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2018 Ridge Mataro Gonsalves, USA, California, Contra Costa County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, plums and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Some depth.  Flavors of black raspberries and plums.  Better with food. It went well with roasted veggies.  Drink over the next five to seven years. 

2019 Weingut Thörle Saulheimer Schlossberg Riesling Trocken, Germany, Reinhessen, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Pale yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight pineapple along with nectarines and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is dry.  A bit  herbaceous but also nectarine notes and minerals.  Good finish.  This is fine on its own but better with food.  It would work well with Thai food or lighter salads.  Drink over the next five to eight years.

MacRostie 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

A terrific Pinot considering the price, this affordable wine showcases the rustic quality of Sonoma Coast fruit. Obvious strawberry, red raspberry, light pomegranate, and plum fill the palate. The weather along the Sonoma Coast also produces a brambly quality, more macerated deeper and richer red fruits along with an ideal acidity and moderate tannins. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen wisely chose to keep the oak treatment minimal, using only 30% new French oak with reduced toast levels. These choices make this great with food - a delicate Pinot Noir that offers some heft and swagger.

2017 Andremily Mourvèdre, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Another great wine from Andremily.  This is 88% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah and 3 Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, plums, blueberries, dark chocolate and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is lush and delicious.  Flavors of plums, black raspberries, slight blueberries with pepper and char.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is delicious on its own.  It will need big food flavors to match.  Smoked brisket would work.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

2020 Pope Valley Sangiovese Brut Rosé, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This had been purchased at the winery.  First time trying a sparkling Sangiovese wine.  Deep salmon pink in color.  It has a nice mousse with small to medium bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is nice if not expected.  Green apples with slight rhubarb and strawberries.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, apples, and slight strawberry notes.  Moderate finish.  A pleasant wine that will work better with food than on its own. Drink now.

2017 Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch (Müller-Burggraef) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This was ordered off the list at Copper in Charlotte, NC.  It went quite well with spicy vegetarian Indian cuisine.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some peach, matchstick and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, this is slightly  sweet but maybe less than expected which was nice for a Kabinett.  Flavors of peach and minerals.  Long finish.  This is drinking well at this point but should have at least a dozen years left.  

2021 Rhys Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$46.00USD

Rhys may be my favorite Chardonnay producer (that I still choose to afford) and Santa Cruz may be my favorite region for Chardonnay.  But, still, this is their basic offering and I had low expectations.  They were far exceeded.  What an excellent wine.  I ended up drinking two bottles over three days and that is unusual.  Light golden in color with slight silvery/green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Very mineral driven but also some lemon creme, vanilla and a touch of grapefruits.  Medium to full bodied.  Lots of energy.  Light tannins.  Great acidity and balance.  On the pal

2020 Cascina Sòt Langhe Nascetta, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

An interesting wine made from 100% Nascetta grapes.  The grapes are macerated for six days on their skins before being fermented (off the skins).  The result is a deep golden color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is light but shows nice minerality along with a touch of lemon peel.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the lemon peel and minerality come thru.  This won't get better so drink up.  It will be better with food.  A nice wine to go with a Quiche.  

1996 Château Siran, France, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This bottle had been purchased at the Chateau on release and well stored.  Decanted for sediment right before serving.  The cork was perfect.  Purple in color, opaque and still mostly bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight perfumed note, dust and char.  With air some leather and cigar box notes emerged.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins mostly resolved but still some silky ones.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is still fresh.  Complex with layers of cassis, earth, tobacco and underlying char.  Good finish.  Overall, this bottle is at peak but seems right there.  At age 28, this w

2015 Andreas Laible Durbacher Plauelrain Riesling Alte Reben Trocken, Germany, Baden, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

From the excellent 2015 vintage.  This is a bit different from "typical" Rieslings.  Light golden in color with a touch of green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is mineral drive with minerality, slight lemons, and petrichor.  Medium bodied. On the palate, minerality with a bit of lemons.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is a wine that really needs food to shine.  It would work nicely with crab or chicken salad.  Drink over the next four to seven years.  

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