The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
West Coast Winter Warmers
February 11, 2026
White
2015 Terre Rouge Enigma Sierra Foothills;
Don’t fret about the wine’s age; I loved it last May, notes below. This blend of Marsanne, Viognier, and Roussanne ages as well as the northern Rhone whites on which it is modeled. It is in a very nice place right now, sedate perhaps, but not lacking in vigor and depth. Bouillabaisse anyone?
Color: light green; Aroma: rounded fresh, juicy, rather clean at the outset aromatic, heady; Mouth: firm, rich, smooth finely textured, heady firm, and solid, nicely mature; Very Good - Excellent $34; Case, $28.99 limited
Red
Two Syrahs
Sashi Moorman's cold-climate Syrahs are some of the most compelling and distinctive wines being made in California. Vinous
Both wines are meticulously produced, with indigenous yeasts, some whole clusters, and are bottled unfined and unfiltered. They are some of the best cool-climate syrahs I've tasted. They are lithe in their power and are finely articulated in the manner of some of the more elegant northern Rhones. But they are not copies and have a Californian freshness. Both are extraordinary for their price. The Bien Nacido bottling is exquisite, a vin de reve that rewards tasting over time.
2022 Piedrasassi Syrah PS Santa Barbara
Only 750 cases made
Color: very dark black; Aroma: heady, spicy, intense savory, heady and intense; Mouth: smooth, very dark, white pepper spice, clean, fine acid taut; Very Good - Excellent $35; Case, $29.75
2021 Piedrasassi Syrah Bien Nacido Organic
Aroma: heady and very intense, very pretty, good depth, fresh; Mouth: clean, rather fine mineral, fine acid and tannin in great balance and great depth, very rich and heady, long; Excellent Plus $53; Case, $45
Cabs Three Ways
2022 Beau Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast
This is a favorite for value. It is Napa-like without the Napa price.
Color: very dark black red; Aroma: light and fresh soft, more herbal than most, smooth, cacao, black cherry; Mouth: clean light on the attack, smooth, Napa -French in style, sweet currant fruit, fine tannins on a long finish; Very Good Plus $24.99; Case, $21
2022 Ad Ripa Cabernet Sauvignon Happy Canyon
Santa Barbara’s Happy Canyon is unfortunately named as a serious source for wine. But it’s turning into a haven for well-made Central Coast cabernets that forgo the edgy acidity you often find in that region’s wines but make lighter cabs that lead with spice more than alcohol. Were it not for their ripeness, they might pass as Bordeaux. We've been impressed with a few - this one’s the best so far.
Color: medium dark semi opaque; Aroma: pretty, fine acid, lifted and European, fresh, pure fruit; Mouth: clean and smooth, ripe fruit, currant, flows easily across the tongue with a bit of high-toned spice; Very Good - Excellent $50; Case, $42.50
2023 Bedrock Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma
“Meant to be an entry-level wine, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) is positively stellar. Black cherry, gravel, lavender, mocha, licorice, and spice are all dialed up. In its first vintages, this bottling was made from leftovers, but in 2023 the approach is more deliberate, and it shows.” Vinous
Color: very dark, semi-opaque, dark; Aroma: heady and rich, rather spicy, fullish, fat, a bit of graphite; Mouth: firm, dense clean, both softly clinging tannins, and lush substance with nice linear drive; Very Good - Excellent $43; Case, $36.50
Two Blends
Blends are in vogue of late, due in part to the popularity of one that rose from a craft wine maker’s fancy to a half-million case production of bland but expensive goop. This week’s two Zinfandel-based blends have lots more character at lower prices.
Marietta Old Vine Ranch Red Lot 75 California
Marietta does a lot right. First, they add Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Grenache, and Barbera to make a tasty, spicy compote. Then they smooth it down by blending four vintages (Lot 75’s youngest is 2022). At a $15 by the case, you can’t beat it, but you can happily drink it.
Color: very dark; Aroma: heady, herbal, dense, savory, spicy, and forward, intense; Mouth: clean, light, forward, rich, smooth, and solid, rather spicy, smooth, clear, light, clean, not too heavy; Very Good Plus $16.95; Case, $14.99
2022 Venge Scouts Honor Napa-Sonoma
Nils Venge puts out a more powerful hand-crafted wine that adds Charbono, Petite Sirah, and Syrah to its Zinfandel. Barrel aged 16 months in a 30% new oak, it is a seriously powerful wine that wants airing. It will take spiced meats, but go light on the chiles.
Aroma: bright, heady, fresh, rich, very dense, nutty, herbal, very deep leather. Mouth: rich, deep, very pretty, finely delineated, juicy and fresh, lifted taut, very long finish; Very Good - Excellent $45; Case, $38
Len Rothenberg
Mix any twelve of these at their case discounts
At the tasting, get any bottles at their discounted case prices.
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- Len Rothenberg
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