The Wines of May 2023

I recently read a book about Champagne - and I found how Mayonnaise came to exist.

I'll bore you with that fact later. Let's talk wines.

2019 Margerum M5 White blend, Los Olivos, Ca

#30 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020

Slight straw and golden hues with a viscosity that clings to the glass as it is swirled. Aromas of apricots, white floral, sweet honey, hints of brioche toast, sweet pea flowers and pineapple. Full, round and pleasing with ample acidity to balance the richness that will continue to evolve with time in bottle. Flavors of apple, wet stone and a touch of peach nectar engage with a lovely long persistent finish that lingers.

WE94Wine Enthusiast

Complex and yet utterly refreshing, this estate blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 21% Marsanne, 14% Viognier, 13% Roussanne and 7% Picpoul Blanc begins with wet stone, chalk, nectarine, Rainier cherry and creamed pear on the crisp nose. The palate sizzles with acidity and ashy, chalky tension, delivering flavors of kiwi, lychee and more stone fruit.

WS92Wine Spectator

Mouthwatering and vibrant, oozing with perfectly ripe white nectarine, Casaba melon, mango and dried pineapple flavors, with hints of candied ginger on a fresh, fleshy body. Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Roussanne and Picpoul Blanc.

Enjoyable white wine – not sweet, yet with good balance and body. Unusual grape varieties, but well worth the price at $20.

2020 Paul Dolan Zinfandel, Mendocino, Ca

Deep and concentrated fruit flavors give this full-bodied wine plenty to savor, while light vanilla and cinnamon notes from oak aging dress it up nicely. Moderate tannins maintain good balance despite the wine's richness.   RATING91

Paul Dolan Vineyards 2020 Zinfandel has rich aromas of dark fruits and plum which give way to subtler notes of cinnamon and white pepper. The wine's smooth tannins and medium weight round out flavors of boysenberry, cranberry, anise, and cardamom leading to a spicy, zippy finish of nice length and rich fruit.

Good zin that carries a lot of fruit with some subtle hints of spice. Moderate finish, good balance to match with grilled foods. Bought at $16, nice bottle- recommended.

2014 Torres Celeste Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Dark cherry red with intense garnet highlights. Aromas of black fruit (wild blackberries, blueberries) and delicate toasted notes (coffee) with nicely oak-aged undertones (toasted oak). Serious and warm with very fine, juicy, velvety tannins.

Given its tannic and fruit properties, it pairs well with a wide variety of meat dishes, including roasts and wild game.

WW89Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

A solid red, the 2014 Torres Celeste delivers excellent ripe fruit aromas and flavors. The wine, coupled with its fine oak presence, would pair well with oven-baked short ribs. (Tasted: November 15, 2017, San Francisco, CA)

Estimated price around $16 – a gift. The fruit had mellowed some with age, but was still showing nicely. Tannins were slight, but overall good balance. Inexpensive for that area of Spain, worth trying again.

2020 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, Ca

Deep purple with aromas of boysenberry, caramel, hints of chocolate, white pepper and savory spice. Full-bodied with juicy dark fruits, dark chocolate and a mouth-filling palate coating and creamy finish.

WE92Wine Enthusiast

Violet and lilac aromas are wrapped in toasted walnut and black currant on the nose of this bottling. The palate is lush with dark fruits and oak spices, which evolve into mocha and coffee bean flavors by the finish.

Oh, yeah. A meaty Petite with balance of fruit, acidity and tannins. Well made with dark fruits and a good finish. Priced around $20, this is a good buy.

2020 OZV Estate Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, Ca

An earthy, doughy aroma shows how fresh this wine is, before revealing layered, indulgent flavors of raspberry syrup, blackberry jam and dark chocolate that coat the mouth. With a full body, smooth texture and lingering finish, it's easy to love.  RATING92

This zinfandel tasted a little young – the fruit was bright but it was like it needed something to make it balance. No real tannins and a modest finish, not the best I’ve had at this price. Average price is about $15 – you get what you pay for on this one.

2021 Wente Sandstone Merlot, Central Coast, CA

Our 2021 Sandstone Merlot is supple and beautifully balanced, showcasing aromas of ripe red cherry and plum that are complimented by creamy oak notes of sweet caramel and vanilla bean. Additional notes of white pepper, cardamom, and graphite provide more complexity and continue to develop as the wine breathes in the glass.

Moderate little wine, decent upfront fruit and hints of spices. Modest aftertaste, didn’t really feel complete – a little hollow in the mid palate. Fair acidity and a few tannins. Maybe better in a year or so?  Priced around $15, just ok, not great. (Like before – you get what you pay for).

2020 Hedges Family Estate Red Blend, Red Mountain, WA

Reddish black bramble fruits, red currants, bright cinnamon, clove, vanilla and a touch of chili pepper, cocoa, toasted seeds, and a touch of earthy graphite. Nice structure, good length and lovely flavors of fruit, spice, and earth. This wine has a classic Hedges style with a modern touch, very enjoyable now and will age for years to come.

This wine had broad fruit on the palate, with some tannin interwoven. The flavor brought some spice and earth to the palate with a long finish. Classic Bordeaux blend, this wine shows the good land where this is grown in Washington. A little higher in price – around $28, but worth the price – buy this one and enjoy.

2019 Penley Estate ‘Tolmer’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Australia

Sourced from older vines, the “Tolmer” bottling is marked by refined tannins and a well-rounded, balanced texture. During fermentation, some lots are left to macerate on skins for as long as 30 days, to extract more tannin. The finished wine is aged in French oak barrels (30% new) for 12 months, then for a brief period in stainless steel tanks, before bottling.

Deep ruby-black, the wine leads with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, violet, chocolate, and a hint of eucalyptus. It is medium-plus in body and incredibly silky without being at all “flabby” or sweet. While the tannins are soft, the acidity is fresh and balanced, which should bode well for aging. Pair this with braised short ribs or grilled ribeye with lots of char.

