The Wines of April 2026

Hope April was kind to you; the weather was topsy-turvy in the MidWest. The more it changes, the more it seems normal. Anywho, here are the wines I tried in April.

NV Sofia Brescia Veneto Frizzante (Mary Taylor), Italy

Frizzante is a classification for wines with a delicate carbonation, distinct from more richly sparkling wines such as Champagne, in that their fizziness is tempered and light. Sofia Brescia offers a soft and uplifting effervescence that elevates notes of apple, lemon zest, and slate. 90 Pts WE

IGT: Veneto

Soil Type: Volcanic and Limestone            Varieties: 60% Glera, 40% Garganega

Age of Vines: 25 years   Farming: Sustainable      Alcohol: 11%

Aging Details: Stainless steel       Residual Sugar: 13 g/l

A fun little wine to sip alone or with light bites. Hints of lemon, green apple makes this a perfect gathering wine. Priced around $12, great bottle.

 

2022 Domaine des Deax Valles Savennieres, Loire, France

No picture - I forgot to snap and the internet doesn't have 'uploadable' pics.

“The Holy Grail for Chenin lovers from the fabulous terroirs of Savennières  - Notes of white fruit, candied yellow fruit, and citrus; intensity, balance, body, and structure: this is an impressive and exceptionally well-crafted Savennières, displaying both maturity and finesse.”

I’m a sucker for Chenin Blanc and this is a great wine. Fruits with that bracing salinity – a wine for sipping or lighter fare. The vineyard is located near the Joly property, but this is only about $27. Awesome.

 

2022 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll of Napa Valley, California

93 points - "A medium-bodied, well-balanced and slightly restrained red that bucks the Napa norm and offers more fresh acidity and bright fruits than richness and chocolate. So appetizing, well-balanced and food-friendly, offering aromas of raspberries, black cherries, bay leaves and some black olives on nicely supportive tannins and good fruit acidity."             -James Suckling, 2025

Aromas of California bay leaf, dark plum, and cherry mingle with subtle hints of molasses and clove. On the palate, bright acidity brings energy to notes of raspberry and plum skin, supported by moderate tannins and a lively, balanced finish.

This wine pairs well with fatty dishes, which will highlight its fine grained tannins and herbal notes. Winery Chef Chris Kennedy recommends fire roasted dishes and grilled or braised red meats.

Got to initially try this with a lineup of Napa Valley wines. Despite being among th lowest priced, it stood out for the body and redolent fruits. Nice finish, some refined tannins, a great Napa wine. Priced around $70, a real banger

 

2020 Torrebruna Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy

Colour: Opaque with a red berry rim.

Bouquet: Aromas of cherry, dark fruits and vanilla.

Taste: Silky tannins frame flavors of dried strawberries, plums, violet and red cherries. Robust and balanced.

Opaque with a red berry rim. Aromas of cherry, dark fruits and vanilla. Silky tannins frame flavors of dried strawberries, plums, violet and red cherries. Robust and balanced.

Delicious with Pasta dishes and grilled red meats.

Nicely made Sangiovese, plenty of fruit with a nice acidic frame. Tannins are integrated, not over the top, and the wine goes well with a meal. Nice price, under $20.

 

2023 Tagua Tagua Carmenere, Central Valley, Chile

Couldn't get the correct label in a pic - forgot to snap it at work or home. My bad

This Carmenere is herbaceous and fresh, with notes of juicy red fruit and a subtle hint of earth. A delicate acidity is beautifully balanced by firm, well-integrated tannins making for an incredibly versatile and super food friendly wine.

Food Ideas: Beef empanadas, lamb gyros, peppery duck breasts with a red wine sauce, bulgogi bi bim bap, grilled veggie skewers

A tasty Carmenere – not something to cellar, but drink and enjoy now. Red fruits with a decent acidity makes it a wine that matches hearty fare. Priced under $10, would make a great ‘House Wine’.

 

2022 Wild Things Old Vine Zinfandel, Mendocino, California (Carol Shelton)

Aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit combine with a hint of cigar box, and vanilla-oak baking spice loveliness. Smoothly textured in mouth, and the palate is very creamy and round, with a finish that is long with lush jammy fruit.

