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2022 Domaine Bousquet Danaus, Spain, Costers del Segre, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a blend of 45% Tempranillo, 45% Garnacha, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (all grapes are organic) made in Spain for Argentinian producer Domaine Bousquet.  Garnet in color with some blue hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, clay and chocolate notes.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, spice and char.  Moderate finish.  This is a lighter, easy drinking red that will be good for summer parties (especially given the price).  Nice on its own, this will work well with a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next few years.

2021 Cantine Pellegrino Nero d'Avola Gazzerotta, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is 100% Nero d'Avola from Sicily.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The  nose has anise, dust, wild thyme, black cherries and sea air.  Veery nice.  Plush texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries and anise.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is a bit bigger/riper than many of the NdA's I have tried from Sicily.  Very good on its own, this will work great with meats or fowl.  Lamb would work quite well.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Very nice value for the quality!

2023 Corvo Grillo, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This appears to be a bit of a change for 2023.  Prior vintages listed no varietal (Bianco) while this lists Grillo on the front label.  It is not clear if this is 100%.  Silvery/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with a touch of limes and a bit of minerality.  Slightly viscous texture.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this is dry with a sort of "Lime Popsicle" flavor.  Some underlying minerality.  Good finish.  Overall, it is an easy drinking, light white that is refreshing on its own and will work with lighter foods.  Drink over the next year or two.  

2022 Duca di Salaparuta Etna Bianco Làvico, Italy, Sicily, Etna Bianco, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$34.00USD

This is 100% Carricante from Sicily.  Silvery/green in color, clear4 and bright.  The nose is pretty with peach, slight lime and salinity.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Good balance and acidity.  On the palate, peaches, lime pith, minerals and slight char.  Long finish.  This is an excellent and refreshing white wine.  It has depth and drinks great on its own.  Grilled swordfish or tuna steaks would be a great match.  Drink over the next five years.

Rhys 2021 Pinot Noir, Alpine Vineyard

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

As the name suggests, this Pinot grows at an average elevation of 1,300 feet, a scant 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. There’s a wonderful rustic quality to this, given that the Santa Cruz Mountain are comprised of ancient soils. The fruit is restrained, more earthy and mineral driven, just the sort of style that works well with a variety of different foods. Yes, there is black cherry, pomegranate, huckleberry, but also a light dried raisin note. There as also great acidity, a whisper of candied almond, sandalwood, resin and boysenberry.

Kosta Browne 2021 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

The allure of Kosta Browne wines has been that, though they are very expressive wines, they are subtle. Shunning the in-your-face-Pinot-with-a-dash-of-Syrah, these wines are meant to reflect the place where they are grown, and the proof of this is that they taste like it. To further this point I received five Pinot Noirs to sample and opened one blind and tasted it. My first thought this was Sonoma Coast, and after looking at the label, it was.

2022 Tasca D'Almerita Catarratto Buonsenso Tenuta Regaleali, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is made from 100% Cataratto grapes in Sicily.  Silvery/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is refreshing with peach, sea air and slight char.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous, "liquidy" texture.  On the palate, peaches with a slight bitter almond note (in a good way) and char.  Plenty of depth here.  Long finish.  This is a complex wine but also refreshing.  It is crisp, food friendly and reasonably priced.  This is lovely on its own and would be great with fried shrimp or other sea food. Drink over the next fiver to eight years.  

NV Valdo Prosecco Marca Oro Rosé Brut, Italy,

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a very well priced Prosecco from Italy. It is a blend of 90% Glerra and 10% Pinot Noir. Pale Salmon pink in color, clear and bright. Very frothy with a lot of smaller-ish bubbles. The nose is interesting with cherries, slight apples, and a subtle smoky/earthy note. Medium bodied. good acidity. On the palate this is dry with cherries, slight cranberries with a light minerality. Long finish. This drinks nicely on its own and is very food friendly. Drink over the next few years.

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