The dark berry fruit shows first with hints of earth and spice. Tannins are still a little tight – would be better with a year or two of aging. Priced like the previous bottle – around $28. Not really for everyone – not a typical Cabernet from Australia. (Pretty Label)

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

 The Wines of April 2023

It almost seems like spring, except for a few days that turned cold and included a freeze. That shold be over in my area. Been a rough week, so I'll just go to the wines

2019 Chateau Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur , Fronsac, France

Château and the winemaking facilities, which were classified under the Fronsac Appellation many years ago. Merlot is best suited to the terroir and is the majority planting, complemented by both Cabernets. Grapes are 100% destemmed and crushed before being placed in temperature controlled vats. Prior to fermentation, approximately 20% of the juice in each vat is siphoned off in order to increase the skin to juice ratio (this juice is then used to make Rosé wine). Natural yeasts trigger fermentation and a twice daily regimen of pumping the juice over the skins begins remontage and an oxygen pump. The wine is racked every 3 months and therefore only needs a light filtration. Final blending and bottling takes place 18 months after the harvest. A nose of red fruits, a deep and powerful structure, round and silky tannins, make it a bottle with elegant, complex and rich content.

A tasty red from Bordeaux – not something with a long cellar life, but a few years wouldn’t hurt it. Nice red fruits withonly small amount of tannins and a touch of herbs.  Under $20, real nice for a week day type bottle.

2020 San Polo Rubio Toscano, Montalcino, Italy

James Suckling Review   Rated 90

Vibrant cherries, thyme and roasted herbs on the nose are followed by a medium-bodied palate full of juicy red cherries. Firm and fine-grained on the palate with lots of plums and berries. Pure and fruit-expressive. Drink now.

Wine Tasting Notes

Brilliant ruby red in color, with purplish glints. The bouquet is intense and persistent with fresh aromas of red cherries, violets and blackcurrants, followed by subtle spicy notes. Well-structured and balanced with satisfying tannins and aromatic persistence. The nuances of forest fruits and cherries which are typical of the grape variety make it easy to drink, yet still intense and elegant.

Rubio expresses the vitality and immediacy of crisply fresh Sangiovese grapes from Montalcino. Due to its versatility, it is excellent by the glass and ideal for open-air barbecues. It is delicious when paired with various cold cuts, salami, pasta dishes, sausages, grilled meats and medium matured cheeses such as the renowned Tuscan pecorino. 100% Sangiovese

This is a very nice drinking Italian wine – red fruits with hints of floral and herbs.  Good acidity makes it a great match for different foods. Another good, inexpensive drinker – priced under $20. Recommend

2016 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva, Rioja, Spain

Winemaker Notes

Fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and oak (clove, pepper, vanilla, and coconut), enriched by the complex aromas developed during bottle ageing. Very attractive on the palate, with ripe fruit and spices, tobacco, and toasted oak. Elegant and soft tannins, middle weight, long, and complex finish. Delicious with red meat, grill, and roasts, game, mature, and blue cheeses.

Dry, spicy plum and cherry aromas are typical of good basic Rioja. This is medium in body, with somewhat rough tannins and spanking acidity. Plum and berry flavors are common, and it's racy on the finish.  RATING86

I’m afraid I found this wine rather lackluster. Usually the Reserva wines from Rioja have more body and a texture to them. This seemed like a recently bottled Tempranillo. I mean, yeah, it’s only $13, but with that extra time, you should get something. Skip this producer…

2019 Tascante Ghaiaia nera, Etna rosso, Italy

Subtle aromas of orange peel, cherries, and dried flowers follow through to a medium body, fine tannins, and a refined, subtle finish. Such beauty. So drinkable and fine. Drink now. ~95 James Suckling.

Lithe and savory, this lovely red has enticing scents of Mediterranean scrub, wild berries, crushed stone, and eucalyptus. The polished, savory palate offers wonderful finesse, featuring wild strawberry, pomegranate and star anise alongside flinty mineral notes. Glossy tannins provide elegant support. Drink through 2027. ~92 Wine Enthusiast. 

Pouring from the bottle with a thin, light ruby color, the 2019 Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese Ghiaia Nera is a finely textured wine. This delicate approach and those soft footprints make this bottle quite exciting to pour, especially as an easy companion to a homemade pasta dish. It offers wild cherry, tart berry, cassis, crushed stone, smoke and lavender essence. With 50,000 bottles produced, you get great value here. ~92 Robert Parker.

This wine really surprised me. Offered in an e-mailer from Auburn Spirits, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The wine is a lighter color than you expect.  The flavor is more than you expect – red fruits and a floral essence. No tannins, but good acidity to go with a meal.  I got it for $20 – it is an absolute steal. Recommend.

2020 Caligiore Reserve Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

A punchy Malbec from Mendoza – one of our favourites. Characterful, deep, purply red with a dark fruited nose. To taste, it’s rich and fruity with gentle tannins and a hint of sweetness on the finish.

Caligiore’s Malbec is made from certified organically-grown grapes from the winery’s estate Finca

Cayanta vineyard. With well-drained alluvial, deep loam soils that are perfected suited to Malbec

and winemaker Gustavo Caligiore’s minimalist, naturally-focused winemaking style, the resulting

wine is a classic, top-tier Mendoza Malbec. It offers an intense violet color with black notes and

notable structure but with dark fruit leading the way. The nose has an array of dark berry and violet

fruits and a weighty, unctuous mouthfeel that balances suppleness and light oak notes. The wine

has a long finish with lively acidity and finely grained, integrated tannins.

The Argentina Malbec craze has slowed down. Doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good bottles that are affordable. This is a perfect example – fruit forward with red and black fruit, moderate acid for balance and a moderate aftertaste. Good on its own, but a match for a variety of meals. It’s on the shelf for about $18 – it is a nice South American wine with distinction and fair price. Recommended

2020 Luke Companion Red Blend, Wahluke slope, WA

LUKE Red Blend showcases the opulence and synergy that a Bordeaux red blend can be when a thread of Syrah is layered in. Dark fruits flavors of blackberry and plum integrate with hints of Asian spices, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Tannins are silky smooth woven with good acidity and a long lingering finish.

