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Oenophilus' Review:

Can't even preperly review it! Sorry. No varietal characteristic of which to speak. Bitterness all over the place. some viscocity resembling mouthfeel.I can't recommend this wine with the very fun and clever label.

Oenophilus' Review:

Russian River. Not just for Pinot anymore! I have always enjoyed these quality zinfandels that defy conventional wisdom and come from the land of Chards and Pinots. I like Zin: new vine or old vine, each have their charms. However, "old vine" Sonoma fruit tends to have such depth and layers of flavors that I will often gravitate towards a label with this pedigree. Stryker uses two vineyard sources here. One is over 100 years old and the other - let's just say it is older than John McCain. Barbieri, the older of the two, falls into another of my passions: Field Blends. Long ago, farmers just picked their fields and made wine. The uniqueness and complexity came from all the different grapes planted in the vineyard. Barbieri includes my favorite, Grenache, along with the deep blackness of Alicante as parts of the Heinz 57 here. This makes for a complex blend which is truly signature Sonoma.A nose full of boysenberry, caramel, and pepper lead into all sorts of ripe red fruits, chocolate Cherries Jubilee, and licorice. A rich mouthfeel leaves mild and sweet drying tannins with flavors of milk chocolate and plum before the Russian River acids leave you wanting more!

Oenophilus' Review:

This vineyard designate from Dry Creek Valley intrigues me. Its nose features vanilla, cinnamon, clove, but rankles me a little with some pickled jalapeno at the end of the aroma profile. Great dark rich fruits with a focus on cherry, plum, and currants then comes a little reduced beef broth which doesn't really spoil the party so much as to lead us into the green pepper flavor and cayenne spice which continue in the finish framed by nice acid and leaving leathery tannins.I tip my hat to the memory of Stan Simpson - Two Moon Vineyards grower and McCray Ridge winemaker; we will miss him. Our love and support go to his amazing wife, Julie Simpson.

Oenophilus' Review:

This wine in the Stryker portfolio affirms my trust in winemaker Tim Hardin's talents. By blending wine from his different Sonoma vineyard sources he has made a wine that I find the most satisfying Merlot I have had in a while. Intriguing vanilla and anice aromas frame cherry raspberry and tarragon's herbal sweetness. Hardin has given us a warm full mouthfeel, rich and silty tannins that coat your mouth while cherry acids dominate the long finish.

Oenophilus' Review:

Flint and grapefruit peel in the nose lead into a continuation of those flavors with a nice blend of apple, honeydew, and passionfruit with a bit of white peppercorn. The acid is a bit sharp on the sides before settling into a nice juicy finish.

Oenophilus' Review:

One of the nicer "Meritage" wines I have had recently. The deep purple color is almost black. This was actually appealling in that its nose was fresher that with stone fruits, licorice, as well as black cherry and chocolate that followed into the mouth. A lovely velvet mouthfeel made this a comfort wine. The bright acid made me want more after each sip. I'll buy this again!

Oenophilus' Review:

A blend of Shiraz, Grenache, and Viognier. The nose was actually a little off-putting at first - a little too much skunk and tobacco over-powering the nice florals, roast meat and coffee. There is a very generous mouthfeel with broad darkfruit and chocolate flavors. The finish also takes a bit away again with tobacco bitterness, prune flavors, and acids that don't seem entirely natural.

Oenophilus' Review:

Kind of a crowd pleaser. Pears, matchstick, kettle corn, and lemon aromas come out of this clear and bright pale straw colored wine. It enters the mouth with mild citrus and golden delicious apples surrounded by oak and weight down by butter. Luckily the well-balanced acids keep your interest well into the long finish. A great bargain Would I drink this regularly? Why not? But, in reality, it isn't my cup of Chard so I probably wouldn't.

Oenophilus' Review:

Clearly, Mr. Parker and I have difference of opinion - as usual. This is a superb wine, eventually. The reality is that no matter how good a wine becomes, waiting for it to open up after being decanted for the better part of a day detracts from the wine. It is points against whatever "score" it may later merit. The wine is lovely. A rich dark red that is so inviting. The nose is as multi-layered as they come: Myrrh, berry, cherry, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light even though is does have mid-range acid. Another detractor from the total experience is the presence of just enough Brett to pass the interesting funk and enter into the disconcerting. Even more disconcerting when I hear that the wine is aged all in new French oak. Where does the brett come from?