The Grenache and Friends Tasting

Grenache rules the roost this weekend as we offer an intriguing variety of Grenache-based wines that provide bold, fruit flavors that provide a tasty companion to barbecues, cheeses and main dishes.

We’ll cool off first with a Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc from Napa with a hint of grapefruit before moving on to a French Grenache blend from the sunniest part of the country and a terrific Syrah from Mendocino as a change of pace.

Next up will be the two powerhouses: A T-Vine Grenache from a high-altitude Mount Veeder vineyard in Napa loaded with complexity and winemaker Dave Phinney’s Department 66 Grenache blend from the southern French coastline near the Pyrenees.

We only have a limited supply of some of these so please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies with your host, Bill Callahan.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, October 3rd, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, October 4th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc 2012       ($11.99 During Tasting)

• Cool off with this very elegant, food-friendly wine with exotic floral and fig-like aromatics and a citrusy, melon, quince filled mouth. A full mid-weight is wiped clean by a savory acidity, with flavors that linger and beg for another taste.

Chateau Pech-Redon La Clape 2007        ($12.99 During Tasting)

• This Grenache-based blend comes from the Coteaux du Languedoc in the sun-splashed south of France. The wine is powerful, elegant and vibrant. Fruity and spicy notes mingle with that of a well-integrated oak breeding.

Copain Syrah 2011      ($16.99 During Tasting)

• “One of the great values in California Syrah. Violets, plums, cloves and savory herbs jump from the glass. It is distinguished by its mid-weight, gracious personality. A fabulous wine for the money.” – The Wine Advocate

T-Vine Grenache 2009     ($27.99 During Tasting)

• The grapes come from a vineyard atop Mt. Veeder, one of the coolest in Napa Valley, and the grapes give crisp acidity and electric fruitiness. Pomegranate, cherry and tart cranberry fruit are seamlessly interwoven with toasty oak spice.

Department 66 Grenache 2009     ($29.99 During Tasting)

• Winemaker Dave Phinney of Orin Swift adds this southern French blend to his unique list of wines like Prisoner, Machete and Abstract. The stressed vines produce dark fruit with bold concentration. Composed of 80% grenache with syrah and carignan. Opulent with plum and cherry flavors. Very limited!

The Harvest Ranch Cellars Tasting

It’s been a while but the Harvest Ranch Cellars Wines have returned and the wait was well worth it. Many of our regular tasters recall years past when we bottled our own, terrific wines and we’re back with two exceptional wines under our labels for your tasting pleasure.

The ’12 Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the star of the show, sourced from a vineyard known for producing grapes for wines that regularly sell for about $100 a bottle and we are offering this wine to you for $33.99 at this weekend’s tasting.

The Cab’s companion is the Harvest Ranch Familia red blend, predominately Zinfandel and Petite Syrah that works superbly as a rich accompaniment to any meat or pasta dish. We’ll start the tasting off with a 90-point-rated Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc and also include two very tasty California Pinot Noirs

We’re very proud of these Harvest Ranch Cellars wines and will only have a limited supply so please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies with your host, Bill Callahan.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, September 26th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, September 27th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2013       ($16.99 During Tasting)

• “Bouncing in acidity, this crisp white offers nuttiness around a core of melon rind, citrus and herb. Despite the relatively low alcohol, it offers enough weight on the palate to be companionable to appetizers or easily enjoyed on its own.” — 90 Pts Wine Enthusiast

Sean Minor Four Bears Pinot Noir 2012       ($12.99 During Tasting)

• This Central Coast Pinot Noir is a terrific bargain, displaying aromas of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry fruit with a hint of earthy notes. On the palate, bright flavors of strawberry and cherry combine with hints of tobacco.

Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2013      ($18.99 During Tasting)

• Bright, smooth and pure, with predominately red fruits and spice. Pomegranate, bing cherry, raspberry and Earl Grey tea evolve from the wine. The palate is broad and structured with firm tannins and a lasting finish.

Harvest Ranch Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2012     ($33.99 During Tasting)

• Sourced from a Mt. Veeder vineyard in Napa where yields are exceptionally low, wines such as this are consistently highly rated and in short supply. Blackberries, blueberries, spring flowers, graphite and luscious fruit are found in this full-bodied, opulent, spectacular wine.