Luke – I am your Father…Sorry, Star Wars always comes to my mind with this producer. Despite that, this is an excellent producer. All their wines are good – this red blend is a great wine. Added to the typical Bordeaux blend, 14% of shiraz is added.  That really tales this up a notch – dark fruits with essence of spices with a good finish. Light tannins but good acidity for structure.  Another good bottle from Washington state. Priced around $25, recommended

2020 John Duval ‘Entity’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia

93 points “A deeply resonant shiraz from ex-Grange winemaker John Duval from old-vine vineyards in the Barossa Valley subregions of Krondorf, Tanunda, Ebenezer and Moppa, and the Eden Barossa Valley. Deep-set blackberry, satsuma plum and black cherry with hints of licorice, dark chocolate and earth. Powdery gypsum-like tannins, a bright line and a simmering sense of latent power on the concentrated, black-fruit-rich finish.” Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion,

This is a big boy Shiraz from the former Penfolds winemaker. I found it not too fruit forward, like Aussie shiraz can be, but more layered with dark fruits, some herbs and integrated tannins. Balanced wine, although it might be better with a couple years in the cellar. Priced retail at $47, was available at $30 – really nice bottle for that price. Recommended

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

 Wines of March 2023

March, as usual, had its ups and downs with the weather. Hot times and snow, couldn't quite make up it's mind. But we "Marched" right on through it. Let's get to the wines.

NV Bookwalter Notebook Red Blend, Columbia Valley, WA #16

NV Bookwalter Notebook Red Blend, Columbia Valley, WA #16

Another delicious, best buy from Bookwalter. This 16NV Notebook Red is a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 22% Malbec, and Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It leads with fruit forwardness, smooth and juicy with well-structured tannins. Vibrant ruby and translucent red in color, this wine gives off aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, spice, and soft vanilla and finishes with a touch of savory notes.

This was not as good as I remember the other blends. It seemed to be a bit hollow on the middle palate. Not bad, mind you, but not great. Priced around$ 15 (or down to$ 12 online), I can’t give it a high recommendation.

2018 Enrique Foster IQUE Cabernet Franc, Mendoza, Arg

2018 Enrique Foster IQUE Cabernet Franc, Mendoza, Arg

Intense purplish red. Spiced, reminiscent of fresh cherry with a subtle touch of oak. Young and very fruity with balanced acidity.

Ideal wine to accompany seasoned poultry, veal or fish, red meat and food with creamy and dairy sauces. Excellent with chocolate.

JS91James Suckling

Fleshy, ripe red and dark plums pervade the palate with fresh and balanced style. Delicious.

This is a very good Cab Franc –nice flavors of red and black fruits with a hint of Cab franc style that is common to the grape.  A bottle for about $12, this is one well worth finding and drinking.

2018 Three Petite Sirah, Contra Costa, CA

Three Wine Company is a family winery with a strong focus on sustainable viticulture and hands-on winemaking, helmed by winemaker Matt Cline. This petite sirah comes from a vineyard of 100+ year old vines in Contra Costa county, planted by Portuguese and Italian immigrants. Rustic and robust, it yields big flavors of fig, prune, and blackcurrant, with cozy notes of leather, cocoa nibs, baking spice, and licorice. Dense and spicy, this is a brisket-and-blanket kind of wine!

I have met the winemaker and he really does great work. This wine is a powerful Petite Sirah, but is more than just a fruit bomb. Great dark fruit flavor with dark notes. Really good – priced at $20. Buy several, this would be good in another year or two.

2020 Ver Sacrum Geisha Dragon del Desierts, Uco Valley, Arg

This is a co-fermented blend of mostly Viognier with Marsanne and Criolla Blanca. About 10% of the blend is matured in oak under a veil of flor. The nose shows fresh cut white flowers with lemon, dried apricot, and a touch of fresh baked bread. The palate is crisp with white peach, wax bean, and hints of almond paste from the inside of a croissant. Delicious.

Blend: 70% Viogner, 20% Marsanne, 10% Pedro Ximenez

RP90Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The new white 2020 Geisha Dragon del Desierto was produced with 70% Viognier, 20% Marsanne and 10% Pedro Ximenez from Los Chacayes that fermented together after a cold soak of two days with indigenous yeasts in 5,000-liter concrete eggs. Like the 50/50 blend of Roussanne and Marsanne, this also saw 10% of the volume matured in oak casks for eight months under a veil of flor yeasts, while the rest was kept in concrete. This is still young and fruit-driven with some spice and a restrained character, balanced and dry, not exotic or showy. It finishes dry.

A dry white, unique in many ways. Not flinty but with some restrained  sharp edges, it is crisp with the almond and bready hints. Priced at $15, this is a great spring wine.

2021 Planet Oregon Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Classic Oregon Pinot Noir with flavors of ripe dark cherries and Oregon bramble berries. While lithe and versatile, this wine shows a deep core of fruit and has an ample body with substantial richness for a young wine. Firm tannins and notes of spice add to the lingering finish.

JD92Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Pinot Noir Planet Oregon is ripe with sweet aromatics of raspberry liqueur, moss-covered earth, and sweet herbs. The palate is generous and fresh with purple flowers, boysenberry, and cedar.

JS91James Suckling

A fresh, juicy wine with dark strawberry and lemon rind, as well as stone. Medium-bodied with firm, integrated tannins and fresh acidity. Nicely balanced. $1 goes to the Oregon environmental council.

From Anthony Soter, a great drinking Pinot from Oregon.  Nice red fruits with a good body and fresh acidity to make it a good food match.  Well balanced with a modest aftertaste – really good Pinot.  Priced at $20, well worth the money.

2021 Scarpetta Cabernet Franc, Friuli, Italy

Cabernet Franc came to Friuli-Venezia Giulia about the time of Napoleon — so it has been there with Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc for hundreds of years. In the right zones like the Colli Orientali, Cabernet Franc has a chance to be wonderfully herbaceous, have delicate tannins and to be an incredibly complex red wine.

