This carries the Euro label of IGP or what used to be called Vin De Pays (VdP).  It is grown in the Provence are of France on an Island in the Rhone River.  It is a Bordeaux blend of grapes though certainly has a unique personality that is quite different.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty and earthy with some cherry fruit.  With air, some cloves emerge.  It is light bodied with tart cherries and cranberries.  Slight tannins.  A bit of anise on the finish.  At $9, this is a very nice value.  Food friendly for a wide variety of foods.  Very much a European styled wine but 2013 Graham Beck Chardonnay The Game Reserve, South Africa, Coastal Region, Wine Review

This is probably a bit past its prime and was being closed out for $9 a bottle.  At that price, some people will love this wine.  The key is they have to like oak.  Medium to deep golden in color.  The nose has noticeable fresh cut lumber along with nice lemon cream and vanilla.  The palate matches the nose though the fruit is not as strong.  It seems slightly out of balance at this point and it seems doubtful there is enough fruit to outlast the oak.  The finish is a bit clipped.  At $9, this is a good value and at least one person drinking it with me proclaimed ho much he loved oak filled 2015 Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu, France, Loire valley, Muscadet, Wine review

$12.  This is a nice value although the world of Muscadets in filled with nice to amazing values.  The best Muscadets will age, many will hold if not improve in the cellar and some need to be drunk younger.  This one seems to be in the later category.  At this point, it doesn't have that crisp freshness that makes Muscadets so welcome.  Medium gold in color.  The nose has apples and slight dust and even slighter lemon juice.  On the palate, this is fat.  Sour apple notes.  A bit clipped on the finish.  That said, it is reasonably food friendly.  A solid wine at a very fair price.  Perhaps a 2013 SonkinCellars Unmasked, USA, Mendocino, Wine Review

WARNING-Biased Review.  This is perhaps the most backward wine we have made.  Purple in color, slight ruby band at the rim.  The nose has boysenberries, charred wood, spice, and slight violet notes.  On the palate, this is tight.  Medium tannins.  Deep but hard to see the bottom.  Boysenberry fruit.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This really needs more air or cellar time.  It works with spicy or hearty foods at the moment.  Another five years and it should be opening up nicely.  Once it opens, the fruit is pinpoint.  There is a lot of potential for upside here with proper cellaring. 2012 SonkinCellars Unmasked, USA, California, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

WARNING-Biased Review.  This is tighter than most 2012's but starting to open up a bit.  Still, a decant for a couple of hours is not a bad idea.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has boysenberries, black olives, white pepper and charred wood.  On the palate, this is lean but puts on weight in the glass.  Deep boysenberry fruit with underlying char.  Food friendly with heartier and spicy food.  Good finish.  This is nearing peak but easily has a decade plus to go. 2015 SonkinCellars Persona, USA, California, Wine Review

WARNING-Biased Review.  This is out current vintage for sale.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight gamey meat, white pepper and black olives.  With air some red berry fruit emerges.  On the palate, black raspberries with a nice charred underlayer.  This is tight with firm tannins.  Good acidity, it should work well with food.  This is not as big as prior vintages of Persona.  It drinks nicely now, but its best days are ahead. 2014 SonkinCellars Persona, USA, California, Wine Review

WARNING - Biased Review.  This is our highest rated (by the critics) wine.  WA96 points.  In my biased opinion it is not there yet, but will get to that lofty position.  It needs lots of air or a decant.  If you ate opening a bottle today, 24 hours ahead of time is not too much.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, black olives, slight oak and roasted meat.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Not quite seamless, but going in that direction.  Black raspberry and blueberry fruit with underlying black olives and slight charred earth.  Good finish.  Needs hearty or 2009 Sineann Abondante, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

When you own a wine cellar, every so often you lose a bottle only to rediscover it a few years later.  Sometimes it is over the hill by then, but you never know.  This one was one of those.  Abondante is a blend of leftovers at Sineann.  It is a great value and usually, they are consumed in a year or two.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is leather with good dark cherry fruit.  A bit of spice.  On the palate, this is tart red berries.  Cherries mostly but something a bit deeper.  Slight tannins.  Good finish.  There is some complexity there but not a ton.  Very food friendly.  T 2013 SonkinCellars Persona, California, Wine Review

WARNING-Biased Review.  Although both of the 2014's scored higher, this is the best wine SonkinCellars made.  It is still quite tight and needs air or time.  Purple in color, inky at the core.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, slight roasted meat, slight cedar and spice.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Lush black raspberry fruit.  An under layer of spice and roasted meats.  Long finish.  Still a few years from peak.  Everything that needs to be in a great California warm climate Syrah that is not over the top but pushes ripe.  Of course, this is a completely biased revi 2012 SonkinCellars Persona, USA, California, Wine Review

WARNING - Biased review.  This is our most difficult child.  Huge bottle variation on this one and it has to be related to storage at all points in the delivery line.  Despite having had the wine tested for Brettanomyces (yeast) it is a problem in some bottles for some drinkers.  And that is the problem with Brett and why we tested.  All wine has it to some extent, and if the wine gets warm it blooms (it is a yeast).  In this bottling it is sporadic and its been difficult to ascertain why.  Of course, some people like that barnyard quality, so inevitably, they are the ones with the cleanest
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