Harvest Ranch Cellars Familia Red Blend 2012     ($15.49 During Tasting)

• A delicious blend of 57% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Syrah, 14% Syrah, 7% Cabernet
  Sauvignon and 6% Gamay with grapes from Solano County this is a richly structured wine with aromas of cedar and berries leading to red plum and dark cherry flavors. Aged 17 months in French oak.

Critics’ Choices Tasting

What do all the wines in this weekend’s flight have in common? The wine critics absolutely love them. This week’s tasting includes a wildly popular Argentinean sparkler and four other wines all rated 90 points or better by serious wine reviewers.

We’ll start off by revisiting the sparkling New Age white to cool off with because it’s perfect for the hot weather we’ve been suffering through. Next, we’ll sample a touted Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, a Spanish Tempranillo, a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and finish with a typically bold Australian Shiraz.

These are quality wines at our tasting discounted prices so please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies with your host, Bill Callahan.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, September 19th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, September 20th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

New Age White 2012       ($9.49 During Tasting)

• We’re breaking out the perfect hot-weather refresher again with this Argentinean non-vintage, semi-sparkling blend of 90% Torrontes and 10% Sauvignon Blanc served on the rocks with a lime squeeze.

EQ Sauvignon Blanc 2013       ($15.49 During Tasting)

• This Chilean winner features aromas of mango, lychee and papaya with notes of apple custard and lime peel. The mouth is concentrated, fruity and fresh, dominated by a persistent mineral overtone. – 93 Points WA & WS

Muriel Reserva Tempranillo 2008      ($16.99 During Tasting)

• This Spanish red has good intensity and balanced vanilla notes from oak maturation. The palate boasts mature red fruits along with hints of licorice and spice. Elegant, with a very long, satisfying finish. – 95 Pts Decanter Magazine

Koyle Cabernet Sauvignon 2011     ($15.49 During Tasting)

• This Chilean cab is deeply colored, with plenty of black fruit character, showing a great presence of currant and blueberry, with hints of exotic spice and cedar.  Ripe tannins are solid and velvety, and come together beautifully, with a silky and balanced finish. – 90 Points WS

3Rings Shiraz 2012     ($16.99 During Tasting)

• The wine is an opaque purple-black with a reddish-blue hue. A powerful fusion of layered rhubarb, dark berries and plums merge with aromas of cedar and tobacco. The palate reveals an underlying complexity of black olive, peat moss, and anise. – 90 Points WS

“Bill’s Best Bets Tasting”

This week’s flight of wines comes from selections that I have particularly enjoyed over the last year. What they have in common is that they are all quality wines as well as being terrific bargains. We sold out of several of them almost immediately at previous tastings and have restocked and are locked and loaded for this weekend.

We’ll open with a lightly oaked Napa Valley Chardonnay made for this type of weather and then move to a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. A couple of surprise hits from the past – an Italian Corvina and a Chilean Carmenere – will follow.

The last wine will be a favorite of wine critics everywhere, star winemaker Dave Phinney’s E2, a Garnacha/Tempranillo/Carignan blend from top Spanish vineyards that won 93 points from Robert Parker.

I’m back from vacation so please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies. – Bill Callahan

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, September 12th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, September 13th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Hill Family Estate Chardonnay 2012      ($16.99 During Tasting)

• Carly’s Cuvee has aromas of butter, cream, apples and caramel but carries nice acidity from being lightly oaked. The grapes come from Napa Valley’s Oakville, Watson Vineyard in American Canyon, and the Russian River.

Talbott Logan Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2012      ($21.99 During Tasting)

• Crafted from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard half old-vine (planted in 1972) Martini clone Pinot Noir grapes and Dijon clone Pinot Noir grapes (ranging in age 15-20 years). Full bodied, rich texture with flavors of Bing cherry and red plum.

Scaia Corvina  Italian Red 2012      ($10.99 During Tasting)

• Corvina grapes are most commonly used as a key constituent of Valpolicella and have thick skins that often undergo appassimento – partially drying grapes before fermenting them a la Amarone. A delicious, well-balanced wine that is intense and medium-bodied despite its youth.  – 90 Pts Robert Parker

Casas del Bosque Carmenere 2012     ($11.99 During Tasting)

• This versatile, smooth Chilean wine was a huge hit at a tasting last year. Intensely violet in color, on the palate an initial attach of black cherry, sweet tobacco and cinnamon gives away to a touch of earthiness and ripe bell pepper.

