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2014 Ronca Corvina, Italy, Veneto - Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Even just a hair better than the Bardolino, this Corvino is excellent.  It retails for $17.  Ruby in color.  The nose shows cherries and leather.  On the palate, this has ripe cherries.  Great acidity.  A bit of anise on the finish is very nice.  Light tannins.  Like most Italian wines, these are made for the dinner table and the acidity will work with the food.  Outstanding value.  

2015 Ronca Bardolino, Italy, Veneto - Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Outstanding value.  This wine retails for $15 and is outstanding.  Light ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with slight minerals and slight tea.  On the palate, it shows more sour cherries with great acidity.  Would certainly work better with food.  Ligh tannins.  Good finish.  I don't think this will age a long time but it should last a few years.  Very nice.  

2016 Ironside Cellars Reserve Red, USA, California, Napa - Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a blend from Napa of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.  It comes in a big heavy bottle and makes a nice presentation.  I beleive it is under $20 and for that, this is a very nice value indeed.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, black raspberries, dust, and spice.  On the palate, there is a jucy acidity.  Some tannins.  Nice cherry fruit with dark cherries and black raspberries.  Soft tannins. This is very easy drinking and quite tasty.  Would make a nice wine for parties or to give as a holiday gift.  

2014 Ironside Cellars Red, USA, California - Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Purple in color.  The nose is nice with cherries and boysenberries.  Some apice as well.  On the palate, this is easy drinking but there is some complexity.  Perhaps that is from the mix of varietals but it is nice.  Juicy texture.  This is a very good wine.  It does taste a bit manipulated but if the final outcome is a tasty wine at a reasonable price, that is fine.  

2012 Maysara Winery Pinot Noir Asha, USA, Oregon - Wine Reviews

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Lighter ruby in color.  The nose has what I believe is the "terroir" for the Momtzi vineyard.  That is dark cherries, cherries, minerals but also this celery sort of quality.  In some wines it can be distracting, but in this wine, it melds with the dark cherries in a delightful way.  On the palate, this is a rich and full bodied Pinot.  Cherries and dark cherries with tight layering.  Clean earth is the best way i can describe it.  Nice balance.  Great finish.  This is an excellent Pinot Noir.  Certainly it has some upside potnetial from here with a few more years of storage.  

2013 Maysara Winery Pinot Noir Cyrus Momtazi Vineyard, USA, France, Oregon - Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Light ruby in color.  The nose has more dark cherries however.  One of those Pinot's that looks light but drinks dark.  Yet, this is also a very elegant Pinot Noir.  The dark cherries cary thru to the palate.  Deep and complex if tightly layered at the moment.  It unwinds in the glass.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  It should improve gracefully.  

2012 Maysara Winery Pinot Noir Jamsheed Momtazi Vineyard, USA, Oregon - Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Light ruby in color.  The nose has cherries but a distracting celery quality to it.  On the palate, there are light but present tannins.  Cherry fruit but not ripe nor green.  This seems very true to the Momtazi vineyard which I believe is their own vineyard.  Its different.  I enjoyed it very much.  It will cellar but I don't know how much better it gets.  

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