76% Old Vine Zinfandel, 14% Old Vine Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah ***Sustainably Farmed and Organically Grown ***THIS IS THE 4th VINTAGE WITH ORGANIC GRAPES ON THE BACK LABEL!

92           Wine Spectator

A Zin with pizzaz and an easygoing personality, this serves up lively cherry, cranberry, grilled sage and black pepper flavors that end on a perky note.

Another Carol Shelton beauty – good zin with those red fruits and under tones of spice. Good finish, overall a great example of Zinfandel. Priced under $20 (17 at Auburn), buy several to pull out for grilled anything.

 

2024 The Dude Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

The 2024 Canepa Koch 'The Dude' Pinot Noir offers a vibrant Russian River Valley profile with rich red and black fruit, earthy undertones, and smooth, balanced tannins, making it a perfect pairing with a variety of dishes.

Tasting notes: This Pinot Noir possesses deep aromas of wild strawberries and ripe raspberries accentuated with exotic notes of sandalwood and rose petal. Rich and luscious palate it is focused with layers of ripe red fruits, fresh forest floor and fine-grained tannins that linger through the finish.

Notes: The Dude Russian River Pinot Noir is sourced from 2 vineyard sources within the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, southwest of the city of Sebastopol, in an area known as the Sebastopol Hills. The Pinot Noir grapes were harvested at night, hand sorted and gently de-stemmed to small open-top fermenters. After a 7 day “cold soak” to extract maximum fruit character, and gentle maceration through fermentation, the wine was drained without pressing and aged in 35% new French oak barrels for 16 months.

A new wine from my friend Mark at Marquee, this Pinot is a classic Russian River style light red; red fruits dominate while there are nuances of wood and spices. Very enjoyable – priced around $25 – a nice price for a Pinot from this area.

 

2023 Vinzant ‘Whits End’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Georges Vineyard, Sonoma, California

Whit’s End is made from George Vineyards mountainside grown cabernet sauvignon, where an abundance of volcanic stone permeates the soil, and a strong ocean influence creates cold nights and fog entrenched mornings that interchange daily with brilliant and long afternoon mountain sunlight. The result is a true expression of the Sonoma Valley. Whit’s End in vintage 2023 is rich, dense, and pure  cabernet. Color is red ruby to purple. A silky texture provides structure and balance while notes from volcanic stone softly yet resolutely reveal themselves throughout a symphony of wild strawberry, red fruit, and blackberry.

There is a Kansas connection (Maybe KC?) with the Vinzant family. This is a nice Sonoma Cab that could use another year in the bottle to line out the flavors. There is good dark fruits and some stone in the palate. Moderate finish – priced at around $25, worth trying. I also tried the red blend and it was a little more settled.

 

2023 Kyslea Pere et Fils Picpoul de Pinet, France (Les Costieres de Pomerols)

The color is a superb pale yellow with bright hues. The nose is elegant, with aromas of fresh fruit and citrus fruit especially grapefruit. Well-balanced with typical focusing and zesty acidity.

A pure expression of the grape varietal, the wine shows how good Picpoul can be when grown on its favorite terroir. Our best value, this wine impresses novices and hardened geeks equally.

Picpoul is one of those weird French grapes. This wine is very god with a citrus nose and a full palate. Nice acidity makes it match different lighter fare, and allows it to be sipped by itself. Priced around $12, a steal for a summertime wine.

 

2022 Method Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Aromatics of deep, regal, dark fruits, with hints of baking and savory spices, leap out of the glass. The palate promises rich, dense blackberry, Olallieberry, cardamom, tobacco, chocolate cocoa nibs, and a lip-smacking finish. Decant and Enjoy. Pair with grilled bone-in rib-eye, rosemary herbed butter, creamer potatoes.             94 Pts WE

This wine is one of the best under $20 cabernet I have had in a long time. It’s rich, full of dark berries with nuances of spice and coffee.  A somm and a winemaker got together to produce this wine – Suckling gave it 90 pts. Could age for a few years, but not long-term. At the price, just drink it.

 

Another month, hope all is well. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.