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2021 Weingut Knoll Riesling Smaragd Reid Loibenberg, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Stunning wine.  Silvery/green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has sulfur and minerals.  The sulfur should blow off soon as this was bottled recently before I visited the winery.  Medium to full bodied.  Excellent acidity.  Great texture.  On the palate, this has nice minerality with some grapefruit notes.  Long finish.  This is still young but should drink well with some air.  It should last for another fifteen to twenty years if well stored.  Very food friendly, this will go great with crab cakes.  

2020 Weingut Knoll Gelber Traminer Smaragd, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Another interesting wine that one does not see very often.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a classic scent of lychee nuts.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous texture.  Dry.  On the palate, some lychees along with a nice minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks nicely now on its own and would work well with Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2021 Weingut Knoll Gelber Muskateller Federspiel Loiben, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a very interesting wine.  It is a bit sweet but not cloying or dessert level.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty.  Very floral.  Medium bodied.  Viscous texture.  On the palate, the floral aspects come thru.  Long finish.  This is a pretty wine that drinks well now and should continue for another five to eight years.  It drinks easily and on the lighter side on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Tuna salad would be a nice match for lunch.

2021 Weingut Knoll Riesling Federspiel Loibner, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Tasted at the winery.  12% ABV.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with wet rocks and a slight lemony note.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the lemon notes are a bit stronger.  Good minerality.  Long finish.  This is a bit lighter in style but still has depth and complexity.  It is drinking well now and should continue for the next ten to twelve years.  Very food friendly.  It is dry.  It should work very well with Thai food.  

Gary Farrell 2020 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Selection

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Gary Farrell has always produced interesting Pinot’s – meaning, not the typical California strawberry driven kind. And this 2020 is no exception. Pulled from seven different vineyards, the art is in the blending. Upfront there is pomegranate, plum, green apple, then it turns to black tea, black raspberry, mild strawberry, dried tobacco, light cola and coriander. The acidity is solid and the tannins appropriate to the task. This is what comes from the art of the blend.

2021 Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibenberg, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This was my favorite of the 2021 GV's tasted at the winery.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is full of minerals with a bit of "slate" notes.  Slightly oily texture.  Medium to full bodied.  Light but present tannins.  On the palate, limes, minerals and wet rock notes.  Good acidity.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This had just been bottled, so will likely improve over the next couple of years.  This should drink well for ten to twelve years.  This would work quite well with a Thai green curry dish.  

2021 Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Schütt, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This had just been bottled when I tasted it at the winery.  It should be even better with just a bit of bottle age. Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is more about minerality than fruit though there is a slight note of lime.  What a great, slightly oily texture.  Rich yet crisp.  On the palate, it is still more about minerality although the limes come thru a bit more.  Complex.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This will improve with a year or so of patience.  Drink over the next ten years.  This would go great with breaded and fried foods (chicken or pork)!

2021 Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Ried Trum, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Another winner from Knoll in the excellent 2021 vintage.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has asparagus, and white pepper.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has concentrated lime notes.  A bit of asparagus on the finish.  Long.  Deep.  Well balanced.  This would go well with lighter foods or even a not too spicy Chinese pork dish.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2021 Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Ried Kreutles Loibner, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Light silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with slight limes, asparagus and a slight white pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, lemon/lime notes.  Good acidity.  Some minerality.  Deep.  Long finish.  This is light on its feet but serious enough to stand up to moderately heavy foods.  It would be nice with fish tacos.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Landmark Vineyards 2020 Overlook Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

Landmark has consistently produced this affordable, classic California Chardonnay, and 2020 repeats history. A terrific balance of all the essentials for Chardonnay, good fruit sourced from well-established vineyards, malolactic fermentation, oak aging, natural yeast, all judiciously applied. This offers lemon, lime, white peach, Asian pear, guava, light mango, resin, a wisp of butterscotch while still providing a solid acidity. There is also a nice creaminess - a viscosity that makes this ideal with a variety of foods.

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