, lovely cacao, mouth-coating tannin, earth, charcoal, and minerality. Lovely! The finish is long, tart, juicy, herbal, smoky, and dirty, with tar, roasted herbs, sweet spices, smoke, roasted meat, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and sweet marzipan. Bravo!!! Drink until 2028. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Hajdu Barbera, Sierra Foothills, CA – Score: 91.5 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is ripe, and well balanced, with sour cherries, sweet oak, smoke, roasted animal, varietally correct, and nicely floral. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, and well-balanced, concentrated, with intense acidity, mouth-draping tannin, rich mouthfeel, smoke, rich animal, dark cherry, plum, earthy notes, and rich loam. The finish is long, ripe, smoky, and dirty, with ripe plum, leather, rich smoking tobacco, and rose hip and lavender. Bravo! Drink by 2028. (tasted April 2023) (in Berkeley, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2020 Hagafen Rose, Brut, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 91.5 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is nice, dirty, smoky, and bready, with lovely freshly baked peach and raspberry pie, rosehip, rose petals, cinnamon, incredible yeasty notes, and fresh bread notes! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is fun, bready, smoky, earthy, yeasty, packed with intense acidity, mouth-draping mouthfeel, highly refreshing, with lovely small-mousse bubbles, raspberry, plum, apple, peach, and hints of nice tannin, lovely! The finish is long, ripe, balanced, and tart, with more yeast, chamomile, rose hips, and tart lingering fruit and acidity! Nice!! Drink by 2025. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.8%)

2022 Invei Gewurztraminer, Dry, Clarksburg, CA – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is lovely, showing pineapple, guava, quince, yellow flower, and flint. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied wine comes alive after a few minutes of air, with a nice plush mouthfeel, almost oily, with great balancing acidity, hints of RS, guava, pineapple, white pepper, chili pepper, citrus blossom, and orange notes. The finish is long, spicy, plush, and balanced, with a bit of pith, more spice, cloves, and hot pepper, nice! Drink now. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 16%)

2020 Chateau D’Arveyers, Bordeaux Superieur (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This nose is lovely, green, herbal, smoky, red, and fruity, with rich saline, minerality, and dirt. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lovely, with great minerality, lovely acidity, smoke, raspberry, plum, plush with minerality, lovely mouthfeel and tannin, strawberry, hints of black fruit, and loads of dirt. The finish is long, herbal, smoky, dirty, and rich, with saline, graphite, and plushness, lovely!! Drink until 2025. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2022 ESSA Liv & Luv Rose, Durbanville – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is ripe, and fun, with fresh strawberry and creme, limoncello, citrus, rose floral notes, and heather. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is well-made with a lovely balance of nice acidity, showing good weight, elegance, and lovely strawberry, raspberry, yellow plum, peach, and rosehip. Refreshing and fun! The finish is lovely, ripe, balanced, and clean, with more floral notes, fruit, saline, flint, and green notes or gooseberry on the long finish. Drink now. (tasted September 2022) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2021 Dalton Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, Galilee – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This is a screaming winner and a truly enjoyable wine. The nose of this lovely wine is so well controlled, with lychee, passion fruit, gooseberry, orange blossom, intense honeysuckle, lemon/lime, nice flint, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is well balanced, professionally made, and precise, with good acidity, green notes, lemon-lime at first, followed by gooseberry, lovely honeysuckle, nice ripe pomelo, and good minerality. The finish is a bit soft, the acidity is there, and the flint, gooseberry, and honeysuckle linger long. Drink now. (tasted January 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Baron Herzog Gewurztraminer, California (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
Nice, with great acidity, and bracing, with white peach, pineapple, q lovely mouthfeel, soap, smoke, and Jasmin. The acidity and fruit linger long, bravo! Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2022 Hajdu Pinot Blanc, Anderson Valley, CA – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is lovely! Bright, smoky, floral, jasmine, violet, ripe and fruity, with yellow plum, apple, orange, and nectarines. The mouth of this medium to full-bodied wine is plush, tart, and well-balanced, refreshing, flinty, with apple, pear, Asian pear, orange, and nectarines. Lovely! The finish is long, tart, smoky, flinty, and plush, lovely! Drink now. (tasted April 2023) (in Berkeley, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2022 Hajdu Rose, California – Score: 91.5 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is lovely with ripe strawberry, raspberry, orange, pear, yeasty notes, and nectarines. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is ripe, balanced, tart, and refreshing, it truly cleanses the palate, with nectarines, pear, strawberry, and lively flint. The finish is long, tart, well-balanced, smoky, flinty, and ripe, FUN! Drink now. (tasted April 2023) (in Berkeley, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2021 Baron Herzog Pinot Grigio, California (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is fun, with funk, slight reduction, lovely sulfur notes, apple, pear, and nice bright fruit. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine has great acidity, smoke, more funk, hay and straw, apple, and melon, with almonds and a nice balance. Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2022 Goose Bay Pinot Grigio, South Island (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose is nice with orange blossom, apple,  melon, Asian pear, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is very well balanced, smoke, and flint, with Asian pear, great bracing acidity, melon, and a nice mouthfeel. The finish is long, tart, and smoky, with flint, and great acidity. Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2021 ESSA Emunah, Western Cape – Score: 91 (QPR: GREAT)
This wine is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Petit Verdot. The nose of this wine is ripe but also balanced with black and blue fruit, sweet cedar, candied bacon, sweet notes, a bit warm, and sweet violet notes. The mouth of this full-bodied is a beast, ripe, plump, plush, waxy wine that comes at you in layers of concentrated fruit, heather, charcoal, blackberry, dark plum, boysenberry, and sweet fruit, all wrapped in a blanket of plush tannin, sweet spices of cloves, mace, anise, and nice smoked meat. The finish is long, ripe, balanced, and warmer fruit with baked blueberry pie and more sweet spices. Drink by 2025. (tasted September 2022) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.2%)

