The Wines of May 2026

    Another month has rolled by - getting set for the summer months. I also got another year older. Here are the wines I got to taste and enjoy.

2020 Rebellious Red Blend, California

Aromas of cherry preserves, dark chocolate and cola with spicy notes of licorice, cardamom, cracked pepper and sandalwood. The bright and vibrant entry accentuates flavors of Bing cherry, fresh blueberries and allspice that linger into a creamy, rich mid-palate and ends with a luxurious finish. Pair with grilled foods, such as saucy baby back ribs, grilled vegetables or a juicy burger with cheddar.

Blend: 45% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 8% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, 1% Chardonnay

Tasting Panel  92

Dense, vibrant, and well structured, this blend is balanced and sure-footed. Graceful tannins underpin a lithe mouthfeel with notes of tobacco as well as juicy cranberry and ripe cherry, giving way to a pleasing persistent finish.

Decent little red blend, costs around $13. Fine for an every day, school nite wine.

 

2024 Rebellious Sauvignon Blanc, California

This crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc features notes of tropical fruit, melon, citrus and green apple. Vibrant acidity and beautiful minerality complete the wine profile, making an exceptionally balanced wine with a rich, long mouthfeel.

Average American style Sauv Blanc – decent with food, fair as a sipper. Same price range as the red - $13.

 

2020 Le Fonti di Panzano Merlot, Greve, Italy

The 2020 vintage is known for its elegant, fruit-forward profile. Nose: Ripe blackberries, plums, dark cherries, accompanied by spicy oak, tobacco, and mineral notes. Palate: Full-bodied with soft, silky, and velvety tannins. It balances dark fruit flavors with a fresh acidity and a long, polished finish.

I enjoyed this Italian Merlot with its dark fruit and tobacco otes. Some tannins, but they blend nicely. Enough acidity to make a match with red meats. Very Nice – runs about $30.

 

2024 Pieropan Soave Classico, Italy

James Suckling  95

Perfumed wine with citrus and minerality, forthright, intense and focused. Medium-bodied, vibrant and savory, it displays super-cool freshness and weight, with a polished finish. One of the top Italian whites for quality-per-price ratio. Drink now.  Blend: Garganega 85%, Trebbiano di Soave 15%

I think this wine need food – especially seafood to shine brightly. Decent mouthfeel, but the finish has some weirdness to me. Priced around $22.

 

2020 Akutain Cosecha  Rioja, Spain

The Akutain Crianza is comprised of mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, is fermented in fiberglass vats with native yeasts, and then raised for 1 year and 9 months in used American oak barrels, with an additional year in the bottle before release - far exceeding the Rioja D.O.’s aging requirements for Crianza wines. A very good value in traditional Grower Rioja.

Nicely done Tempranillo, it shows the grapes flavors with a touch of oakiness. Pretty good, priced about $20.

 

2023 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Deep ruby-red in color, this wine is fruit forward with nuanced tannins. Concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, ripe cherry, cola, eucalyptus, mocha and tilled earth carry over into a balanced palate. Smooth midpalate tannins support the fruit through a pleasing finish.

Nice school nite wine with very little tannins, but dark fruit and herbs. Goes with pizza, spaghetti and other quick style meals. Priced around $13.

 

2022 Geyser Peak Chardonnay, California

This Chard (with 9% Pinot Gris in the mix) is floral on the nose, with aromas of white orchids, lilies, peonies and baby's breath gently wafting out of the glass. The palate shows a soft mouthfeel and opens to fruitier tones of just-ripe apricots, white nectarines and lychees.   88 Pts WE

Nice chard with very little oak influence. Tropical fruits with a short finish. Also only $13, nice to have on a hot summer afternoon.

 

2023 Portlandia Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

This bold Cabernet begins with aromas of blackberry, vanilla, and coffee, followed by layered flavors of black cherry, dark plum and sweet spices. Structured by fine, firm tannins and well-integrated acidity, we love to pair this food friendly wine with grilled beef or portabella mushroom dishes.

A decent moderate priced Cab from Washington – mostly dark fruit with some nuances of spices. Low tannins and moderate acidity to go with food. Priced about $17, worth a try.

 

2020 Intuition Cotes du Rhone Celler de Terres Blanches, France

"This excellent Cotes-du-Rhone is packed with delicate red-fruit and baking-spice aromas, but there are also some lovely summer-flower notes. On the generous but lively palate, some licorice and warm dry-earth character completes this very attractive picture of the South. I love the gently dry tannins and animating acidity at the clean and elegant finish. Drink now." —James Suckling   92 Pts

I didn’t expect a lot from a under $15 CDR but I must say it hits the spot very well. The fruits are bright with the red black notes and the earth and herbs back them up. Good sipper and a very good food wine. A winner for sure.