E2 Red Spanish Blend non-vintage     ($16.99 During Tasting)

• This wine is a product of California winemaker Dave Phinney’s invasion of Spain that won raves from critics. Grenache/Garnacha from Priorat, Tempranillo from Rioja, and Carignan/Cariñena from Ribera del Duero frame a perfectly balanced expression of what this dynamic wine-producing land is all about. – 93 Points Robert Parker

The Great Finds Tasting”

Our guest host this week, Patrick Campbell, has a knack of finding off-the-beaten-track wines that are terrific bargains as well as being delicious. This weekend, while regular host Bill Callahan is away on vacation, the Tall Texan will offer some of the recent gems he has uncovered.
This hot spell cries for some tasty whites and we’ll start off with a Sensual – and that’s the right word for it – Argentinean Torrontes followed by a Cambria Chardonnay. The reds will include a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, a 2010 Napa Howell Mountain with which Patrick is intimately familiar and a robust McManus Petite Sirah. Please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and Patrick, who will complement these fine wines with another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, September 5th, 2014  5pm – 7pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Sensual Torrontes 2012      ($9.99 During Tasting)

• This delicious aromatic white wine from Argentina’s Mendoza district displays crisp citrus and spice flavors balanced by a zesty acidity.  A delicious find for warm days on the river.

Cambria Chardonnay 2012      ($18.99 During Tasting)

• From the Central Coast winemaker’s Katherine’s Vineyard: “Bright and juicy with citrus, stone fruit and tropical notes; lush and ripe, creamy and long, balanced and rich.” – 91 Points Wine Enthusiast

Siduri Pinot Noir 2012     ($26.99 During Tasting)

• Another Santa Lucia Highlands winner: Elegant, fresh and pure on the palate, with great acidity, it offers beautiful spice, floral and cherry and darker berry flavors and aromas. – 91 Points Robert Parker

 Press Cellars Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2010     ($33.99 During Tasting)

• The Press has a velvety mouthfeel and features fine concentration to its dark berry flavors.  The tannins gain momentum on the midpalate and are supple and solid and grip the finish.  Wines from Howell Mountain are outrageously massive and age-worthy.  Robert Parker noted that HM Cabs may be the world’s best!

 McManis Petite Sirah 2012     ($11.99 During Tasting)

• The wine is substantial, yet has a rich, soft creamy texture of mocha. Very elegant and full of ripe black fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry. These fruit flavors are savored in the lingering mouthwatering finish.

“The Off’the-Beaten Path Tasting”

We’ll take a stroll a bit off the beaten track this weekend and sample a luscious assortment of wines from quality producers in Mendocino, the Santa Rita Hills, the Sierra Foothills and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

We’ll start off with the 91-point rated ’08 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay that drew raves from Robert Parker. From there we’ll move on to a budget-conscious Pinot Noir blended with Willamette Valley, Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills grapes, a Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon and a Mendocino Zinfandel and finish with a Sierra Foothills Cab-based red blend.

Please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and host Bill Callahan, who will complement these fine wines with another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, August 29th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, August 30th, 2014 3pm-5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay 2008      ($33.99 During Tasting)

• “The 2008 Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills has loads of lemon, honeysuckle, and citrus blossoms, yet for such a full-flavored Chardonnay, it is stunningly elegant, fresh, and crystalline.” - 91 Points Robert Parker

The Table Pinot Noir 2010      ($13.49 During Tasting)

• This winery’s mission was to provide affordable, quality house restaurant wines to drink by the glass and they also serve as terrific everyday table wines. Grapes sourced from Willamette Valley, Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills.

Husch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012     ($19.99 During Tasting)

• This Mendocino cab opens with lovely aromatics of black cherry, black berry, crème de cassis, earth, and fresh herbs. The palate boasts layers of bright berry fruits, and well-integrated tannins.

Gen7 Road to Morocco Reserve Non-vintage     ($25.99 During Tasting)

• Perfect for summer BBQ season; its ruby red color foreshadows its intense flavors of ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit, with a hint of clove and black cardamom. Rich mouth feel and great balance from grapes sourced from the Sierra Foothills.

