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2006 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Tb, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

From Magnum.  Pop and pour, it took about 45 minutes to open.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight prunes, slight dark chocolate, raspberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Dry.  On the palate, cherries, raspberries, chocolate with an underlying earthiness.  Nice acidity.  Great mouthfeel.  This is still on the young side, but should be about at peak from a 750ML.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This drinks well on its own but worked great with a variety of Italian foods.  

2010 Unti Vineyards Rosso del Campo, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a blend of 67% Barbera and 33% Sangiovese from Sonoma.  A very interesting take on "Italian Red".  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, tree bark, and char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with a touch of acidity.  A bit of smoke.  Nice finish.  This worked better with food.  It should be consumed over the next three to five years.   This worked well with pasta in a tomato sauce.  

2014 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is a very nice Chardonnay in a middle of the road style.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pineapple, toast, hazelnuts, and caramel.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this round with no hard edges.  Drinks easy.  Apples, pineapple, and char swirls in the glass.  Enough acidity to work.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next year or two as its starting to show some age.  This drinks well on its own and will work nicely with salmon.  

NV Orin Swift Equinox Edition 3: The Commute, Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a Rhone blend wine with 50% coming from California and 50% coming from France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Maury.  The grapes were from the 2013 vintage though that is not on the label.   This wine is only available to members of Orin Swift’s Equinox Wine Club.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, char, spice and black pepper.  15.4% ABV.  This is not a shy wine.  Great lush texture.  On the palate, juicy black cherries and black raspberries with underlying charred dry earth.  No noticeable alcohol on the nose or palate.  Thi

2013 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a nice, straightforward Chianti that is drinking beautifully right now.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cherries, baking spices and tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  An excellent backbone  of acidity.  On the palate, lots of cherries with a slight undertone of forest floor.  Nice finish.  Drink this over the next four to six years.  It is a nice choice for pizza or pasta with a tomato based sauce. 

2015 Maison Albert Bichot Pouilly-Fuissé, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

Bichot makes a lot of wine and most of it is reasonably priced and of good quality.  This is no exception.  Green gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemons, slight chalk/minerals, and a slight apple quality.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Lemon candy notes with some fresh lemon.  Some acidity.  A slight bitter note on the finish.  This needs to be consumed now.  It works well on its own but better with lighter foods.  It went well with a cheese pizza.  

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a very nice white from the Bedrock stable of wines.  The vineyard was planted in 1954 as a field blend of Gewurztraminer, Trousseau Gris, Riesling, Roter Veltliner, and Chenin Blanc.  Light gold in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has minerality, peaches, and some grapefruit.  Light bodied.  On the palate, there is a nice complexity here.  Make sure it is not served too cold or that won't be as evident.  Notes of grapefruit, lemon and minerality swirl on the palate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with lighter

2017 Selah Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

This is yet another wine made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with cassis, blueberries, floral (violets?) notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated and needs some time/air to unwind.  Lots of cassis and some blueberries with some underlying char and spice.  Long finish.  This will undoubtedly improve over the next five to seven years.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  Drinks great on its own, this will require a big flavors to work with.  Roasts or grilled meats or veg

2018 Azienda Agricola di Angelo Calcabrina Umbria Calcabrina Foglio 61, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Sagrantino.  An excellent value.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  Medium bodied.  Excellent acidity.  The palate has cherries, some black cherries and slight mocha.  Some depth.  Light tannins.  This is drinking well now and may improve a bit.  It will make excellent drinking over the next eight to ten years.  This will work great with pizza or pasta.  

2013 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas, USA, California, Mendocino, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Great wine and an even better value.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black olives, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied. On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Layers of black raspberry fruit, minerality, smoke and earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  It will work great on its own and works well with roasted meats or veggies.

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