Recent articles
2018 La Antigua Clasico Rioja Blanco, Spain, Wine Review
2022 Shilda Winery Rustaveli Saperavi Qvevri, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review
2018 Campogiovanni (San Felice) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review
Ruby in color with some browning, mostly clear and bright. Great nose with cherries, sandalwood, and tea leaves. Medium to full bodied. Great balance and acidity. Nice "slick" texture. Medium tannins. On the palate, flavors of black cherries with an interesting cola note and some earthiness. Long finish. This needs another five years in a good cellar to really take that next step, but patience will be rewarded. The score should jump one to three points. Great on its own but better with food. Osso Bucco would be a great food pairing.
2019 San Felice Vigorello Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review
2021 San Felice Chianti Classico Il Grigio Riserva, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review
Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is initially tight but with air opens to show cherries, black cherries, and slight cough drop. very clean. Plush texture, full bodied with firm tannins. Greatt mough puckering acidity. On the palate cherries and tart cherries with a hint of mint on the finish. Long, clean finish. This is young but drinking well. The acidity/grape makes it better with food. After all, it is Italian. This would be great with Spaghetti and meatballs. Drink over the next ten years.
2020 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Nipozzano Riserva, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review
This is a great value in Chianti and in fact red wine in general. Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spices, hay, slight mocha and mint. Medium bodied. Medium tannins. Good acidity. On the palate, flavors of cherries, earth and forest floor. An interesting menthol note on the long finish. This is made for food. A great choice to pasta with a tomato based sauce. Or a mid-week pizza. Drink over the next five to eight years.
2022 Bella Sirena Falanghina Beneventano, Italy, Campania, Wine Review
This is 100% Falanghina from Campagna, Italy. Pale silvery gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with limes and meyer lemons and a bit of salinity. Medium bodied. A nice backbone of acidity. On the palate, this drinks easy. Flavors of lemons, slight limes and a slight almond note on the finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. A great choice for pasta with a butter or garlic sauce. Drink over the next couple of years.
2014 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review
This is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc from one of the great vineyards of Napa. Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright. The nose is brilliant with chocolate covered cherries (including the liqeuer), spice and char. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Great energy and balance. On the palate, this is incredibly smooth. Also deep and complex. Flavors of black cherries, cherries, tobacco, chocolate and earthiness. Long finish. Delicious. This was wonderful on its own, but would be nice with roasted duck or chicken. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.
1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review
Stod up for a few weeks. Decanted right before serving for sediment. Yowza! One of the best showing for this bottle which sadly was my last. Purple in color with ruby swirls, opaque and bright. The nose is so nice with cassis, graphite leather, spice and slight char. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Great energy and balance. On the palate, this is complex, deep and delicious. Layers of cassis, spice, earthiness and char. Long finish. Certainly at peak. it went great with Pasta in a red cream sauce. Drink them if you have any as while they may last, it won't get better.