Quarter One
One of the last if not the last wine promoted in Quarter One. This was at a Blind Petit Sirah tasting my friend Inti did last night. Wine of the night for the group and excellent quality and under $25.00!!! Thurston Wolfe Website.
- 2021 Thurston Wolfe Petite Sirah Reserve Zephyr Ridge Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (3/28/2026)
Glasvin Kane. Blind Petit Sirah Tasting and wine of the night for the group and my wine of the night as well. This was blind and outstanding quality. Minerals, raspberries, floral, cherry, dust and blueberries. Nice acidity and elegant wine. Outstanding value at under $25.00 (93 points)
Well this is the first wine that is getting a wines promoted for the second time. This has won two blind tastings and probably a few more down the round. Beating out two more expensive offerings.
2020 Achával-Ferrer Quimera – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo (3/5/2026) Day 1: Glasvin Universal. Some user giving this 72 points. Is this a joke? Anyway this is one of the best wines under $30 and the reason I have bought 3 cases and will buy 3 more cases. Cherry, blueberries, coffee beans, dried flowers, minerals and spice. These always improve with some air. 93 points Day 2: So served this blind tonight and beat out 2020 Leoville Barton and 2019 Mark Ryan Dead Horse. This is for sure one of the best wines under $30. 94 points Recommendation: Great and buy! (94 points) |
2020 West Coast is Really Hit or Miss! More Miss. Well this is maybe the best Syrah I have tasted on the West Coast. Richard Funk a pioneer in Washington Wine has the “Funk Vineyard” and Big Table Farm a top 5 winery for me in Oregon makes a Syrah from that Vineyard. Well this is magical and I am the most anti 2020 critic in the world. Google 2020 Smoke Taint Wines and I come up first!
- 2020 Big Table Farm Syrah Funk Estate Vineyard – USA, Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (2/24/2026)
Day 1: Glasvin Performance Stem. Natural cork. As the world’s leading expert on 2020 smoke taint this is not and a beautiful wine. Mild funk, raspberries, floral, dust, iodine, menthol, white pepper and exotic spices. This is one if not the best 2020 Syrah I have tasted from the West Coast. Wow! 96 points
Day 2: Elegance is the key on this one. Spice, floral, raspberries, dust, menthol, minerals, tar and white pepper. Delicious is an understatement. Not going to make it to day 3. 96 points
Recommendation: Wow is this good. The 2020 is very elegant and beautifully crafted. (96 points)
2019 Tan Fruit Chardonnay Oak Grove Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills (2/10/2026) Day 1: Diam 10 cork. Some of the best Chardonnay’s in the world are from Oregon! Love this one. Lemon, lime, spice, matchstick, minerals and orange peel. Complex offering and while some wood going on not overpowering which I love. Medium plus finish. 94 points Day 2: This is what Chardonnay from the US can be and is the best of the best version. Very Chablis like on this one. Minerals, matchstick, orange peel, lemon, mild spice, a touch of wood, honey and white flowers. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. Medium plus finish. This is a great value. 95 points Day 3: Love the closure of the Diam 10, love the day 3 review and love drinking this glass close to room temperature and the slight improvement on day 3. Not quite 96 but close. Rich and flavorful. Honey, white flowers, lemon, spice, minerals, matchstick, orange peel, dust and mild wood. Medium to long finish and absolutely delicious. 95.75 points Recommendation: Get some and you will be happy! (95 points) |
Well in the world there are a few wineries I am the top guy! Result of a Crush, Anderson’s Conn Valley, Davenport of course and a few others. Well this wine is $15.00 as a club member with free shipping. This wine is off the charts and the best of the six pack I ordered.
- 2022 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (2/3/2026)
Day 1: Sometimes you hit a home run with a bottle and this is it. The 2021 is better but this is off the charts for the 2022. Funk, iodine, blueberries, cherry, stone, black olives, white pepper and exotic spices. This is by far the best bottle of the 2022 and I am the leading expert in the world on Result wines not to mention the top most helpful wine reviewer this past year on cellar tracker. Cheers my friends and buy this. 94.5 points
Day 2: Well this is up there with any Result I have tasted and top ten Reynvaan wines I have tasted (think 200 plus). Anyway this has everything you love about the Rocks. Black olives, white pepper, floral, blue currants, iodine, funk, stone, dust and tar. Medium plus finish and for sure making the top 20 best values of the year. 95 points
Recommendation: Join the club and get the best $15 wine one the planet with free shipping.
https://result-of-a-crush.obtainwine.com/collection/wines (95 points)
The first wine promoted in the new year was sent to me after reaching out to the winery inquiring about a less than stellar bottle. 2023 Drew Family Cellars Chardonnay Sandstone & Shale was purchased locally and was really off but not flawed. Drew ended up sending me one of their single vineyard wines and what a professional gesture. This is a wow Chardonnay.
- 2023 Drew Family Cellars Chardonnay Radiolaria – USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge (1/1/2026)
Day 1: Riedel Performance Chardonnay glass. 13.2% Alcohol. Outstanding quality. Chablis like with minerals, shells, saline, lemon, sour apple, spice and mild oak. Medium finish and nice acidity. A true gem in California Chardonnay. Great start to 2026 wine reviewing. 94 points
Day 2: For sure the first of many great wines in 2026. Wonderful with shells, saline, mild oak, sour apple, minerals, dust, white flowers and grapefruit. Nice acidity and medium finish. Really balanced wine. 94.5 points
Day 3: Excellent again. Everything I look for in a good domestic Chardonnay. Nice acidity, fruit, minerality and much more. The oak influence is there but does not dominate the wine like some Cali Chardonnays. This is a great effort. 94.5 points
Day 3.5: Well this is outstanding. Time, it is all about time and improvement on a wine. Shells, matchstick, lemon, lime, minerals, stone, white flowers, apricots, sour apple, mango and saline. Medium plus finish and so awesome it is hard to believe. 95+
Stats: 20% New French. 17 months in neutral oak Foudre & seasoned French Oak barrels. Dijon 76 & Dijon 548
Recommendation: Just achieved 95 and might even be better over time!!! (95 points)
Another stellar Eloge wine from Todd Anderson at Conn Valley. This wine was to celebrate my top ranking on Cellar Tracker this past year as most helpful uses which is the crown jewel award to win! Anyone can pump out a bunch of reviews via AI and get most notes.
- 2010 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge – USA, California, Napa Valley (1/30/2026)
Day 1: Finally celebrating my cellar tracker most helpful wine reviewer of the year with a proper wine. More tomorrow night. Natural cork. Riedel Cab/Merlot Performance Stem. This is outstanding and testament to Todd Anderson. Beautiful blend with menthol, dust, cherry, wood, blueberries, minerals, floral and cigar notes. This is an amazing effort and love it! 95 points
Day 2: Blind thinking aged Bordeaux. Cigar, gravel, minerals, cherry, dust, wood, blueberries, menthol and earth. Medium finish. Perfectly stored bottle from WineBid and at a great price. 95 points
Recommendation: Look for this via auction. Can get some good prices and this is still rocking. (95 points)