Wild Thing Old Vine Zinfandel 2010     ($21.99 During Tasting)

• Aromas of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruit combine with a beautiful hint of vanilla-oak loveliness, smoothly textured in mouth, very creamy and round, the finish is long and has lush jammy fruit — this wine is dangerously good!

“The Aussie Tasting”

Let’s go Down Under this week as for the first time in a long while we sample wines from our Australian mates. We’ve got a 90-plus rated Aussie version of a GSM that is delicious and a 90-rated Shiraz among the selections.

We’ll also sample a luscious Viognier that’s perfect for summer sipping a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon and another of Australia’s signature Shiraz offerings.

So, slap a shrimp on the barbie and stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and host Bill Callahan, who will complement these fine wines with another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, August 22nd, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 3pm-5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2013      ($18.99 During Tasting)

• Apricot fruit aromas and flavors with long luscious texture and hints of orange oil to finish. After harvest about 60% of the fruit was gently pressed directly to barrels, the rest to a stainless steel tank. Nice complexity and creaminess.

Yalumba “The Strapper” GSM 2012      ($18.99 During Tasting)

• Authentic Barossa Shiraz is sandwiched between the understated fragrant perfume of Grenache and the earthy, rustic tannins of Mataro – a well bred, strapping and savory blended wine. ­­– 91 Points Wine Spectator

Jim Barry Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2012     ($18.99 During Tasting)

• Fruit from this vineyard and family-owned Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Clare Valley have been blended to produce a wine rich, soft and approachable, featuring flavors of blackcurrant, mint and morello cherries.

Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz 2012     ($18.99 During Tasting)

• This wine opens with lush and juicy dark cherry, licorice spice and wild flower notes that lead into brambly herbal and smoky earth tones. On the palate a satin-textured dark mulberry and plum fruit appears with a succulent jazzy acidity lifting the gravelly fruit.

  Jim Barry Lodgehill Shiraz 2011     ($18.99 During Tasting)

•  This wine has a deep black color with a magenta hue. Aromatically it offers vibrant notes of blueberry and dark cherry. A juicy, fleshy palate is supported by ripe cherry and blackberry fruit. This is delicately built with fine, lingering tannins – wrapped up in integrated, well-seasoned oak.  – 90 Points Wine Advocate

The Summer Special Tasting

We indeed have something special for our summer tasters this week as the featured wine will be the 2006 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta. The 2005 vintage won Wine Spectator’s #1 wine of the year rating and this vintage isn’t far behind with a 94-Point rating. We have a limited number of bottles of this sensational Chilean blend at a featured price of $54.99.

There’s other quality in the flight with a Mason Napa Sauvignon Blanc, a Napa Merlot, a bargain-priced French Grenache and an easy-to-drink Tuscan Cabernet Sauvignon that also scored in the 90-Point range.

Please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and host Bill Callahan, who will complement these fine wines with another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, August 15th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, August 16th, 2014 3pm-5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Mason Sauvignon Blanc 2012      ($13.99 During Tasting)

• Napa grapes lend this wine an elegant, floral, and fig-like nose with flavors of grapefruit, melon, quince, and hints of fresh cut grass. A full, savory acidity finishes smooth and clean.

JAQK Cellars Black Clover Merlot 2008     ($14.99 During Tasting)

• The entry from these Napa Valley grapes is vibrant and full with medium grain tannins and flavors of black currants and cherry. The wine evolves on the palate with fullness and balance leading to a long finish.

Le Paradou Grenache 2012     ($9.49 During Tasting)

• “An awesome value! A Grenache with meaty black cherry, pepper, dried Provencal herbs and earth all soaring from the glass. It’s a knockout value and this crowd-pleaser should not be missed!” — 90 Pts Wine Advocate

Tommasi Cabernet Sauvignon 2011     ($13.99 During Tasting)

• “Fragrant Cab with intense aromas and flavors of black currant, cherry and licorice, augmented by spice. Supple and balanced, delivering vibrant acidity and well-integrated tannins on the long finish.” — 91 Pts Wine Spectator

 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2006     ($54.99 During Tasting)

• The 2005 vintage of this Chilean wine was ranked #1 of the year by Wine Spectator and this vintage isn’t far off. “Ripe and packed with gorgeous blackberry, blueberry and fig fruit flavors liberally laced with bittersweet cocoa and Turkish coffee notes. Impressive combination of density and purity. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.” – 94 Pts Wine Spectator

“The Jack to a Queen Tasting”

Well, we’re all over the map with this tasting but we’ll take our theme from the starting and finishing wines from Napa’s JAQK Cellars, beginning with the JAQK Her Majesty Chardonnay.