2021 Invei Muscat Canelli, Dry, Clements Hills, CA – Score: 91 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine shows intense floral notes of Jasmine, rose petals, peach, melon, and lovely funk, with straw, and hints of reduction. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine shows potential, the acid was slow to come out, but with time the acid is lovely, with intense floral notes, followed by peach, melon, tart quince, mandarin Orange, yellow plum, and Asian pear. The finish is pure heaven with nice spice, smoke, funk, peach, and more intense floral notes, all wrapped in layers of acid, pith, orange, and beeswax – fun! Unique! Bravo! Drink until 2024. (tasted September 2022) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2022 La Maison Bleue Sauvignon Blanc, France (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
I will admit this wine starts a bit too aggressively for me, it feels like a drop-off at the start, but that is OK, give the wine an hour, and then it becomes nice. The nose of this wine feels a bit off, with lovely saline, some funk, herbal notes, gooseberry, orange blossom, and flint. With time, the nose comes around and shows correctly and in control. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is ripe but the acidity is good, it just feels a bit off at the start but that blows off, with gooseberry, pomelo, orange, and peach, a lovely mouthfeel, the aggressive pith calms down, and orange blossom. The finish is long, flinty, and balanced. Drink now. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12%)

2021 Baron Herzog Zinfandel, Lodi, California (M) – Score: 89 (QPR: GREAT)
Nice clean, very nice,  strawberry,  boysenberry, and good acidity and mouthfeel,  nice! With good texture. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2020 Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, California (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
Solid, nice, great acidity, good fruit focus, showing blackberry, blueberry, smoke, loam, earth, green notes, and a nice texture,  nice! Drink soon! (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Netofa Latour, Red, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
This wine is a blend of 70% Syrah & 30% Mourvèdre. The nose of the wine is ripe, but nice with black, blue, and red fruit, with classic root beer, watermelon, anise, Five-Spice, and sweet boysenberry. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied is nice, but slightly out of balance with boysenberry, ripe strawberry, blackcurrant, ripe Asian plum, enough acidity, and nice tannin, but the sweet notes are overpowering. The finish is long, green, spicy, and ripe, with sweet notes that come unbalanced, more root beer, roasted meat, and anise. Drink by 2027. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2021 Hagafen Pinot Noir, Coombsville, Napa Valley, CA (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine starts calmly and quietly, with a nice presence of dark cherry, smoke, earth, loam, raspberry, cherry blossom, green notes, and sweet oak. Nice! Sadly, it opens more to the kind of fruit I am not a fan of, candied plum, pomegranate, and candied rosehip. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is varietally correct, with some ripeness, the acidity is a bit short, showing nice tannin, juicy strawberry, candied plum, sweet oak, and pomegranate. The finish is long, tart, ripe, and green, with more smoke, and herbs, but also too ripe on the finish. Drink until 2025. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.9%)

