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2020 Levo Petite Sirah Nada Mas, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

Another winner from this winery.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty.  It is a big wine, but for a Paso Syrah more middle of the road.  Juicy acidity makes it very food friendly.  It would work well with beef stew but also Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

2021 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$63.00USD

This is a very accessible Zinfandel that is also excellent.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight bramble, sandalwood and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with spice and char.  This has nice depth and concentration.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, this will work well with a burger or other foods off the grill.  

Argyle 2022 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

One of the great things typical of Oregon Pinot Noir is that these wines have an earthiness to them that California Pinot does not necessarily possess. The fruit is more subdued, and in the case of this Argyle, you get a nice balance, something reminiscent of Burgundy that has expressive fruit, but an earthy, mellow aged quality that drinks very well.

2019 Levo Grenache 22 Tango, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a blend of 76% Grenache, 15% Graciano, and 9% Syrah.  It is a ripe styled Grenache that is very impressive.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, blueberries, black raspberries, spice and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries and black raspberries with some minerality and char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Great on its own, this will be a difficult food match until it ages more.  For now, ribs off the grill would work.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

2021 Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is their basic Cab bottling and it is very good and for Napa, a great value in high end Cabs.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, some leather, a bit of earth and spice.  Nice, semi-plush texture with good balance.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, with earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This will get better with short term cellaring.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  It is great on its own and would work well with a steak or other big meats off the grill.  

Calera 2020 Pinot Noir, Ryan Vineyard

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

When Pinot Noir vines hit around 20 years of age, they typically show a beautiful maturity of fruit. At a grow elevation of 2,200 feet and planted in limestone soils Calera’s wines show an intensity and acidity other wines only strive for. Soft and lithe, this Pinot is an easy drinking, very amenable wine. There are fruit notes with a little more earthiness, light mushroom and damp leaf. You’ll notice rhubarb, pomegranate, very light cherry with a firm tannic structure to support the acidity. Perhaps curiously, there are not certain flavors that dominate this Pinot, as is typical of many.

2015 Foradori Granato, Italy, Dolomites, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is made from the Teroldegao grape in northeastern Italy.  The wine is purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and slight anise.  Full bodied.   Medium tannins.  Excellent acidity and balance.  Lively.  On the palate, this is deep, young and delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, some black currants with spice and slight char.  long finish.  This will still mature a bit but no harm drinking it now.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, but better with food.  This would work well with game dishes.  

Acumen PEAK 2021 Cabernet Franc

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

It’s always exciting to see a winery launch a new wine and for Acumen, this is their first ever Cabernet Franc. True, they have grown and used Franc for years, just not as its own bottling. This offers tight, dusty tannins supported by a mélange of dark red and black berry fruits. There is an earthy core with light black tea leaves, cigar notes and pomegranate. The oak program is evident (60% new French oak was used) but not overwhelming. Comprised mainly of Cabernet Franc, there are small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot added in to finesse this already lovely wine.

2021 Sineann Pinot Noir Yates Conwill Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Yamhill-Carlton, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Deeper ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spices and char.  Medium to full bodied.  Silky texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with some forest floor and char.  Long finish.  This is delicious and deep and should improve with some short term cellaring.  It is on the  bigger side (for Oregon) but it has the stuffing to develop.  Nice on its own, this will work wellw ith flavorful food.  A good choice with duck.  Great value.

2021 Sineann Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

This is a bit more elegant than most Sineann wines.  Light ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose  has sour cherries and sandalwood.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is very nice albeit not that complex.  It drinks easy with persistent sour cherries.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  It is nice on its own and will well with many foods.  Pork chops would be a great pairing.  Drink over the next six to nine years.  

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