The Wines of July 2025
Another wet month has gone by - have not hit 100 degrees here. Rather unusual...
Here are some wines I've tasted...
2022 Here by Chance
Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, Ca
A captivating Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of casis, cedar, and ripe red fruit complemented by hints of sage. Boasting the classic Paso Robles dusty notes, every sip is textured with bold tannins that provide structure and a lush mouthfeel, resulting in a luxurious finish that leaves a lasting impression.
Dark berry and cherry aromas meet with damp earth and savory charred meat elements on the nose of this bottling. Pencil shavings and rich blackberry sauce flavors are framed by chalky tannins on the palate. 90 Pts WE $25
A vibrant Cabernet
with dark berries and wood, with a good long finish. Very well made Paso Robles
red and only about $25. Get it if you see it.
2017 Mark West Santa
Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, Monterey County, CA
Totally undrinkable –oxided and very bad
Priced around $20,
this had sat in the store way too long. Turned into “drain cleaner”.
2019 Casa Castillo
Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain
Once labeled Monastrell José Maria has been incorporating increasing amounts of Garnacha and Syrah into this wine so that now it is about 60% Monastrell with 20% each Garnacha and Syrah. After a natural fermentation in tank the wine is aged for 8-9 months in neutral 500 liter French oak barrels, and foudres. Rich, dark fruits are lifted by bright acidity and nice minerality.
Bought one of the few
remaining bottles in the store, this wine still held up very well. Mostly red fruits
with a nice acidity to make it drink well and hold up to food. Was priced
around $12, worth buying any newer products from this producer.
2022 Simply Riesling,
Quincy, Washington
I'm scratching my head in disbelief at this $10 price tag. The screw-cap epiphany begins with a fruit and flower concert of honeysuckle, lychee and peach. Then you get this wonderful pear galette sprinkled with cinnamon-spice flavor that takes it to the edge of off-dry. Pair it with a park and a blanket.
— 92 PointsWine Enthusiast, July 1, 2024
Just an inexpensive
white from Washington state – almost off-dry but not sweet;the flavors balanced
nicely with the acidity. A steal at $10.
2010 Domaine Mussy
Volnay, Cote d’or, France
Volnay wines combine breed, nobility, finesse, elegance, femininity, and offer connoisseurs their incomparable bouquet. Their colour, from tender vermilion to the deepest ruby, their delicate bouquet of red berries (raspberry, blackberry), violet, their tannins from the softest to the most robust, their elegant roundness place them among the best representatives of the Côte de Beaune.
A fifteen year old
wine for sale in the store. I used a corkscrew that combined a screw with an
Ah-So to keep the cork intact. Notice the info talks about Volnay in general.
There were no specific notes about this wine. That being said, I wasn’t blown
away by this bottle. A touch tired, the nose took a long while to become
recognizable. I let it breath in a decanter, but it never really got any of
that ethereal flavors that you want from old Burgundy. Priced at $40 to move,
can’t really say I’ll be buying a lot more.
2024 AIA Vecchia
Vermentino, Toscana, Italy
Vermentino is the star white grape variety of the Tuscan
coast, perfectly capturing the feel of an afternoon in the Maremma hills
looking out at the Tyrrhenian Sea. Aia Vecchia blends in a small amount of
Viognier to add an intriguing hint of tropicality. The aged in stainless steel
tanks for four months; aged two months in bottle before release. Blend: 95%
Vermentino, 5% Viognier
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com 92
The 2024 Aia Vecchia Vermentino is a lively and expressive white wine. Pale straw-green, it opens with fresh aromas of garden herbs, citrus zest, and bright minerality. Energetic and precise on the palate, it delivers racy stone fruit and saline notes that lead to a crisp, mouthwatering finish. A sensational match with toro sashimi topped with yuzu kosho and golden Osetra caviar—the wine’s vibrancy and mineral tension elevate the richness of the fish and the briny elegance of the garnish. (Tasted: July 18, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
Maybe I am not enough
of a white wine person to review this wine. It was good, but there was nothing
really special about it to me. It had decent minerality but wasn’t racy to me
at all. Priced right at $15, maybe I need to visit it again…
2022 Giunta Pinot
Noir, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
A light and fruit-forward expression of Pinot Noir that is
distinctly Hawke’s Bay. Distinct flavours of juicy pomegranate that drive both
the aroma and the palate. This is layered with just-picked raspberry, dried
rose-petals, and an intriguing waft of cardamom spice.
This is a great wine to pair with all types of food, but may we suggest looking towards Ottolenghi-esque fare to complement all the pomegranate and spice. The bright and fresh-fruit flavours make a great candidate for a chilled red on a sunny afternoon!
A somewhat lightweight
Pinot, but it drank well, with the red berry-cherry flavors and mild spice
undertones. Great for a summer red wine and priced around $15.
2021 Miros de Ribera
Roble, Ridero del Douro, Spain
Wine Spectator 88
"Loamy earth and brambly herb notes underscore roasted plum, dried cranberry and toast flavors in this dark and chewy red. Drink now. 11,600 cases made, 3,000 cases imported."