This was not a great Cabernet Franc – lighter and less vibrant than one I listed earlier. A bit more herbs in it, less red fruits. Needed food to bring out more flavors, but overall not impressive. Priced at $20, I can’t say I would seek it out. The pig on the label is funny looking, though.

2017 Prieure de Cenac Malbec, Cahors, France

100% Malbec this wine comes from a selection of parcels on the plateau above the Lot river in Cahors. It's rich and firm, with great wood and spice notes as well as exuberant black plum and berry fruit. With its acidity, still-young tannins and firm texture, it will age well. Best served with a grilled duck, juicy steak with mashed potatoes with truffle oil, truffle risotto and a dark fudge chocolate cake.

This French Malbec had dark fruits and hints of leather. Still had tannins, making it a tad drying. Modest aftertaste, all in all, not a bad bottle. Much tamer than most Argentina Malbecs. Priced around $20, nice to have to compare to South America.

2019 Koehler-Rupert Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany

James Suckling

A light and fruity pinot noir that does what we expect a Bourgogne rouge to do, that is delight with bright cherry fruit that is married to a supple body and lively but not tart acidity. With a little aeration, nice, rooty complexity develops and some healthy tannin shows its hand. Moderate length, but very good harmony at the finish.

You will never mistake this for a California Pinot –  more earthy, lightly tannic with hints of black cherry. Not a bad bottle, but only for folks that want European Pinot for about $30. BTW, normally, this is called Spatburgunder in Germany.

Time continues to fly past - hope you are doing well. Until next month, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 WINES of February 2023

A short month that seems to last for a really long time. Here's this month's line up

2019 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne

This wine is a beautiful green gold color with silver and grey highlights. It has a charming lemon aroma, with very soft vanilla accents. The flavor is minerally, ample, and round with lingering acidity.

Enjoy with grilled fish, seafood and charcuterie.

Domaine Vigne au Roy Hautes Cotes de Nuit Blanc is a bright and delicious wine that's perfect for your next dinner party. Its fruity nose and medium body make it a winner with any dish, the mineral notes of yellow fruit give it depth and character. So order a bottle today and see what all the fuss is about.

WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2019 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Domaine Vigne au Roy is aromatic and delivers excellent energy on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with fragrant aromas and flavors of brisk, tart fruit. Try it with shellfish and pasta in a light cream sauce.

Very flinty and crisp, a very nice Chardonnay in a European style. Priced around $25 -30, was a gift.

2014 Revelry Range, Walla Walla, Washington

The 2014 Revelry Vintners 'Range' Grenache/Syrah is a deep and warm wine that showcases this hot vintage in Washington state. This begins with aromatics of red cherry, smoked brisket and black cherry with black olive. There are deep flavors of black cherry, black olive, smoked meats that connect to the velvety texture and plush mouthfeel. This wine is impossible to resist right now, but will cellar well into the next decade. (Best 2017-2027)

Range is a blend of Grenache from the southern reaches of Washington State, and Syrah grown 100 miles to the north. The product of two classic Rhone varietals, each grown in vastly distinct locales, this wine is a sultry, and incredibly balanced array of flavor. It is the extent to which, or the limits between which variation is possible.

A very nice American Rhone style wine, with a fresh berry nose and great red fruits with a good mouthfeel. Well worth the $20 price tag.

2020 Akutain Cosecha, Rioja Alta, Spain

 

Cosecha The Akutain Cosecha is comprised of mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, is fermented in fiberglass vats with native yeasts and raised for a short time in the same fiber glass vats. A delicious wine to pair with a variety of Tapas, and a pure example of Rioja Alta terruño.

Akutain's Rioja Cosecha is a blend of mostly Tempranillo with a small amount of Garnacha. The grapes are fermented using native yeasts in fiberglass tanks and matured for a short time in the same vats. The wine is youthful and very expressive delivering an abundance of high-toned, red fruit character with background flavors of spice. On the palate, the wine is fresh and juicy with a medium body and light, airy finish. Pair with a wide range of tapas from chorizo to gambas al ajillo to assorted meat pintxos.

A vibrant red wine that felt more like a Rhone wine instead of Spanish. Red fruits and a moderate body, this wine was good sipping and foods. Great buy at $20 – no real tannins so something to buy and drink.

 

2021 Stolpman La Cuadrilla, Ballard Canyon, CA

2021 Cuadrilla opens up with dark ripe plum highlighted with bright fresh red berries. Deep and supple with fine chalky tannins already married with a smooth, polished texture. An alluring otherness of wet stones, mint, and mocha prevail from the nose through the mouth captivating the senses beyond just the magnificently pleasurable profile.

Blend: 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache, 10% Sangiovese

RP92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A blend of 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 10% Sangiovese, the 2021 La Cuadrilla has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of cassis, blueberry preserves, violet, earth and autumn leaves. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet light on its feet with bright acidity, dusty tannins and a long, spicy finish. Profits of the Caudrilla go to Stolpman's full-time crew of 30 employees. Best After 2022

JD90Jeb Dunnuck

Spiced red fruits, dried herbs, leather, and exotic flower notes emerge from the 2021 La Cuadrilla Red Wine, a juicy, medium-bodied, delicious red to drink in its youth.

A very well made wine with red fruits with nuances of earth and herbs. Moderate finish, with nice body – held up to heavier meals.  Another great buy at $20 – this one could age a few years, as well.

Hope you are all well. Remember, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grparevines

 Wines of January 2023

Running a little behind - had a stomach bug that knocked me for a loop. I'll spare you the details

2011 Amalia Barolo Montforte ‘d’Alba, Italy

Red berry, rose and anise aromas mingle in the glass. The firm palate is still closed, but offers raw red berry, menthol, sage and anisette. It's still rather primary but has the structure to evolve and develop complexity. Drink after 2019.  RATING91

Founded in 2003, Amalia have produced a lovely Barolo made from two small vineyard sites; one hectare in Le Coste and two hectares in Bussia. Initial flavours of plum and raspberry develop on the palate, gaining slightly meaty and herbal notes. This is an elegant style that can be drunk from an early stage in its lifespan.

