This was the big winner with everyone but me at a recent wine tasting we hosted.  Maybe I’m spoiled — we did drop in on Ridge Winery earlier in the day.  It was smooth enough, balanced enough, and I’d definitely buy it again — maybe I missed something the first time around.

paid: $10

scored: 86

We joined the Cinnabar wine club (our one and only such membership) a few months ago, and received our first shipment in mid-january.  So I had tried this wine once at the tasting room in Saratoga, and approved highly.  But a tasting-sized pour in a tasting-sized glass always leaves me feeling like I missed something.  Now I consider it verified:  a full pour in a proper-sized claret glass and the intense and complex aroma of this wine smacks you in the face.  Its a good smack…  I have had good cab franc in Napa (Peju, for example), but this wine is other-worldly. I don’t know what else to say, other than that Cinnabar had the good sense to ship us not one but TWO bottles.  I’m hoping to cellar the other for a few years, but I don’t have a cellar so there will probably be some follow-up notes on a 9 month horizon…

As an aside, Cinnabar sources fruit for some of their limited-release wines from regions outside the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Ecco, case in point.

paid: $26 (club price)

scored: 92

This is a great find: a cabernet sauvignon that doesn’t overtax your wallet, and that makes your taste buds sing.  Nothing too complex here, no long finish, just a bright and balanced cab with a nice spot of fruit.  Just the right amount of tannin to pucker your tongue.  I think I’ve bought this wine at least 4 times;  I really should plump for a case.

paid: $14

scored:89

Petite Sirah is usually a mouthful.  Not so with the Stanza (which is a good thing in the sense that it is smooth).  More rhythm section than soloist, but the kind of rhythm you want to kick back to.  Glad I didn’t pay the $16 sticker price.

paid: $10

scored: 86