Tree Kilpatrick

8.3

It’s got a very strange artsy label. From Parenti Vineyards, Green Valley. It smells a bit funky with a black elderberry aroma. Flavors are very tart and sharp. Hint of kombucha and more of that elderberry funk in there. It’s a strange and uncommon CA wine. Not really my thing, but might be great for the natural wine lover in your circle. — a day ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.7

Label has nice little pen and ink of a mountain meadow. ‘Special Select’, must be fancy. Dark as night. Almost black in the middle. Smells like blackberry fruit leather and fig molasses. Flavors a big, heavy and rich. Hint of leather. Kalamata olives meet blueberry-blackberry pie filling. Just a little licorice root. This is a decent style of ARG cheap Malbec. Not very earthy or herbal, but avoids the Grape Kool-aide and pairs with food thanks to the acid zip. — 4 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Simple yet graceful label. Syrah style bottle is a nice touch. Deep purple, smoke on the water color. Smells like berry compote (raspberry, blackberry and currants) and camphor. Flavors are woodsy and bittersweet. Plenty of earthiness. Plums, bar-b-que grilled red peppers, and morel mushrooms. This is complex what feels like cooler climate Syrah that has aged nicely, but could go even more. It’s got plenty of Southern Rhône vibe, but it’s also New World in a nice bright fresh way. I cannot believe this was going for $4 at Grocery Outlet. It’s worthy of a Syrah’s-around-the-world taste off. — 9 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.7

Jay-sauce what a massive bottle. The clay sure makes it heavy and unique. It’s a deep beet flesh color. Smells faintly of red berry sauces and maybe plum jam. Just a faint whiff of rubber in the sun. Flavors are easy and pleasant. Cooked fruits. Like plum, raspberry and blackberry cobbler. Just a slight Dutch licorice flavor. And mineral water. An unsweetened pomegranate and açaí mineral water perhaps. This is a nice southern France blend, but I’d skip the paperweight bottle and just get some Côte du Rhône if you aren’t trying to make an impression with a fun and often unfamiliar clay bottle. — 2 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Cute owl ‘critter’ label. Strange California varietial. Pretty, deep lucious crimson color. Aroma is hot asphalt and berry-cherry sauce. Just a hint of wood-shop. Flavors are classy and bright. Hint of black cherry juice and some lovely rosehip/hibiscus notes. Floral with a bit of good CA Merlot or Coastal Zin as analogs. This is a winner! Hoot, hoot. — 4 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.8

Basic yet fairly classy label. Color of blood. Smells like wet leaves in the woods and cut rose-wood. Hint of cranberry perhaps. Flavors are smooth and elegant, but fresh and juicy as well. Hint of musk and plenty of black and red berry stuff. Floral as well. Red rose petals. This is a lighter French red, but it’s interesting and well suited to food. — 11 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.8

A very light red with a juicy and fuller bodied profile than expected. It’s a great change of pace from many CA wines, but has some interesting style to it. — 13 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Maybe a bit more age than you might normally do for this, but I kind of forgot it on the rack. Hint of a rust edge on the ruby red color. Smells like old books, and preserved sweet black cherries. Maybe a hint of cola. Still Coke after it’s lost the carbonation. Flavors are very aged wine. Leather and more cola. Maybe a hint of Dr. Pepper. Still holds an acid streak and plenty of drying tannins to finish. Like bit of baked goods. Like good pastry with a blackberry cream center. This is interesting stuff. Great with food including fresh heirloom tomatoes both raw and cooked. Just a bit over aged. I’ll have to return to Viano for a younger bottle. — 2 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

This is called Dream Dweller. It’s Valdiguié from Shell Creek Vineyards.
Very red. Like a red currant color. Checks notes, yup red currant. Smells like tart berry sauce and fancy scented soaps, or maybe rose scented bubble bath? Flavors are tart and bright. Citrus (blood orange) blended with raspberry jelly. Or maybe fancy strawberry licorice and tarragon. Anyway it’s surprising in its fullness. And it’s not lost a step after a few years in the bottle. This is almost rosé, but it has too much rizz to stay pink. A real unique CA red with real wild berry boom. — 9 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Heavy bottle. Must be ‘fancy’. Dark as night color. Smells ripe, rich and smokey. Flavors are juicy and balanced. Has some zip, but it’s rich and robust. Hint of mint. Blackberry juice. Would pair well with mint chip ice cream perhaps. This is the high end bottle at that place. Lives up to the price so to speak. — 13 days ago