This was an excellent wine – aged to perfection. Light red fruits with a nice acidity level to match with hearty foods. Held this in my cellar for a couple years, got it on sale for around $30. Wonderful wine for any occasion – Happy New Years to me!

2017 Provenance Merlot, Napa Valley, CA

This structured, fruit forward wine showcases the distinctiveness of Napa Valley with ripe blueberry and plum flavors accompanied by layers of herbal spice.

JS94James Suckling

Attractive combination of green olives, dark fruit and tea follow through to a full body with round, savory tannins. Refined, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

"Soft elongated tannins wrap around a thick body of hugely concentrated black fruit and a wealth of oak in this brawny wine. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings adhere to the variety's characteristic earthiness." Wine Enthusiast

A Cabernet drinkers Merlot – full bodied with great red and dark fruits. Great body for having with food, the aftertaste lingers. Some tannins still left – got it closed out at $20 – a real steal.

2017 Peachy Canyon Cirque du Vin, Paso Robles, CA

Deep garnet & brick in color. Clear margin. Warm and smooth. Caramel, raspberry, black currant, eucalyptus nose. Tart black cherry, raspberry preserves, and black currant.

Blend: 54% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah

Not an overly impressive wine – got better on the second day. Decent red fruits and some spice, but not overwhelming in any way.  It was close-out at $15, just alright for the price. Pretty label.

2018 Tabali Pedregoso Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, Maipo, Chile

Tasting Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense ruby in color, this Cabernet Sauvignon is notable for its good body and structure. It has upfront aromas of cherries, violets, cassis, and smoke, complemented by hints of toast. Well-rounded on the palate, with balanced, silky tannins and great structure, it achieves a good balance between fresh acidity and abundant fruit.

Reviews

The 2019 Pedregoso Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is the entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon from their coastal DOM vineyard with colluvial soils, which has more similarities with Alto Maipo, slightly cooler. It was planted with a massal selection they got from the old Santa Rita vineyards. This has a little more clay, and the wine is rounder and more approachable. It's harmonious and balanced and was matured in neutral, well-seasoned oak barrels, so they respect the fruit. They have produced 216,000 bottles of this wine, their largest volume. It was bottled in December 2019. ~90 Points Robert Parker

This was very enjoyable – as usual a touch of Chilean funk upon opening, but nothing too bad. Mostly red fruits with some herb notes. Nicely put together, great mouth feel and body for food. Got it at $12, really good wine for school night wine or anytime.

2020 Ventisquero Chardonnay ‘Tara”, Atacama, Chile

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Profile: The nose reveals fruit, such as sweet cucumbers and apricots, as well as floral notes. As you sip the wine, it evolves in the glass.

Pairings: Oysters, sea urchins, oily fish and white meat. It’s a fresh, nervous, mineral wine. The mouth is tense and well-structured. The chalkiness and salinity of the soil come through in the palate. The nose reveals fruit, such as sweet cucumbers and apricots, as well as floral notes. As you sip the wine, it evolves in the glass. This is not a classic style of Chardonnay and we attribute this to its very particular and unique terroir. The Pacific Ocean has a major influence on the vineyard, producing morning fog, known locally as the “Camanchaca,” and strong winds, which cool the vines, making this a desert with cool climate conditions. The area is very arid and the soils are chalky and saline.

A unique Chardonnay – not the buttery chard or even the usual unoaked type.  Lots of minerality and salinity – made me think of eating raw fish. The fruit never overcomes these features in this wine. Can’t say it was great – needs a plate of seafood to make it best. Priced over $30, I’ll probably say skip this

2015 Vintisquero Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Grey’, Maipo, Chile

 

A lovely Chilean red wine made from Cabernet grapes planted on vines that grow in granite soils of the winery's Trinidad Vineyard. This is located in the cool climate and coastal region of the Maipo Valley. Aromas of fleshy ripe black plums, spice, smoke, graphite and cigar box. Pair with a pepper steak.

Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: potato and chick pea stew, grilled sirloin steak

A modest Cabernet from Chile – at its best now (no further aging). Decent dark fruit flavors and a touch of spice and earth.  Not a long finish, decent enough with food. Available around $20, not bad -not great.

2018 Grey Single Block Carmenere, Maipo, Chile

RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I tasted two vintages of the Carmenere, and the 2018 Grey Carmenere shows a lot more restraint and austerity than the more generous 2019 I tasted next to it. So, both wines show varietal typicity and marked character from the vintage, plus the stony soils from Maipo where the grapes grow. This is a little more herbal and sharp despite showing very similar parameters.

Spicy cherry, plum and cola aromas on the nose of this wine set up a tight palate with rubbery tannins. Cherry and plum flavors come with a fair amount of oak spice that settles on burnt toast. Modest heat rises up on a short but aggressive finish.

A nicely made Carmenere, very full bodied with modest tannins. Mostly red fruits with hints of oakiness, in a good drinking zone right now. Good body for matching heavier foods. Priced around $20, well worth the money

2019 Vintisquero Vertice Red Blend, Apalta, Chile

Deep red with violet hues. The nose reveals black fruit, such as blackberries, intermingled with gentle spices, such as black pepper, damp earth, notes of native forest and a hint of graphite and soft spices. This wine has a firm structure and silky tannins. Its black fruit and spicy flavors, together with medium to high acidity lend it balance in the mouth and persistence in the finish.

Critical Acclaim

D96Decanter      Offers glossy dark fruits, smoky hints, and classic Apalta eucalyptus notes. The palate is crunchy and fresh with lively acidity and fine tannins. Young, but so poised and age-worthy. A seriously impressive style that will improve. Blend : 51% Carmenère, 49% Syrah

I call this a heavy duty wine – hardy black and dark red fruits with some spices in the palate.  Tannins are present but not overwhelming – would be best with another year or three of aging. Holds up well to heavy foods – very nice wine. Priced in the $30 range, worth seeking out.

