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2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Riesling Wirz Vineyard, USA, California, Cienega Valley, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with some peach notes.  Slight minerality.  Clean.  Nice texture.  A perception of sweetness perhaps, but this drinks dry.  Some red apple, some dry peach on the palate.  Refreshing.  Not very deep.  Easy drinking.  Worked fine on its own or with food.  

NV Mionetto Prosecco di Treviso Brut, Italy, Wine Review

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

Light golden in color.  Lots of medium sized bubbles.  The nose has some lemon and minerals on it.  On the palate, this is dry.  The minerality is there.  Not a ton of fruit but some lemon.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Works well with food.  On the upper end of Prosecco in quality and value.  

2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe,Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Pop and pour and consumed over two nights.  Much better on night 2.  I know many people say 2003 was such a warm vintage that the wines are already mature.  That might be true, but this one's best days are still to come.   62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, graphite, cedar, and smoked cigar.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Lush cassis and black cherry fruit layered with forest floor, damp earth and tobacco.  Tightly layered.  Long finish.  This is delicious but very much from Bordeaux a

2008 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc.  Just a gorgeous wine that while still youthful, is showing some maturity.  We drank this pop and pour but I would recommend a lot more air or decant.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, tobacco, slight leather, and spice.  Wonderful rich texture.  Great balance.  Medium tannins.  Plenty of fruit; cassis and black cherries layered with earth and tobacco.  Long finish.  This wine has a nice complexity that shows itself as it unwinds in the glass.  Its delicious but more than just that.  While it shows

2016 Saved Magic Maker Rose, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This was consumed with a couple of my neighbors outside by the fire on a late Spring Day.  It was quite well received.  It is a blend of  Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese.  First, the bottle is very pretty with a silk screened label.  The wine itself is likewise pretty with an almost iridescent salmon orange color to it.  The nose is large with burnt oranges, some strawberries and slight cherries.  There is some alcohol on the nose too.  On the palate, this has a very nice texture.  Big fruit, mostly tart cherries.  Enough acidity to work with food but made just fine sip

Martini & Rossi Spumante Rosé, Italy, Wine Review

Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This comes in a four pack of 187ml sized bottle. It looks like it would be a caged Champagne cork but is a screw top with a plastic cover.  King of cute.  The wine is salmon/pin/orange.  The nose is slight at first but then an orange peel note comes out and also a nice minerality.  On the palate, there is some citrus and minerals.  A fair amount of carbonation.  Labeled Extra Dry, which in the odd world of sparkling wines means a bit sweet.  This is sweet but not cloying.  This would also come in handy if making mimosas or other fruity sparkling mixed drink.  

2017 The Sisters Pinot Noir, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Screw capped.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  In Pinot Noir, color often means little but this does have a very pretty lighter color.  The nose has cherries, slight smoke, rhubarb and slight celery notes.  It has a very soft, feminine texture.  On the palate, tart cherries with a slight bitter/herbal note on the finish.  12.5% alcohol on the label.   If you are looking for a bit, fruity wine, this is not that.  This is a lower alcohol wine that works well with food and is better situated to the dinner table than being drunk as a cocktail.  Not for everyone, but for those who are searchin

2017 The Sisters Pinot Gris, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is from New Zealand.  Screw capped.  Light gold/green in color, clear at the rim.  The nose is nice with mostly minerals but a bit of a steely quality to it.  Varietally correct.  On the palate, a slightly oily texture which is nice.  Slight grapefruit.  Good acidity.  Easy drinking.  Long finish.  Not a typical New Zealand wine in that it is more about the minerals than the fruit, but a lot of that is the varietal.  Worked well with food.  Around $18, this is a good value and a nice summer sipper.  

2017 Tasca D'Almerita Regaleali Le Rose Terre Siciliane IGT, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes.  Salmon color, clear and bright.  The nose has strawberries, slight raspberries and a hint of rhubarb.  This took about 30 minutes to open once the screw cap was removed.  The palate is very smooth.  No bite on it which is quite refreshing.  There is a nice tart acidity on it which makes if very food friendly.  Light cherries with a slight herbal note somewhat akin to bitters on the finish.  It works very well at the table.  This is a nice and easy rose and a very good value.  

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