Winery
of the Week:
McGrail Vineyards - Livermore Valley, Ca
If
you're, fan of great views and great wine, (and
really, who isn't?) then McGrail Vineyards is a must visit.
Located on an idyllic hillside in the Livermore Valley, just
southeast of the San Francisco Bay, one can simply sit back,
sip on a glass of top-notch Cabernet or Chardonnay, and forget
about the rest of the world for a little while. And if you can't
make it to the winery, having a bottle is almost as nice.
Click
on labels to enlarge |
McGrail
Vineyards 2012 "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
McGrail Vineyards
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2012
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
The nose offers aromas of black cherries, cassis, and
bramble fruit with accents of sweet spice, smoke, and
chocolate. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, and plum combine
with traces of chocolate, clove, and creamy oak on the
palate. Dark and supple, pair a bottle with beef tenderloin.
1,896 cases produced.
Rating: 90 |
|
McGrail
Vineyards 2012 "Patriot" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
McGrail Vineyards
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2012
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: n/a
Review:
Aromatics of currants, blackberries, and boysenberries
mingle with nuances of barrel spice and chocolate on the
nose. A sip delivers flavors of cassis, blackberry, cherry
that unfold into suggestions of toasty oak, dark chocolate,
and pie crust on the palate. A mouth-filling Cab with
rich tannins, enjoy a bottle with tri-tip from the BBQ.
276 cases were made.
Rating: 89 |
|
McGrail
Vineyards 2013 "Casa de Vinas" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
McGrail Vineyards
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 35-40
Review:
Aromas of boysenberries, cherries, and blueberries meld
with allusions of rose petal and sweet spice on the nose.
With a sip, flavors of bramble fruit, cherry, and blueberry
come together with floral whispers on the palate. Welcoming
fruit and silky tannins make this a wine that's well suited
for seared Ahi tuna. 205 cases produced.
Rating: 90 |
|
McGrail
Vineyards 2014 "Kylie Ryan" Rose
Winery:
McGrail Vineyards
Grape(s): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon &
40% Merlot
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 20-25
Review:
Fragrances of peach, apricot, watermelon, and citrus greets
the senses. The palate offers flavors of peach, strawberry,
and bing cherry, along with a hint of orange zest. A balanced
acidity and rounded mouth-feel make it a very approachable
wine. 149 cases were made.
Rating: 89 |
|
McGrail
Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay
Winery:
McGrail Vineyards
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 25-30
Review:
A bouquet of pineapple, peach, creamy oak, and butter
rises up from a glass. Flavors of tropical and stone fruit
come forth on the palate, alongside notes of vanilla,
butterscotch, and oak. Lush and rich with a welcoming
acidity, fans of creamier Chardonnay will enjoy this bottle.
664 cases produced.
Rating: 90 |
Note:
Wines rated with a "+" have not yet reached their
peak quality but will do so over the next few years
By
Jason Barlow
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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