 

Another month, another year. Hoping you and yours are doing well. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of December 2022

You realize your old (or getting there) when you talk about how wacky the weather has been - you know, bitter cold, then springlike. At least we made it through the Holidays. How about some wine talk?

2017 Brancaia Tre Toscana Rosso, Tuscany, Italy

Plenty of density and richness, but a fine line of acidity and freshness. Structured and quite long on the finish. Aromas of black berries, licorice, dried herbs and black pepper. This elegant, well-structured cuvée offers plenty of drinking pleasure now or later and goes well with every kitchen.

Blend: 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is ideal with pasta and rice dishes, light roasted or sautéed meat, poultry, fried or grilled fish. Our favorite: with Vitello Tonnato with fresh capers.

JS93James Suckling

Good focus and intensity to the nose here, folding in licorice, dried herbs, black pepper and Chinese spices. Full body, plenty of density and richness, but a fine line of acidity and freshness. Structured and quite long on the finish.

Very nice Italian wine – modest nose of red fruits but a nice mouth feel with red and black fruits and some herbs. Nice acidity to go with many foods, although some thing Italian really went great. Usually around$ 22, I got it for under $18, well worth the price

2018 Chateau Des Demoiselles Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, France

This rich, fruity and wood-aged wine promises balance from the blackberry fruits and generous tannins. At the moment, a dry core shows strongly, but this will soften. Drink from 2021. RATING88

Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of dried berries, apricot tart a la mode, starched linen, and licorice with a satiny, vibrant, dryish medium body and a charming, medium-long finish that exhibits accents of cocoa-dusted dried berries and olives with crunchy, drying tannins. A round and rewarding Red that will complement a fine meal.

A fairly young but tasty red from France – nose was ref fruits and hints of floral. In the mouth, darker fruits with some spice mixed with moderate tannins. Pleasant aftertaste and good balance to fit a meal. Got it at $12, worth buying several for the cellar and drinking over a few years.

2015 Vilosell Red wine Costers del Segre, Spain

TASTING NOTES OF 2015 Vilosell : View: cherry color, violet hues. Nose: red berries, blackberries, blueberries, spices like pepper and clove, toasted aromas of good wood. Mouth: Intense, voluminous, friendly, fine sweet tannins and ripe forest fruits. Long and persistent, a sweet explosion of red fruits. APPELLATION: Costers del Segre. VINES: Tomás Cusiné GRAPES: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot and Syrah. AGEING: 9 months in French oak barrels. PREPARATION: malolactic fermentation in. ALCOHOL CONTENT: 14.5%

Very closed nose, this wine took a few minutes to open up. When it did, it had a good bunch of red fruits, herbs and spices. Pleasing aftertaste, no real tannins but good body as a food wine. Close out price $10, a nice wine for everyday.

2018 Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras

A worthy comparison between the Vacqueyras and Cuvée Romaine can be made. Whereas the Romaine trades on a fruitier, more easy-going structure, the Vacqueyras is altogether different. Seeing an additional 6 months in tank it possesses a notable meaty quality with firmer tannins and a seriously dense core of black fruit and iron.

Should you find yourself with a fairly large piece of beef or lamb on your hands you’d be hard–pressed for a more suitable assistant at the table.

WE93Wine Enthusiast

Sun-kissed raspberries and rose petals perfume this bright, penetrating blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It's a surprising contrast to this producer's equally delicious but significantly brawnier 2017 bottling. Full bodied but freshly composed, it highlights crisp red-plum and cherry flavors lifted by a mineral undertow and brisk acidity. This lovely wine is ready now

JD91Jeb Dunnuck

More rounded and fleshy than the 2017, yet also tannic, the 2018 Vacqueyras has classic notes of red and black fruits, garrigue, and pepper. Based on 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre, brought up all in tank, it’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age yet keep for upwards of a decade.

Southern Rhone, one of my favorite wine areas. This wine does have a bit of a meaty quality, but in a good way. Heavy body with red and black fruits, spices and some herbaceousness with some tannic backbone. A wine that cries out for food, this heavyweight could take a few years of aging in the cellar. Priced normally around $30, I got it for $23 on an email special from Matt at Auburn. Great wine.

2016 Chateau St. Jean Reserve 8555 Cuvee, Sonoma, Ca

This aged cuvée is likably smooth, rich and well integrated, with a velvety plushness that appeals. Red and black cherry, mocha and traces of vanilla mingle around a soft core of full-bodied ripeness and moderate structure. VIRGINIE BOONE   RATING91

This is a wine club special, I believe, the 8555 being the wineries street address.  This cuvee is made with the 5 Bordeaux grapes in an unspecified number. I would guess mostly merlot with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot to make the structure. Wine was very smooth, with nice balance – mostly red fruits with hints of herbs. Went well with a meal and had a moderate aftertaste. Bottle was a gift, but Wine-searcher has it for $75 – 125. I had it with Christmas dinner and is was very good.

2021 Thistledown ‘Thorny Devil Grenache, McLaren Vale, Aus

RP 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Aromas of savory spice, hung deli meat and blood fill the senses, but it is in the mouth where the purity and succulence of the fruit is revealed. This 2021 Thorny Devil Grenache is long and savory, sweet and fine, built into a framework of pliable tannin and exotic spice. Balanced and exciting.

JS93James Suckling

Dense aromas of baked red cherry, strawberry, black tea and rosemary. Full-bodied with succulent red fruit and spice. The silky tannins are well structured and guide the palate through an even-keeled finish. White pepper spice. Nicely composed. Vegan. Drink or hold.

 

An unusually heavy weight Grenache from Australia – surprising how well this wine showed. Red fruits, some meatiness and herbs fill the mouth, supported by light tannins.  A bit of a surprise, but a really nice wine priced under $30. Awesome label, too.