2021 Goose Bay Chardonnay, South Island (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is nice with good sweet oak,  nice balance,  sweet vanilla,  orange blossom,  orange,  and pear,  nice.  The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice,  with good focus,  nice sweet oak,  pear,  baked apple pie,  and orange notes,  with the oak and acidity balancing the fruit.  The finish is long, tart, and oaky, with orange, apple, pith, green notes, and oak lingering long with vanilla.  Nice drink until 2024. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2021 Invei Rose, Malbec, San Benito, CA – Score: 89+ (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this Malbec rose shows bubblegum, strawberry, watermelon, rosehip, peach, and smoke. The mouth of this light to medium-bodied wine is balanced, showing nice acidity, and refreshing, with tart strawberry, peach, apricot, watermelon, and pith. The finish is long, tart, and refreshing, with pith, slate, and spice. Nice! Drink up! (tasted September 2022) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2020 Herzog Generation IX Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap, Stags Leap, Napa Valley, CA – Score: 93 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose is this wine is ripe and smoky with red and black fruit, nice elegance, herbal notes, loam, and roasted herb. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nice, balanced, and almost elegant, but missing layers and complexity, with herbal notes, roasted oregano, blackberry, raspberry, dark cherry, currants, menthol, and good green notes.  The finish is long, herbal, green, and smoky with dark chocolate and balanced fruit.  Drink from 2025 until 2031 (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Herzog Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Special Edition, Russian River, California (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: EVEN)
The wine shows lovely control, a step up from last year, with lovely apple pie, pear, peach, and good bright fruit. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied wine is nice with great acidity, nice apple pie,  yellow apple, peach, and pear with a nice crispness and a good texture and mouthfeel. The finish is long, tart, crisp, and fun. Drink until 2025. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2019 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Forebearers, Herzog Ridge Vineyards, Napa Valley (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is ripe, clean, balanced, and spicy but harmonious with bramble, roasted green herbs, menthol, smoke, tar, red and black fruit, and lovely sweet spices. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is plush, balanced, and refreshing, with lovely acidity, plush mouthfeel, earth, smoke, and a sense of place, this is a balanced Napa Valley wine, you feel the fruit, herbs, and roasted meat, smoke, with blackberry, plum, raspberry, menthol, and lovely loam, nice! The mouthfeel, with the sweet tannin, sweet oak, and balanced fruit, plush mouthfeel, all work well together. The finish is long, plush, herbal, and smoky, with toast, sweet dill, dark chocolate, tobacco, and roasted herbs, very nice. Drink until 2028. (tasted February 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2020 Herzog Late Harvest Chardonnay, Forebearers, Napa Valley (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is ripe but balanced with intense fruitiness, brown sugar, orange blossom, orange notes, candied pear, apricot, lychee, mango, and candied melon. The mouth of this full-bodied wine has good acidity, and a nice mouthfeel, with balance, sweet quince, pomelo, tart grapefruit, orange, candied pear, and orange peel. The finish is long, sweet, tart, balanced, with good fruit focus, and ripe mango/orange/pomelo, nice!! Drink until 2030. (tasted February 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 9.5%)

