2014 Goisot Les Mazelots

I tasted this at Les Marchands and it reminded me of my favorite Αγιωργίτικο, Λαλούδι, so much that I had to buy what they said was their last bottle (@ $45). Having it now with home made fresh pasta and heritage pork ragout. Life does not suck.

2015 Potek Chardonnay (Bien Nacido)

I'm a member at Potek and this was in my most recent shipment. It's ridiculously expensive for Chard ($45) and probably my favorite Chardonnay ever, which is why I'm noting it.

Dragonette 2015 Sauv Blanc

Another effort at finding a killer Sauv Blanc to go with food. This one actually accompanied two recent ambitious dishes to excellent effect: lobster and English pea pasta and sous vide & cast iron seared fennel + local halibut. It's been the bomb! I'm getting into this :)

2016 Justin Sauvignon Blanc

Sauv Blanc is a bit tough for me, frequently tasting green or otherwise off, so I went to the higher end of the moderate price spectrum, and I really like this Justin SB. It seems that my maxim that good wine makers make good wine holds in this case, as Justin's Isosceles is considered something of a canonical mid-price bottle around SB.

2016 Sunstone Soleil Blanc

I've driven by Sunstone a twenty times and never had their wine, but SBSC kindly rewarded me for some volunteering I did with a bottle of this Soleil Blanc, and it's the most memorable white I've had in a while, so I wanted to make a note of it.

2012 Foxen Chardonnay

This was a gift and we loved it! Tinaquaic Vineyard in Santa Maria.

2012 Refugio Ranch SGPS

SGPS being Syrah-Grenache-Petit Sirah. We just uncorked this and we're having it with deviled eggs, and it's blowing my mind.

2007 Paredon Syrah

So. Good.

2011 Curtis Syrah

A few years ago, maybe 3ish, the Curtis Syrah was my definite favorite mid-price Syrah. I think it was sneaking just under $20 then. I remember introducing it to one of my wine mentors. I he remarked that it had what the French call "foot". I guess I'd call it soil. I get a really definite sense of place from this wine. So here's the 2011 version, a few years later, and it's clear that the winemakers have tried to stay true to this foot or soil sense. In fact, their label says, among other things, that this wine has "structure and a true sense of place". It's clocking in at $21 at Lazy Acres at this point, but I think this may prove, once again, to be my favorite middle of the price-road Syrah. It's a relief that something's stayed the same -- the last three years have been a real turmoil in every other sense!

2011 Le Bec Blanc by Beckmen Vineyards

Weirdest blend ever, but we <3 19="" 33="" 42="" 6="" a="" and="" answer="" because="" blanc.="" come="" comes="" everything.="" good="" grenache="" in="" it="" like="" marsanne.="" more.="" not="" p="" point="" primes.="" roussanne.="" the="" things="" to="" universe="" viognier.="" what="" white="" yes="">

What?!  Blogger fail! You fucked my post. What is wrong with you?!

Piemonte Barbera Castelvero 2011

An inexpensive Italian red from Lazy Acres, and a win in Dan's book.

Grgich (wha?) Hills Fume Blanc 2010

Dan's new fav expensive blanc that he's asked me to make a note of. Paired with 1/3 wheat + 2/3 white crusted arugala pesto pizza with 6 (yes 6!) shrimps. There should've been 12 shrimps, damn it! The wine paired admirably, we love it!

2010 Taz Pinot Noir

"For Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, this is one of my favorites", says Dan. I have to agree.

2009 Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

On special at Lazy Acres. One of the nicer cabs I've had recently. Smiles all around, and paired with pasta & meat sauce :)

Brander Chateuneuf du Pink

2007 Guigal Cotes du Rhone

I know very very little about French wine, so I normally would not have the guts to walk into the store and pick out a bottle. But my best friend is a Frenchie (or English, depending on the day, I need to get the story straight at some point) and she brought this to dinner recently: the 2007 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone. We loved it!

2005 Laloudi Red Wine

I don't get to drink a lot of Greek wine unless I'm at home, but I made a run and provisioned some from Metropoulos foods this week. One of the reds has blown me away. It's a regional dry red wine from the Peloponese, specifically from Monemvasia, which I visited as a tiny kid and fell in love with. The grape is the Agiorgitiko, i.e. St. George's grape. It set me back $17.50, and I would pay more if it cost more. It's very dry and has tons of soil and new oak flavors in it. Both Dan and I thought Chateuneuf du Pape, though we're not really up on our wines, so the association could be off. In any case, a phenomenal red!

Holus Bolus 2008 Syrah

Dan picked up this syrah, which is a bit more expensive than I would dare buy at $35, for Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was fan-friggin-tastic! This is probably the nicest syrah I've had this week. Highly recommended, if it's within your budget. Bonus points for the fantastic label!

Three great reds

I've tasted three fantastic sub-$20 reds recently:
* Sean Minor 2009 Pinot Noir
* Babcock 2009 Merlot "Under the radar"
and my current favorite
* Curtis 2006 Syrah, which is like heroin

Kenneth-Crawford 2008 Babcock Pinot Noir

I tasted this wine tonight at the SB Yacht Club and I thought it was remarkable enough to... well, to remark on. Go check out the tasting notes on the wine makers' website and tell me these are not full on wine nerds! This was a lovely Pinot Noir, completely out of the price range where I normally buy wine. I was, as expected due to price and origin, impressed!