2020 Domaine Chateaumar ‘Cuvee Vincent’ Cotes-du-Rhone 2020, Southern Rhone, FRA

 

Blend: 100% Syrah           Aging: 8 to 10 months in concrete tanks

Cuvée Vincent is made from 50+ year-old vines growing on two parcels bordering Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its unusual composition of 100% Syrah imbues it with the smoky aromas and meaty, savory flavors more associated with the legendary wines of Hermitage and Côte-Rotie in the Northern Rhône, but with the generosity of tart cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and dark spices one expects from the more lush Southern Rhône. A rich and complex wine unlike any other Côtes-du-Rhône you’ll find, and one that will elevate a wood-grilled ribeye, roast duck, braised lamb shanks, game, or any hearty dish to sublimity.

Most Cote-du-Rhones (CDR) are a blend of grapes – this one was all syrah. Normally, the Northern Rhone wines are all Syrah, but this is a southern Rhone wine.  A hearty and heady wine, very enjoyable with the smoky French style Syrah (ain’t no Aussie Shiraz) with red and blue fruits and that spice blend that you can’t name. Balanced and a food ready wine, a steal at $24, on special for $20.

2013 Emilio Moro ‘Malleolus’ Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Of a deep mature cherry color, this wine stands out for the intensity and quality of the sensations it offers. From black fruit aromas to strong and mature tannins that fill our mouth. The integration of fruit and wood offers an exquisite balance.

JS92James Suckling

Elegant and deep nose of candied red fruit and petal character. Full body, soft tannins and a caressing, long and flavorful finish. Drink now.

This is a ready to drink wine from Ribera del Douro.  Mouthful of red and black fruits with a touch of sagebrush and herbs, this wine has a good balance for its weight.  Good finish that lingers, excellent with red meats – close out priced at $34; hard to beat a wine from that region at that price.

2019 Royal Prince Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

A plush, opulent, densely textured, full-bodied wine that shows loads of black raspberry fruits, violets, shaved cocoa with polished, sweet tannins. The 2019 Royal Prince Cab is dark and almost opaque in color. It shows aromas of truffle, black cherry, and licorice.

The 2019 takes over where its predecessor left off – a massive over-achiever. The NDA on the sources for this wine is long and littered with iconic names. At once powerful and richly textured, it also shows flashy acidity and great persistence in the finish.

JD93Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is rock star stuff and delivers a classic Napa level of richness and depth while staying pure, clean, and beautifully balanced. Lots of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, spice, and hints of tobacco all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a rich, fleshy, opulent mouthfeel, good tannins, and a great finish. Don't miss this sexy, concentrated, impeccably made Cabernet!

Very much a Napa Cabernet with dark fruits, a little graphite, spices and a touch of chocolate. Moderate tannins (could cellar for a few years) and a nice clean finish. Sufficent body for food, a well made Cab from overpriced land.  Original price $50 – which is a good deal, Matt has it on close-out at $30.

 

Another Month gone by and now a New Year. Stay well and safe. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of November, 2022

I haven't finished my notes about the 2012 California red wines we had, so I'll finish the November listing first. Typical Fall weather - hot and cold and everything in between but rain.

2016 Finca Collado Fet A Ma Hecho A mano Fait main , Alicante, Spain

GRAPE: 85% Monastrell 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINEYARD: Monastrell vines of over 40 years of age, located throughout the municipal area of Salinas, intermingled with Garnacha, Bobal and Forcallat. On honest, sandy and slightly saline soils low-goblet vines with a production limited to 2 kg per vine naturally.  30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon strains located in Finca Collado on sandy soil.

Fet a mà is a very expressive and tasty wine, where the Monastrell, the degree of maturity and the breeding are fused in a perfect balance.

VISUAL: High-intensity color, without reaching saturation.

NOSE: In the nose it is very intense, with a very well-combined aromas of fruits, balsamics, licorice and coffee, very complex.

MOUTH: In the mouth, it has a good entry, silky, and tasty entry on the palate, with a little ripe tannin. In the finish, a slight acidity and balsamic aftertaste brings the perfect balance to the wine.

I got this on close out for under $9; of the three Finca Collado wines, this was showing the best. Not much in the way of tannins left, but the fruit was still expressive of dark fruits and hints of earth. Really nice everyday wine.

2018 Regina Viarum Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

A young red wine made from grapes Mencia, fermented in stainless steel tanks and a brief stint in French oak and American. A craftsmanship that every year reports to the winery numerous awards: Regina Viarum won the award for Best tinto de Galicia 2010; Best young red wine from the Ribera Sacra 2010 and 2011; and Baco de Oro 2011 the best young red wine from Spain, becoming one of the most laureates wines, not only de Ribera Sacra, but Galicia.

Another close out, but I really like Mencia from Spain. Very little oak influence, but the fruit is bright – red berry and touches of acidity. Under $15, this is a good wine for grilled food and roasted meats.  Nice, try it if you can.

2019 Andrew Murray Watch hill Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA

The 2019 vintage was just truly magical at Watch Hill Vineyard, allowing for a long even ripening window, and several different harvest dates. This allowed us to bring in the Syrah with several different flavor profiles. Harvest began in the middle of October and finished two weeks later. As you all must know by now, this is perhaps my favorite Syrah vineyard and thus my favorite wine to release each year. Critics have been praising this wine since our first Watch Hill bottling. More importantly, you all have really seemed to appreciate this wine as it always sells out VERY quickly. Each vintage, we co-ferment up to 6% Viognier and employ up to 25% whole cluster fermentation. We ferment the wine in small open top tanks and then age the various lots for 18 months in French oak barrels (25% new). This yields an impossibly dark garnet (nearly black) color, with neon tinges at the rim, pointing at the cool climate origins. Right now, the wine has notes of ripe cherry, pepper, flowers, charred bacon, tar, and just a hint of toasty oak. The ideal drinking window for this Syrah is 4 - 12 years from today.

Not just Andrew Murray, but a single vineyard, Oh my. This is a great tasting wine with cherry and berry fruits and a touch of oak. Tannins are very fine grained and the wine has good balance. It runs around $30, but well worth every penny. What a Syrah should be – no over-the-top fruit bomb, but a dense and tasty wine.

2018 Sanford La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, CA

La Rinconada Chardonnay is very expressive, displaying lemon confit and wet rocks while a touch of hazelnut adds charm. Bright, detailed, and nuanced, La Rinconada Chardonnay has a lot going on aromatically, while the minerally stone fruits on the palate are racy with a long finish.