Deep red cherry color with violet rim. Fresh nose, with wild berries and dark fruits aromas. The oak is very well integrated, providing high toast coffee notes that show a soft aging in oak barrels. In the mouth, it tastes rounded, powerful and elegant.
Bodegas Penafiel is located on some prime terroir right in
the heart of the Ribera del Duero. The estate works entirely with old bush vine
Tempranillo, and their wines are ripe, rich, and decadent.
Their entry-point red is actually quite "advanced." Deep red cherry in color with a violet rim, it offers up notes of wild red and dark berries with nicely integrated oak that contributes notes of spice, coffee, and vanilla. Round and supple, powerful and elegant, it's a great introduction to the region's wines.
I found the Spanish
wine to be good. Red fruits dominate with undertones of spice and herbs. Nice
balance of acidity and oak notes drive a moderate finish. Enjoyable and only
around $20 – worth it.
2018 Zeni Costalago
Rosso Veronese, Italy
Intense ruby red. Floral notes with hints of well ripened fruit. Vinous, velvety and lingering. Pairs well with pasta with sauce, grilled red meat, game and cheese. Blend: 70% Corvina & Corvinone, 15% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the last of
these in the store, this 2018 still has good red fruits and a nice acidity
balance. Original price was under $15, a wine that would be good any time. Look
for this producer.
2022 G D Vajra Rosso
Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
Langhe Rosso remains one of my favourite little gems, almost always overdelivering quality wine for price. That's especially true with a legendary producer like G.D. Vajra. Varja's Langhe Rosso is a blend of younger vine nebbiolo, barbera, dolcetto, fresia, albarossa, and pinot noir, meant to give an overview of the region. This is sourced from various vineyards, each variety vinified separately, fermented in stainless, and then into French barrels from new to 3 years in age, for 2 years. Raspberry leather, cherry blossoms, scrubby thorns are woven throughout this medium bodied red, with fine, toothsome tannins pinning in the sides through a lifted pink peppercorn finish. Great energy and charm in this humble Rosso, one that will be welcome at most any dinner table.
The nose had hints of
violets – a light wine but with nice fruits and acidity. Decent finish, really nice
with food, especially Italian. Priced under $20, well worth drinking. A very
good producer.
2021 Goose Ridge
Cabernet Sauvignon G3, Columbia Valley, Washington
Well-structured with ample richness and depth accented by aromas of toasted oak and tobacco. Flavors of cherry and plum coalesce with hints of baking spice for a long, satisfying finish. The smooth, integrated tannins pair well with rich cuts of beef or wild game.
This G3 Cabernet Sauvignon features a dark and brooding presence. Its complex nose boasts deep cherry and black olive notes, mingled with dark chocolate and blueberry. The palate opens with dark, sweet cherry and plum, highlighted by fresh redcurrants and a hint of green olive, providing a stark contrast to the darker flavors. The robust structure frames these rich flavors effectively. As it progresses, the wine maintains its richness while introducing a fresh brightness. The finish presents bright strawberry and olive, balanced by a tense, lifted feel that ends with subtle minerality.
A decent Washington
Cabernet with black fruits, decent acidity and smooth tannins. Pretty nice when
you consider it retails for only $17 or so. Great everyday wine for pizza,
pasta, etc…
2022 Bedrock Old Vine
Zinfandel, Sonoma, California
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$35 list] Spry and briary, this Zinfandel is fun to drink, with lively black cherry, licorice and dried sage flavors, which take on richness and cracked pepper accents toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2031.
The 2022 Zinfandel Old Vine is an absolute delight. Fresh, floral and fruity, the Old Vine is a terrific wine to drink now and over the next handful of years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Dollops of Carignan, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Cinsault and other varieties round out a blend crafted from a number of top sites in the Bedrock portfolio. The Old Vine Zinfandel is especially vibrant and refreshing this year. Best of all, it should be terrific value. 90 Pts Vinous
Real big zinfandel – a
very pleasant nose and a full mouthfeel. Black and red fruits with spice and
pepper that leaves a long finish. Great wine and usually found for about $26.
You can’t go wrong.
2022 Markham Merlot,
Napa Valley, California
Our Estate Vineyards provide a third of the fruit for this
velvety Napa Valley Merlot. Aromas of cherry, plum and tea are enhanced by
toast notes from oak aging. Ripe plum and cherry jam flavors are balanced by
spicy oak. A “Cab-Lovers” Merlot with fleshy mid-palate structure and a long,
round finish. 90 Pts, JamesSuckling.com,
May 2025
A juicy palate of cherries and plums drizzled through with chocolate and violet candy accented by fresh herbs make this an intriguing Merlot. A lightly grippy palate persists with a palate cleansing finish. 90 Pts WE
A Merlot that thinks
it is a Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose took a bit to settle, but the flavors were
red fruits with oak staves and some herbs. Long finish, exceptional Merlot.
Priced around $30, a great bottle to enjoy.