From there we’ll move on to an Argentina Merlot and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon before sampling the highly-rated E2 Spanish red blend from noted winemaker Dave Phinney that has won rave reviews from such tough critics as Robert Parker. We’ll return to JAQK Cellars for the final wine, a 2007 Napa Syrah.

Please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and host Bill Callahan, who will put out another fine assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, August 1st, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 3pm-5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

JAQK Cellars Her Majesty Chardonnay 2008      ($18.99 During Tasting)

• Bright fruit and spice flavors mingle together with excellent acid-balance. The mouth feel is creamy and well-structured creating a long pleasing finish.

Navarro Correas Merlot 2008     ($10.99 During Tasting)

• This Argentina merlot opens with fragrant aromas of spices and red fruits. Bright plum and fresh cherry greet the front of the palate, extending into the finish with undertones of white pepper and subtle baking chocolate.

Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon 2010     ($17.99 During Tasting)

• Big and bold, this wine’s Napa Valley grapes offer generous black cherry and blackberry aromas leading to flavors of mocha, anise, tamari and mineral, plus a racy hint of smokiness. Perfect for a sizzling steak.

E2 Spanish Red Non-Vintage     ($17.99 During Tasting)

• Winemaker Dave Phinney’s second Spanish blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Monastrell, and Cariñena sourced from premium vineyards and aged for ten months in barrel, drawing rave reviews. “If there are better wines for under $20 a bottle in the world today, please share that information with The Wine Advocate.” – 93 Points Robert Parker

 JAQK Soldiers of Fortune Syrah 2007     ($33.99 During Tasting)

• Napa Valley grapes provide a smooth, round entry with intense fruit flavors. The middle palate is supported by a high level of fine- to medium grain tannins. The concentrated fruit flavors and tannins resonate together leading to a long finish.

It’s summertime and living is easy and this week’s tasting features a flight of wines that are smooth on the palate and easy on the wallet. This week we’re sampling a Mendocino Chardonnay, and four California reds: a lovely Luli Pinot from the Santa Lucia Highlands, a bargain-priced Merlot and two terrific red blends, including a 2010 Paraduxx Z blend.

Please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and host Bill Callahan, who will put out another fine assortment of cheeses and other goodies.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, July 25th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, July 26th, 2014 3pm-5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weekends selections: $15.00

Husch Chardonnay 2012      ($12.99 During Tasting)

• A blend of Mendocino grapes shows aromas of pear, caramel apple, lime, tropical fruit, and vanilla. On the palate, flavors of ripe pear, apple, lemon-lime, and pineapple are fully expressed with bright acidity.

Luli Pinot Noir 2013     ($18.99 During Tasting)

• When we tasted the ’12 Santa Lucia Highlands Luli you snapped it up like hotcakes. The ’13 vintage is touted as being even better. Aromatics dominated by wild strawberry and red cherry are followed on the palate with a full-bodied texture accented by soft and approachable tannins and an elegant, long finish.

Leese-Fitch Merlot 2012     ($11.49 During Tasting)

• Vanilla notes burst from the glass before turning toward strawberry jam, plum, and crushed cardamom. The mouth fills with fruit flavors and finishes with layers of vanilla bean from a combination of French and American oak.

Cinnabar Mercury Rising 2012     ($18.99 During Tasting)

• A very nicely balanced, silky Meritage that is medium to full-bodied in the mouth, featuring bright red fruit flavors with a touch of candied spice, supple tannins and a satisfying finish. A terrific value.

Paraduxx Z Blend 2010     ($38.99 During Tasting)

• Fusing the robust flavors of Zinfandel with the grandeur of Cabernet Sauvignon, Paraduxx has embraced the best of both core varietals from Napa Valley grapes to produce a world-class blend with a decidedly California personality. – 90 Pts Wine Enthusiast