As far as I can tell, the Acacia “A” is well-regarded and generally liked by all (where “all” means people who are willing to pay $20/bottle or ~$10+/glass).  Its easy to see why:  there is nothing offensive about this wine.  It has good enough fruit, and it is decently smooth.  Not a whole lot else going on though.  The finish is very quick.  It occurs to me that I should taste this blind against the Castle Rock (which costs about half as much!).  Very curious which would prevail.

scored: 87

paid: $15 (on sale from $19)

This is the chard we opened in the middle of watching Bottle Shock.  I’m not sure what trick they play to bring out so much oak and vanilla, but I don’t disapprove… although I wouldn’t seek it out.  Pay more, get less (of that) I suppose.  Not to be confused with Chateau MontElena from the movie.  Tasty enough, and a winner at this price.

paid: $10

scored: 87

A smooth and simple Bordeaux, eminently drinkable and barely memorable.  On the light side, nice and dry, and an all-too-quick finish.  Still…worth every penny.

paid: $14

scored: 87

Aged 12+ months in barrel, but the lack of appellation designation should be telling that this was a mass-produced effort.  In short, nothing to write home about.  Better than most, but you should really spend the extra dollar and grab a bottle of the 337 or Chevalier or Cannonball.

paid: $13

scored: 87

OK, so this wine managed to confuse me at first.  Cline is a big name in Sonoma, but their mourvedre comes from Contra Costa — which turns out to be only 20 miles north of Livermore Valley (south east of Sonoma).  A few years ago I first heard the perfect phrase to describe this wine, from the owner of Campus Wines in Providence RI.  I have since heard the phrase from him every time I bought wine at his establishement:  “fruit-forward.”  That guy was pretty much annoying, and I only wasted $20 before I learned that I do not like “fruit-forward”, and that instead I would simply say a wine is “too sweet”.  Having said all that, there is something interesting going on in this bottle, a taste and aroma that I can’t quite place, and I like it.  Maybe because pure mourvedre is not so common?  Dunno.  Its worth trying though.  As a final note, I tried the 2004 vintage of this wine back before I started this journal, and I didn’t recall it being nearly so fruit-flipping-forward.

paid: $14
scored: 87

This is a smooth, dry and very drinkable wine.  Not a whole lot of character, really — which is good if you like subtle fruit.  But nothing objectionable either, which in the land of $12 Spanish wine is apparently quite an accomplishment (considering the Lan or Conde de Valdemar).

paid: $12

scored: 87

The folks at Sonoma-based Shiloh Road aren’t shy about sourcing their fruit from diverse regions.  It may leave you without a feel for a specific terroir (particularly if you sample other varietals), but hey — its tasty and smooth.  A worthy effort.

paid: $11

scored: 87

I tasted this gem on the heals of the Stanza.  The Concannon folks claim to be the first winery to bottle up Petite Sirah, which may explain the general impression that they are doing something right here.  Nice fruit, nice finish.  I’ve got to find time to go tasting in Livermore.

paid: $11

scored: 87