2019 Herzog Zinfandel, Forebearers, Herzog Ridge Vineyards, Napa Valley (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is quite enjoyable, it is controlled, ripe, and juicy, with blue and red fruit, with nice balance, bramble, smoke, earth, sweet vanilla, and sweet oak. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied wine is ripe, balanced, with great acidity, showing juicy strawberry, blueberry, ripe raspberry, plum, sweet oak, sweet dill, and cloves, with a nice tannin structure that wraps the fruit well, and a plush/tart mouthfeel that is refreshing and shocking for a 15% ABV! The finish is long, and spicy, with lovely spices, cloves, nutmeg, oregano, and roasted cinnamon. The wine does spike in fruitiness and then calms back down, there is no denying the wine’s fruit and ripeness, but the acidity helps to hold it all together. Drink by 2026. (tasted February 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2021 Capcanes La Flor Del Flor De Primavera, Old Vines, Grenache, Montsant – Score: 90.5 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is cherry lifesavers, sweet jasmine, and almost cotton candy, very different, with dark cherry, lemon/citrus notes, star anise, and cinnamon. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is ripe, dense, and layered, with dark plum, strawberry, candied cherry, almost cherry liqueur, nice sweet spices, and good acidity, all wrapped in elegant tannin and sweet oak. The finish is long, ripe, juicy, tart, and floral, with herbs, sweet smoke, tobacco, and cinnamon. Drink until 2027. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2021 Harkham Aziza’s Shiraz, Hunter Valley – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
While I wanted to love this wine, I like it, but it misses on a few points. The nose of this wine is hot, even at 13% ABV, with sweet oak, cacao, sweet red fruit, smoke, earth, and savory/menthol notes. The mouth of this medium to medium-plus-bodied wine is out of balance, the acidity is too high, and the body is not there to manage the acidity, with green notes, nice cacao, sweet oak, sweet/candied cherry, roasted herbs, mint, menthol, strawberry, hints of black plum, with intense dirt, and nice tannin. The finish is long, again the acidity sticks out, with coffee, red/black fruit berry, dark chocolate, marzipan, and tar. Drink until 2025. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Matar Stratus, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is balanced and bright with blue and black fruit, nice oak, anise, and earth. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is nice, and balanced, with good acidity, nice blackberry, plum, boysenberry, white pepper, sweet oak, floral notes, roasted meat, mouth-draping tannin, and smoke. The finish is long, smoky, dirty, and fruity, but balanced and well-made. Drink by 2026. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2022 Invei Gewurztraminer, Semi-Sweet, Clarksburg, CA – Score: 89.5 (QPR: EVEN)
I like this wine, it is a sweeter twin to the “dry” version, with lovely sweet/juicy guava, pineapple, mango, brown sugar, ripe orange, lychee, jasmine, funk, and ginger. Overall, a riper, more expressive version of the dry. The mouth of this medium-plus bodied wine comes alive after a few minutes of air, with a nice plush mouthfeel, almost oily, with great balancing acidity, nice brown sugar, mango, pineapple, white pepper, chili pepper, orange blossom, tangerine, and flint. The finish is long, riper, less spicy, plush, and balanced, funk, cloves, and hot pepper, are nice! Drink now. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2018 Capcanes La Flor Del Flor Samso, Montsant – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is ripe, Carignan is a ripe wine in Spain, but this is beyond my comfort level, we will see as this wine evolves over the next day or so. The nose of this wine is ripe, with roasted meat, dirt, loam, dark and brooding fruit, root beer, tar, sweet plum blossom, and dense smoke. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, layered, and concentrated with ripe blackberry, plum, boysenberry, tar, and rich minerality, all wrapped in a dense cover of aggressive tannin, and sweet cedar. The mouth is too fruit-forward for my tastes, it is more candied and liqueur fruit than wine. The finish is long, dark, brooding, and ripe, with leather, sweet smoking tobacco, menthol, and tar lingering long. Drink until 2028. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14,5%)