2022 Barbazzale Catarrato, Sicily, Italy

This exquisite Sicilian white wine is a refreshing blend of Catarratto and Viognier grapes, offering a delightful fusion of floral and citrus aromas. On the palate, enjoy crisp notes of green apple, white peach, and a hint of zesty lemon, balanced with a clean minerality that is characteristic of the volcanic soils of Mount Etna. Perfect for pairing with seafood and light pastas, its lively acidity and elegant finish make it an ideal choice for any occasion.

There is only 3% viognier but it really adds to the body of this Italian white. White peach and hints of lemon on a very balanced palate and a nice finish. Priced under $20, this is a go to for Italian whites – would do well with lighter fare and seafood.

 

2022 Stolpman Uni Blanc, Ballard Canyon, California

The color of summertime California hills of golden brush. Straw and honeysuckle ride over a pineapple core. A taut focus drives through the center of the mouth while concentrated fruit richness spreads out and surrounds. With only a few swirls a rich, dense world of fruit arrives with green apple and stone fruit joining the waft of pineapple. A voluptuous wine with mouth filling texture but with a classic, firmly built structure to carry it

A nice crisp blend of roussanne and chardonnay; very crisp with a weighty mid-palate. Good food wine, though a bit pricey – runs over $23 most places.

 

2024 Paul Joboulet Aine ‘Parallele 45’ Cotes du rhone, France

Deep garnet-red colour. The nose is expressive and rich with aromas of ripe red fruit (strawberry, raspberry) combined with floral and spicy notes.

On the palate, this Côtes du Rhône has a fresh, delicious attack with good balance and supple tannins. Notes of red fruit carry through to the finish.

I have had a number of vintages of this Cotes du Rhone. Always good, with bright red fruits, good balance and acidity, with a decent finish. Can be found around $15, always a good bottle to have o hand.

 

2021 Noble Hill ‘Field Atlas’ Red blend, Simonsberg, South Africa

Field Atlas reflects our deep connection with the soils of the Simonsberg. We co-ferment whole bunches from selected vineyards to balance lightness & structure. Floral, black pepper, & olive purée aromas underlined by umami and earth.

Field Atlas is a unique blend that begins in our estate vineyards. We field blend and co-ferment Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, & Viognier. Each vineyard is carefully selected for compatibility. Each vineyard’s unique elevation, aspect, and soil gives us flexibility in creating a harmonious, cohesive, and delicate wine. 12.5% ABV

A little unusual, but a not bad Syrah blend. Just a little different; somewhat light and more of a sipper then a food wine. Interesting – available under $20.

2021 Neleman Bobal Robusta, Utiel, Spain

The wine opens with an aromatic nose of unsweetened cocoa powder, raspberry tart, sweet baking spices and boysenberry. The palate reveals dried tobacco flavors and worn leather with grippy tannins that soften towards the finish. Bison burgers, New York strip and Gouchauchang-topped Bibimbap would all pair stunningly. 93 Pts WE

This is a big robust wine, sort of an almost Cabernet style wine. Red and black fruits dominate with some herbs and spices underneath. Good enough structure for a red meat dinner and only around $15. Try some of this one.

 

2023 5x30 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California

Named for the dimensions of Napa Valley – 5 miles wide by 30 miles long – 5 x 30 captures the essence of a place small in size but vast in character. Every bottle reflects the diversity and intensity of this legendary region, where ideal microclimates and soils converge to create world-class wines. From this narrow valley comes a bold yet refined expression of Cabernet Sauvignon – rooted in tradition, elevated by passion, and unmistakably Napa.

This Cabernet Sauvignon, with the extra oomph of Petit Verdot, showcases dark fruits, sweet ripe blackberries, spices, and resinous forest notes followed by a savory finish. Tannins are abundant while sheathed in a fine polish. Even so, this wine will benefit from decanting, a meal, or further time in cellar. Enjoy in two years and for another two decades.    93 Pts WE

You can find more Napa valley sourced wines at decent prices – the result of too many grapes and not enough sales in the mid and upper ranges of products. Dark black fruits with some earthiness; Tannins do not overwhelm this wine but leave good structure. A great wine for a small price – around $20. Buy some and stash some for a couple years.

I hope all is well with you. Remember to keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.