This classic Chardonnay pairs well with sushi, Asian dishes, or a simple cheese plate.

WE93Wine Enthusiast

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

WS90Wine Spectator

Minerally style, with fresh-cut apple, citrus and green pear flavors that are focused and direct. Lemongrass notes linger on the structured finish. Drink now through 2024.

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

RATING93           PRICE$50

I don’t know the price besides what the Wine Enthusiast has in the review. This was my Thanksgiving wine, a gift from my brother. The minerality of this wine is wonderful, with soft fruits and hints of citrus.

I ended up drinking it all because it was so smooth and had good balance to be with the meal.  Really nice bottle of Chardonnay.

2018 Andis EN OR, Sierra Foothills, CA

Rich but balanced, this full-bodied wine integrates ripe black cherry and blackberry with nuances of woodsmoke and cocoa wrapped in velvety tannins. Made with one-third each of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, it offers plenty of flavor and polish. JIM GORDON

RATING92           PRICE$45             VARIETYRhône-style Red Blend

APPELLATIONSierra Foothills, Sierra Foothills, California, US

My wine buddy Matt had me try this – priced under $20, I find it to be a very nice bottle of Rhone style grapes. Black fruits dominate though some oak comes through with light tannins. Good balance, making it a good wine for meals. No doubt, this is a good Rhone Ranger example from California.

2020 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso, Campania, Italy

The Vesuvio DOC area is characterized by volcanic, loose soils, very rich in minerals and well-draining. The exposure is mainly South-East facing. Positioned 170m a.s.l., the vines are albarello-trained (head-trained) and Guyot-pruned, with a plant density of 2,500 vines/ha. Average age of the vines is 15 years.

Hand harvested in October, grapes are fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperatures. Refinement in bottle one month prior to release.

Ruby red. Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries, and black pepper. Refined, light tannins and bright acidity make this a lifting, fruity wine. Pair with salumi, tomato and meat-based sauces and pizza Margherita.

This wine did not jump out on the nose – maybe still a little young? Nice red fruits on the palate, not much in tannins. Excellent balance that made it go really well with a meal. Available around $25, this is the entry wine for this producer (Mastroberardino) – made 100% from Piedirosso grapes.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico Irpinia, Campania, Italy

Ruby red. This fresh, youthful red has notes of strawberry, cherry, blackberry and violet flowers. The palate is smooth, medium-bodied, with red fruits on the palate and a fruity finish. Pairs well with a variety of light appetizers, fresh tomato sauce-based dishes and roasted chicken.

This wine, the entry to the Aglianico they grow has a broader nose and quite a bit of red and dark fruit notes. There is a modest aftertaste, with a few tannins in the mix. Good balance and a great wine to pair with Italian dishes and other meals. Priced under $25, nice price for this wine.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico ‘Re di More’, Campania, Italy

Deep ruby red. A complex and enveloping bouquet offers aromas of red fruits, particularly strawberry and raspberry, and spices such as vanilla, tobacco, cocoa, and coffee. This is a warm, enveloping wine with great structure and notable softness. Pair with salumi, mushroom and truffle dishes, as well as meat sauces and game.

V92Vinous

Crushed stone gives way to sweet exotic spices, then hints of curry, and finally crushed blackberries and plums as the 2019 Irpinia Aglianico Re di More comes to life in the glass. This is silky and polished upon entry, gaining depths through mineral-tinged black fruits, savory herbs and rosy inner florals that form toward the close. Seamless from start to finish, the Re di More tapers off with a concentration of tart raspberries and hints of violet pastille that last incredibly long. This suave expression of pure Aglianico is going to win a lot of hearts. You get a little bit of new barrique spice, and it’s wonderfully integrated. This drinks like a baby Taurasi, but it’s much more accessible. Best after 2023.

The next step up for Aglianico is the ‘Re di imore’. This wine is fuller than the last one, with a lot of expressive red fruits and a good balance. Longer aftertaste, with a little hint of tannins. This wine is drinking well with a meal right now, but has stability to last a few years in your cellar. Retail is about $35 and well worth every penny.

 

2017 Mastroberardino ‘Radici’ Taurasi, Campania, Italy

#84 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022

Deep ruby red. Full, complex and intense, with notes of cherry, violet, wild berries, and a distinctive spicy aroma. This elegant wine has flavors of plum, black cherry, strawberry and intense spices.

Pair with mature cheeses, truffles, porcini mushrooms, Ragout and other dishes with long cooked sauces and roasted red meats.

V94Vinous

The 2017 Taurasi Radici is a force to be reckoned with, as it bursts from the glass with masses of raspberries, currants and plums, complemented by an array of autumnal spices and crushed violets. Its textural depth and density is something to behold, silky, almost creamy, yet contrasted perfectly by a core of mineral-laced black fruits and brisk acids, as an air of inner rose and cloves forms toward the close. The 2017 is persistent and structured yet also unbelievably fresh, as fine tannins frame its smoky mineral tones, along with lasting hints of blackberry and olive. This is a gorgeous rendition of Radici that should provide readers with a slightly earlier drinking window than normally expected. That said, we are talking in terms of Taurasi here, and this wine has a very bright future ahead of it.

JS93James Suckling

Complex already on the nose with blue and black fruit, as well as notes of nori, goudrons and spices, such as cinnamon and mace. Full-bodied with intense, almost steely fruit and mineral flavors and firm, medium-grain tannins. The quality is evident here. It’s just a bit rough at the moment and needs a couple of years to calm down and expand in all directions. Try from 2023.

This is the “Big Daddy” of this group. This wine is huge – broad shouldered and a tannic beast. Not undrinkable, but you know it when you get it in your mouth. I would cellar this for 3 to 5 years. The red fruits that are in it will stay with age and the tannins will back down. Excellent balance to have with a meal, although right now I’d have it with a rare steak. In a couple years, it will go with any heavier type dish, Italian or other. Priced around $65, this is a wine well worth its price.

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