2021 Chateau Roubine Inspire Rose, Provence – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose is smoky, dirty, and earthy, with orange blossom, nice minerality, saline, peach, and lychee. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice enough, but I would like more acidity, with peach, apricot, lychee, good pith, and smoke. The finish is long, spicy, earthy, and smoky with less tartness than I would like and smoke.  Drink now (tasted February 2023) (in New York, NY, and San Jose, CA)

2020 Herzog Quartet, Special Reserve, California (M) – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
Once again the Quartet is a wine built for other people. This wine is ripe, pushed, and extracted, it lacks the elegance, the balance to take it to the next level. The nose of this wine is ripe, smoky, and too ripe with black and red fruit.  The mouth is this medium-plus-bodied wine is ripe with nice acidity, but the fruit overtakes the palate, with candied raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, and loam.  The finish is long and ripe and ok but it needs better balance overall. Drink soon! (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Herzog Pinot Noir, Special Reserve, Edna Valley, California – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine is unique, with blueberry, blackcurrant,  smoke, earth, loam, and ripe fruit. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, with great acidity, but the ripeness is too much, blackcurrant, blackberry, dark cherry,  smoke, rich oak, blueberry, and licorice. The finish is long, ripe, and smoky with candied raspberry and smoke.  Drink by 2028. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2021 Nana Estate Tethys, Negev – Score: 89 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, & 4% Petite Sirah. The wine is too ripe for me, it shows a ripeness that is a bit balanced but it is not my style. The nose of this wine is ripe with notes of black, blue, and red fruit, blackcurrant, licorice, and star anise. The mouth of this wine is ripe, over the top, with blackberry, boysenberry, blackcurrant, and sweet tannin, with sweet cedar, and smoke. The finish is long, ripe, and dense, with milk chocolate, green notes, loam, and dense fruit. Drink by 2025. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Hagafen Dry Riesling, Coombsville, CA (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine feels off-dry, with good pomelo, gooseberry, orange blossom, pineapple, and ripe honeysuckle. It feels a bit like Muscat and not at all like Riesling. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is candied and off-dry, with some RS, sweet orange blossom, good acidity, orange, ripe peach, pomelo, apricot, and sweet orange crush! The finish is long, sweet, and ripe, with some pith, orange, a bit of flint, and sweet honeysuckle! Drink soon! (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Koenig Riesling, Alsace (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
My notes on this are very short as was my interest in the wine. It is a simple wine with enough acidity, honeysuckle, peach, and nice blossom. Drink now! (tasted February 2023) (in New York, NY, and San Jose, CA)

2021 Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc, California (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine is varietally true,  with nice acid, a bit too much RS, and nice apple,  peach, and smoke.  Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2021 Baron Herzog White Zin, California (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
Candied raspberry,  cherry, and cotton candy, nice enough. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 11%)

2022 Baron Herzog Rose, California (M) – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
Nice rose, good acidity, nice pith, good orange blossom, nice peach and plum with hints of strawberry. Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2019 Carmel Volcano Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, Galilee – Score: 87 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this bold wine is ripe, it is more balanced than the 2019 Merlot, but it is still over the top, and not refreshing or bright, with ripe blackberry, ink, milk chocolate, smoke, sweet spices, tar, and cassis. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, and while it shows a bit more balance it still is not tart and fresh, it feels more muddled and ripe, candied with candied plum, blackberry, dark cherry, pomegranate, tannin, and sweet oak. The finish is long, ripe, not balanced, and flabby. Drink by 2026. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2021 Baron Herzog Merlot, Clarksburg, California (M) – Score: 86 (QPR: EVEN)
Average,  fruity, OK but it needs more acidity (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Herzog Pinot Noir, Lineage, Clarksburg, California (M) – Score: 86 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine came hot and shows one-dimensional with some dark cherry and herb, it is there but nothing to grab me, sadly. The nose, body, and the wine is just ok, dark cherry, herbs, and some smoke, nice enough. I do not see much past that. Drink by 2024. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Baron Herzog Chardonnay, California (M) – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
The wine is a bit too boring, with not enough acid, and tropical, with melon, peach, and guava. The mouth shows some acidity with more melon, guava, and apple. Drink now. (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2021 Baron Herzog Sauvignon Blanc, California (M) – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
Sadly, this one was a bit boring for me. Pith, no acidity, and smoke move on (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Matar Cumulus, Galilee – Score: 84 (QPR: EVEN)
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, & 20% Cabernet Franc. This wine’s nose is dense, and fruity, with loads of milk chocolate, anise, smoke, oak, blue and black fruit, and anise. This full-bodied wine’s mouth is ripe, and fruity, and lacks the acidity of blackberry, plum, candied boysenberry, oak, smoke, graphite, and milk chocolate. The finish is long and fruity, drink by 2026. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2020 Herzog Malbec, Lineage, Clarksburg, California (M) – Score: 83 (QPR: EVEN)
Nothing to see here (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA)

