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2020 Sean Minor Pinot Noir, USA, California

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a solid Pinot and very reasonably priced.  Unfortunately, there does seem to be some smokiness to it. Is this related to the fires that ravaged California in 2020? Unknown.  It is a light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has smoke and some nice strawberries with a touch of cranberries.  light bodied.  The palate seems cleaner wit cherries and strawberries.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with salmon.  Drink over the next couple of years. 

2021 Domaine Pierre Martin Sancerre Rosé Chavignol

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir based Rose from the Loire Valley in France.  Very refreshing at 13% abv.  Light salmon/pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  Medium bodied.  Lightly viscous.  On the palate, a bit of a sweet tart note along with some tart orange notes especially on the finish.  This wine will work better with some food to tame the acidity. A summertime watermelon and feta cheese salad would be perfect.  Drink over the next year or two.  

2021 Lieu Dit Melon, USA, California, Santa Maria Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

My first time trying this and what a delightful wine.  11.7% abv.  Light yellow/silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with minerality and slight citrus.  light bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is about minerality.  A Californian version of Muscadet.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and would be great with oysters or other shellfish.  Drink over the next few years.

2017 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée, USA, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a bigger version of Condrieu than the more floral versions.  It sees 9 months of French Oak sitting on its lees.  100% Viognier.  The nose has vanilla, citrus and lemon verbena.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  Slight almond notes.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  Does bigger equate to more serious?  Not necessarily, but this is drinking quite well at age 5 and should continue to drink well for another five to eight years.  This will work well with Foie Gras for those who eat that but also pasta prima vera.  

2020 Viña Nora Albariño Rías Baixas Nora, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This has always been a favorite value wine.  Although the wine sees no oak, it spends four months on the lees leaving a creamy texture and notes that resemble oak.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some vanilla, along with pears and lanolin.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a nice green apple note with plenty of energy.  A bit of salinity on the finish.  This drinks well on its own and would pair quite well with shellfish.  Drink over the next few years.  

2020 Bien Nacido Estate Viognier Viognier - Santa Maria Valley, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Honestly, I love Viognier from the Rhone Valley, but less so the full throttle Viogniers from California (usually with high alcohol).  Despite that disclaimer, I really enjoyed this.  Unique and different as it is.  Golden in color with green swirls.  The nose has green apples, slight floral notes and just a hint of peach.  Nice acidity.  Oily texture.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, the apples are present with a light minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks easy on its own and will work with some lighter foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2016 Chartron et Trébuchet Mâcon-Villages, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Grade: 

Unfortunately, this showed way too much oxidation for a wine this young.  While White Burgundy has had issues with premox, this also utilized an artificial closure, so what the cause was is unknown.  It had been bought on release and well stored, so that is not likely the cause.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with apple juice and slight lemon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some lemon fruit but also a bitter almond note.  Not Rated.

2016 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Domaine Eden, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is a "second" wine from Mount Eden, one of California's premier wine producers.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, apple juice, and a slight lemony note.  Medium to full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, there is a sweet tart note with a slight oxidized lemony note.  Moderate acidity.  This is very mature,  not likely to be a pristine bottle, this showed much older than six years.  

2020 Alpha Estate Malagousia Xelones (Turtles) Vineyard, Greece, Florina, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a white wine from Western MAcedonia in Northern Greece.  This is a white wine, golden with some green hues in color, clear and bright.  The nose has limes, some floral notes and a hint of lychee.  Slightly oily in texture.  A hint of sweetness.  Nice acidity.  Spry energy.  On the palate, the limes come thru a bit, but also a bit of Honeydew melon. Certainly not the same old, same old.  It drinks nicely on its own and would work with lighter foods.  Just a guess, but probably best to drink in the next year or two.  

2016 Magrez-Aruga Koshu, Japan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

This is made from the Koshu grape in Japan.  Koshu is a hybrid of Vitis Vinifera and some other Asian Vitis species that arose probably 1,000 years ago from the Caucasus via the Silk Road.  Most of the production is in the Yamanashi prefecture.  Traditional an eating grape, it has been used for wine production since the 1870's.  It is a white grape and the wine is a medium golden in color, clear and bright.  There is a slight floral note with minerals and slight apricot on the nose.  Slightly oily texture which is nice.  On the palate, the apricots come thru along with a bit of almonds.  Sl

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