2020 Herzog Chardonnay, Special Reserve, Russian River, Russian River, California (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: POOR)
The nose is this wine is ripe, with loads of oak, smoke, brioche, peach, apricot, and lovely orange marmalade. The mouth of this medium-bodied to full-bodied wine is ripe, with good acidity, peach cobbler, butterscotch, orange and pear, sweet oak, tannin, and smoke. The finish is long, green, oaky, and smoky with fruit and texture. Drink until 2024 (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc, Judean Hills – Score: 86 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is ripe, with peppercorns, jalapenos, overripe red fruit, pomegranate, plum, sweet spices, and herbs. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is ripe, without enough acidity, it is heavy and not refreshing, the tannin is overbearing, and the fruit is over the top, with raspberry, candied plum, black pepper, but what makes it not work is the lack of balance. The finish is long, ripe, and over the top, with candied fruit, milk chocolate, and sweet spices. Drink by 2026. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Hagafen Rose, California (M) – Score: 84 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is candied and pithy with too much fruit and not enough brightness, unbalanced and out of control. The mouth of this medium-bodied with has enough acidity but the pith and fruit do not work, candied with pomegranate, candied strawberry, and smoke. The finish is long, pithy, and out of control. Drink now! (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.6%)

2019 Herzog Petite Sirah, Winery Reserve, Clarksburg, California (M) – Score: 84 (QPR: POOR)
This wine is too ripe and over the top, with blue and black fruit, no acidity, and an overhanded fruitiness. Drink by 2025 (tasted February 2023) (in Los Angeles, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2018 Tabor Special Edition, Galilee – Score: 84 (QPR: BAD)
This wine is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, & 30% Cabernet Franc. This wine is ripe and all over the place with no balance and no real direction. The only clear desire is overpowering black and red fruit, intense oak, candied and liqueur-driven fruit, and no acidity to be found. That is all I can talk about this wine, next! Still, after some time, the wine does show some control, with better acidity, intense green, and jalapeno notes, the same oak, black fruit, hints of raspberry, and a candied approach. Drink by 2026. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2022 La Maison Bleue Merlot, France (M) – Score: 83 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is nice enough with red berries, ocean spray, dirt, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is manipulated and simple with raspberry, cherry, earth, and simple tannin. The finish is long but again, messed with, showing some tannin and smoke. Drink now. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2020 Carmel Volcano Merlot, Single Vineyard, Galilee – Score: 82 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is ripe, unbalanced wine is not refreshing or bright, it is heavy and candied with date, oak, milk chocolate, and sugar notes, just not for me. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is a classic example of Israeli date juice, ripe, unbalanced, with no refreshment, not enough acidity, too much oak, and too much-uncontrolled tannin, but what kills this wine is the candied fruit, blackberry, plum, and pomegranate. This is just too much-unbalanced fruit for me. The finish is long, ripe, candied, and unbalanced. Drink by 2025. (tasted March 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2022 La Maison Bleue Cabernet Sauvignon, France (M) – Score: 82 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is cheap and manipulated with green and tinny notes backed by more fruit than the Merlot. The nose of this wine is ripe, green, herbal, smoky, and fruity. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is green, herbal, too green, tinny, and smoky, with dirt, and some fruit. Drink now. (tasted April 2023) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)